Jasyn Lucas – Cree Visual Artist

Hello ! Tansi! My name is Jasyn Lucas. I was born Jason Bighetty on May 3^rd 1979, in Flin Flon Manitoba. I was adopted by the Lucas family and grew up in Thompson Manitoba. I am a proud member of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. Growing up, my parents always took my sisters and I camping, so I love the outdoors, fishing, and swimming, and also love to draw and paint. I graduated from R.D Parker Collegiate in 1997 and moved to Vancouver in 1999 where I later attended the Studio Art Diploma Program at Capilano College in North Vancouver. There I studied Drawing, Painting, Print-making, Art History and Sculpture. I would later return to Thompson where I would work as a full-time artist.

I also learned how to tattoo with the modern style Rotary Electric Tattoo Machine. Tattooing has helped me become a well-rounded artist, as it requires so much patience and hard work. I have worked as an artist, travelling many places across Canada doing Art shows anywhere I could. I have participated in trade shows, festivals, conferences, powwow, and schools, all across Canada. I have had the chance to showcase at Vision Quest in Winnipeg, the World Art Market at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in Vancouver, and the Para-Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, just to name a few. Not only that, but I have also owned and operated a tattoo service and Art Gallery in Thompson called the Gift of Art.

I donate much of my time to schools and institutes, often speaking about or teaching art. I have also gifted numerous paintings to some of my favourite organizations, including the National Institute for the Blind and Ducks Unlimited Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, and many more. I feel it is the one way I can help others raise funding for great causes within the communities I have connections with.

The older I get, the more I realize how important education has been for me. Recently, in the fall of 2019 I returned to school to study at the University College of the North in Thompson Manitoba. I often end up with motivational speaking about art and teaching workshops within large groups, I thought that returning to school would help me become better informed when discussing important issues within my public speaking. As an urban ‘Aboriginal’ it can be tough finding my identity, so emotions can run high depending on the unique social situations my work puts me in. I find myself being better informed in my literature and writing skills, which helps in that deliverance.

In 2010, I met for the first time Rolf Bouman the founder of the Friends United Initiative when he purchased many of my paintings at a powwow in Toronto. He had been inviting me for a long time to come to Nova Scotia for a visit, and eventually I did. This changed my life in many ways. After meeting other Indigenous artists connected to the Friends United Initiative and working and learning with and from them, I have gained a lot of peers. These are now trusted friends. It is always very exciting for me to come back to Nova Scotia and I do enjoy my time at the Friends United International Convention Centre and meeting so many other great people. I am very proud to be part of the Friends United Initiative and to help mentoring other artists and work with children. This is a true calling for me. I and many other artists feel very supported by the Friends United Initiative. It has become a home and focal point for many artists. I view the work of the Friends United Initiative as true reconciliation.