In this week’s Innovator Spotlight, Lana Whiskeyjack, an associate professor in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, discusses the spirit-centred work she practices including how her team begins any project or idea in ceremony. Lana is a visual storyteller, scholartist and arts actionist with an upcoming artwork series based on iskwewak medicine meets science. She is the 2024 Community Scholar Award recipient, a Community Connections award.
How do you describe your work to people who don’t work in your field?
I am a scholartist: a scholar and visual artist/storyteller. I paint to translate the world I experience into the world I want to exist within. With the little I know, I teach through visual stories on the beauty of nehiyawak (Cree people), their worldview and my personal teaching stories.
What’s one big problem you want to solve through your work?
End gender and sexual violence.
What does the word “innovation” mean to you?
Learning from the wisdom of our ancestral past and our future generations to enhance our humanity, or as my Elders would say: “Become better human beings.”
What’s been your biggest a-ha moment — in life or work — so far?
The biggest a-ha moment recently has been when one of my Elders shared, “The best gift you can give your parents (and community) is to take care of yourself.” This statement beautifully summed up what I’ve been researching on wâhkôhtowin means within my work and life.
How do you or your team come up with your best ideas?
My team and I have community engagement protocols (rules/guidelines); for example, we begin any project or idea in a ceremony. From our nehiyaw (Cree) worldview, spirit comes first. We feast, play, dream, create, work and share our diverse views with gratitude, then actively support one another in moving forward with trust in each other's gifts and knowledge. Everyone has their role and responsibility that completes our relational work.
What’s your favourite thing about working at the U of A?
The many good relations are my favourite part of working at U of A, from the students to being a part of the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies. Thank you to the many incredible humans who support spirit-centred learning and collaborative spaces… you know who you are!
Do you have a role model at the U of A? How have they influenced you?
Can the trees, rocks, and river at U of A be role models? ( I asked with a big smile.) Honestly, the students are my role models, there are so many passionate, innovative, curious spirits and minds that spark my hope and help to spark new neuro-pathways to evolve my language, mind and body. I love the openness and generosity of our students who bring what they learn into practice, they influence me to be a better relative.
In Shape: The University Strategic Plan 2023-2033, the University of Alberta commits to having a positive impact on our students and staff, our communities, and the communities we serve here in Alberta and around the world. What are the impacts of your work?
The spirit-centred work I practice has always existed within Indigenous communities, learning and teaching through multidisciplinary art forms, Indigenous languages, relational ethics and protocols, on the land is transformative. Who knew teaching our students and colleagues that there are diverse genders and sexualities from our indigenous worldviews that have always existed on these lands, could save lives and spark belonging? In the nehiyaw (Cree) worldview we have this beautiful inclusive word “wâhkôhtowin” that embodies diversity as medicine to support the health and wellness of individuals and community.
What’s next for you? Do you have any new projects on the horizon?
Creating a new artwork series based on iskwewak medicine meets science, as well as a collaborative research project on nôtokwew lodge that wakes up and activates matriarchal leadership and governance in creative ways.
