Homecoming: A Returning Home to Self through a Personal Inquiry Art Therapy Process

way̓ y̓ (hello),

Welcome to my Capstone! I am writing this capstone to share how art therapy has been a supportive tool for my healing as an Indigenous person and emerging art therapist. I am a member of the Okanagan Nation (Sylix) as well as from the Heiltsuk Nation through my mom’s side, and am of French Canadian roots through my dad’s side. I am a granddaughter of residential school and day school survivors. I recognize that I am white-facing and that I benefit from white privilege. I also recognize that I walk two worlds, through both an Indigenous and Western-colonized experience. I have been blessed to have been raised within a family that has always encouraged me to be who I am, to embrace my identity, to work hard, and to be strong. While I have grown up in urban communities, I have always known who I am and where I am from. As a young Indigenous person, I am always learning and unlearning, and always coming from a place of love and speaking from my heart.

Throughout the past two years, I have been immersed in a journey of learning how to be an art therapist and within that journey, I have woven together pieces that have been essential to me such as my Identity as an Indigenous person, utilizing Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, and spirituality to create a relevant and applicable approach that works for me.

Within this book, I will be sharing my intentionality behind this capstone, a definition of art therapy and helpful approaches, how art therapy has empowered me to find my own voice, how Indigenous peoples and myself have been impacted by colonization, Indigenous healing and healing approaches, as well as sharing the story of my own healing journey. You will then view my personal art therapy process with art and poetry.

To end, I will provide a few concluding thoughts. Further, I have added photo’s throughout this book that I have taken within the past couple years!

Welcome!