Jolene Arcand is a proud Métis Iskwew (Woman) with a mixed ancestry of Nêhiyawak (Cree), Haudenosaunee (Mohawk Iroquois), French, and Scottish descent residing in Ladysmith, BC, and studying online through the En'owkin Centers' National Indigenous Artist Training Program (NIPAT). As an ambitious and thoughtful creative and through her passion for art and design, she has produced various collections through personal and commissioned pieces.
Jolene is an interdisciplinary artist who delves into fine art, graphic art and design, and visual creations through modern and traditional forms. She is supported by her husband, her cat Muskwa, her family, and the Métis community. Her passion developed when she was very young being inspired by her Mother and through lived experiences. She creates to heal trauma, bring awareness to past and present Indigenous issues and elicit deep reflection. As a profound introvert, Jolene creates art to express her style, evoke emotions, and create a focal point within spaces for people to understand who she is without having to say a word.
Artist Statement
My name is Jolene Marie Arcand. I am a Métis multidisciplinary artist born and raised in the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3 which resides on the traditional territories of Treaty 7. My maternal ancestral ties can be traced back to the Red River in Manitoba, with a blood mix of Cree (Nehiyaw), Mohawk (Haudenosaunee), and French. My paternal ancestry can be traced back to Scotland in the UK.
I grew up surrounded by art through my Mother but it wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I discovered my love for acrylics and fine art and soon after, I developed a deep passion for traditional art and natural materials. I graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Communication Design in 2021 and I’m currently in my second year of the National Indigenous Professional Artist Training Program at the En’owkin Centre in Penticton, BC.
My artistic practice is a ceremonial merge between the natural world, personal experience, and influential Indigenous teachings. I primarily work with acrylics, natural materials, and digital art, with each medium reflecting different facets of my expression and experience. My love for acrylics is like the love for a best friend, personifying a forgiving quality that mirrors my humility and kindness. At the same time, working with natural materials connects me deeply to traditional Celtic knot techniques in macramé, blended with Indigenous North American materials. My digital art represents my commitment to growth and adaptation in a changing world and serves as an important reminder to embrace change.
My philosophy is to find truth and understanding during the creation process and to foster relationships with the land, sky, living, and spiritual beings. The themes of my work revolve around life, creation, and connection to teachings and culture. I admire the beauty and strength of women as life-givers and explore Indigenous beginnings and traditional stories through my art. Each piece emerges from my insatiable urge to create, often inspired by conversations, teachings, dreams, or personal struggles. My process starts with a storm of ideas, captured through frantic notes and juvenile sketches, followed by research and conceptualization of each element to ensure it resonates with my spirit, practice, and entire body of work.
I hope to engage my audience with my art in an introspective way, uncovering hidden meanings that speak to their own thoughts while evoking emotions of nostalgia, mystery, beauty, and love. My work encourages others to look deeper into their own perceptions to better understand who I am.
My influence comes from various great artists, not one solely alone. I draw inspiration from emotion and new techniques, allowing my artistic vision to evolve as I walk through different chapters of my life. Art serves as my therapy—a way to process struggles, celebrate resilience, and remind us of our connections to Mother Earth and Father Sky. Through my work, I aim to leave visual teachings and stories for future generations.
One piece that closely portrays my vision is a blue monochromatic painting where half of the form reflects a woman’s curves. Continuous strokes guide the eye to pointillist embellishments that shape an Alberta Métis wild rose. This piece, titled Star Woman, reminds us to remember the beauty of life and the stories of our past.