About Jessica Somers
Artist Bio and Philosophy
Identity and Background
I am Abenaki from Odanak.
Naming my Nation is important. At a time when Indigenous identity is often questioned, especially for white-passing Native people, speaking my Nation is an act of truth, responsibility, and resilience.
My work is grounded in the ancestral teachings, stories, and traditions of the Abenaki people. These teachings shape not only what I create, but how I create, how I teach, and how I engage with community.
I carry an Indigenous worldview that honours land, relationship, and story, and I bring those teachings forward through contemporary artistic expression. My art exists as a bridge between generations, between traditional knowledge and modern spaces, and between lived experience and shared learning.
Artistic Practice
My artistic practice is diverse, immersive, and deeply connected to place.
I work across multiple mediums, including painting, murals, live edge wood, tipis, mixed media, installation, and land-based art. Each medium is chosen with intention, based on the story being shared and the space or community it will live within.
My work explores Indigenous history and resilience, connection to land and environment, and the relationships between people, animals, and spirit.
Animal relatives and spirit guides often appear in my work, including Bear, Fox, Cardinal, Hummingbird, and Eagle. These beings carry teachings connected to strength, adaptability, joy, protection, responsibility, and balance.
Cultural teachings woven throughout my work include the Three Sisters, Turtle Island, the Seven Grandfather Teachings, and Full Moon cycles. These teachings are shared with care, respect, and attention to cultural context.
Reconciliation, healing, and community stories are central to my practice. Art becomes a way to hold truth, honour resilience, and invite meaningful dialogue.
A Collaborative and Community-Centred Approach
Collaboration is a core part of my work.
I work alongside Elders, Knowledge Keepers, students, and community members to ensure cultural accuracy, integrity, and shared ownership of each project.
Many workshops are embedded within larger projects, allowing participants to contribute directly to murals, installations, and community artworks. This approach transforms art-making into a collective experience rooted in relationship, learning, and respect.
Notable Work
My work spans public spaces, learning environments, and gallery settings.
Exhibitions
My work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including exhibitions with:
Woodland Cultural Centre, Seeing Red Inc., Casa Loma, Canada, Brazil
These exhibitions share Indigenous stories and teachings through contemporary artistic practice.
Workshops
I facilitate community-based and school-based workshops that combine art-making, land-based learning, and storytelling. These workshops support education, reflection, and connection across age groups.
Murals
Large-scale mural projects have been created on walls, boards, sea-cans, and tipis. Each mural reflects Indigenous teachings, cultural stories, and themes of reconciliation, often shaped through community collaboration.
Teaching and Community Engagement
Teaching is an extension of my artistic practice.
I lead art workshops in schools and communities that integrate land-based learning, storytelling, and immersive curriculum design. Programs are adaptable for all grade levels and learning environments.
I collaborate with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to ensure teachings are shared respectfully and accurately.
My work with youth, adults, and community groups supports cultural pride, awareness, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.
Philosophy
Art is teaching. Art is reflection. Art is connection.
I believe in hands-on learning, engagement with the land, and honouring Indigenous ways of knowing. My work is rooted in storytelling, reconciliation, and resilience.
Each piece I create carries intention. Some teachings are shared publicly, while others are held within specific spaces, guided by cultural responsibility.
Through my art, I create lasting cultural symbols that invite reflection, learning, and stronger community connection.
Recognition and Impact
My mural and workshop projects are recognized for their community engagement, cultural integrity, and educational value.
Exhibitions showcase Indigenous stories and teachings across Canada and internationally.
Through my work, I build bridges between Indigenous knowledge systems, contemporary art, and education, supporting understanding, respect, and relationship-building.
