Tracey Boshdayosgaykwe Pawis

Tracey Pawis, Quillwork, moccasins, sweetgrass, candles, pastel art, Indigenous Artist, First Nations, Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada, Pass The Feather

Tracey Boshdayosgaykwe Pawis

Tracey Boshdayosgaykwe Pawis

Wasauksing First Nation

My name is Tracey Pawis; Boshdayosgaykwe, meaning the morning's first burst of sunlight that comes over the horizon. I was raised on Wasauksing First Nation, finished high school in Midland in the mid-1980s, continued on to post-secondary and completed my certificate in land surveying. I worked as a consultant in computer-aided drafting for engineering, surveying, and mechanical companies.

Tracey Pawis, Quillwork, moccasins, sweetgrass, candles, pastel art, Indigenous Artist, First Nations, Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada, Pass The Feather

I see my life as a series of challenges, opportunities, loss, accomplishments, and perseverance.
 I educated myself in Small Business, Counseling from ONECA, Teaching & Training Teachers at Georgian College, Health & Social Services at Georgian College, and Leadership skills with Carnagie and Klemmer & Associates. Sexual abuse, alcoholism, and the impacts of second-generation residential school were major challenges to work toward and learning a new skill set. Through my latest experience of trauma in 2002, I have embraced my uniqueness, reunited with my culture and heritage, and chosen to live for all first nations people, victims of abuse, my community and family. I have always been an artist and creative. My love of traditional crafts and arts, taught by my mother and aunties, manifested itself in 2011 with the opening of G’zaagin art gallery. The Ojibway translation of G’zaagin, means “I love you”, and I presented this to my community and the town of Parry Sound. I call it “Giving back”.
 In 2013, I completed the responsibility to bring forward a native art installation “Walking With Our Sisters” representing murdered and missing Indigenous women across Canada and the USA to Parry Sound creating awareness. In my leisure, I spend time at my home on Wasauksing (Parry Island) with my animals. Along with my crafts of leather work, quill work, beading, sweetgrass products like candles, essential oil, lip balm and paint with oil sticks on canvas. My recent work can be seen on her social networks like facebook, Twitter , Instagram, LinkedIn.
 I am passionate about my Indigenous culture, rights, and continue to move toward my passion.