First Nations artist honours daughter with donated painting
Artist Lorne Julien, left, embraces daughter and Midwife alumna Alisha Julien-Reid, right, after unveiling a painting he has donated to the Midwifery Education Program.
Mi’kmaq artist Lorne Julien has honoured his daughter, McMaster midwifery alumna Alisha Julien-Reid, by donating one of his paintings to the Midwifery Education Program.
The piece, entitled New Life, will be displayed in the midwifery office in the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery.
Julien-Reid grew up on a reserve in Nova Scotia. She has been practicing midwifery in Hamilton for the past year and will begin work in Calgary this month. Her efforts in the program inspired the painting, said her father.
“Alisha coming here and going through the program means a lot to me,” he said. “Her education is a gift to me, and I just wanted to give something back.”
He said he uses a lot of bright vivid colours in his work because he believes they lift people’s spirits.
“First Nations people have a great deal of respect for eagles because they fly highest and we believe they also carry our prayers to the creator,” said Julien, who signs his work “Warrior on the Hill,” the name given to him by elders.
Eileen Hutton, assistant dean of midwifery, said she is thrilled about the gift, adding that the painting is “going to have a very honourable place in our program and it’s such a nice way for Alisha to always have a connection to it.”
Julien-Reid said she hopes the painting will help make First Nations midwifery students feel welcome and comfortable.
“My hope is that more First Nations students will come into the program and if there can be one piece of art that can make someone feel OK, that First Nations people are welcomed here and honoured here, it takes away a lot of anxiety,” said Julien-Reid. “Art can do a lot, and if this piece can help I’ll be so grateful.”
Hutton said the painting really portrays “life and transitioning between pre-birth and post-birth.”
She also said the donation is a fitting tribute to Julien-Reid.
“I think the program will give her a really excellent set of tools to go out into the world and work with women in a way that will be very important for her, both in terms of a profession, and of working in the native community,” she said. “With Alisha’s skills and educational degree she will have a place with birthing anywhere across the country.”
