Artist finds inspiration in stories from the past

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Lyndon Tootoosis is carving out a future in the art world by looking to the teachings of the past.

"I'm interpreting our legends and stories and traditional values in rock," said the 39-year-old artist. "I do a lot of emphasis with the grandmothers because we were a matriarchal society."

His approach seems to work. Tootoosis just received a selected participant nod from the Saskatchewan Craft Council's annual Dimensions juried competition for his carving called Grandmother Watches.

For a first-time participant, it's an impressive feat. However, with a solo show in August and more on the horizon, it seems like just the beginning for this Cree carver.

Originally from Poundmaker, Tootoosis lived in Alberta while growing up. The early deaths of his mother and minister father hit him hard. Then, at 29, a series of court dates brought him to North Battleford and he decided to go back to high school.

His art instructor saw he wasn't being challenged by other media, so she got him started on carving.

"Things just erupted from there."

Tootoosis says being able to express himself through carving has changed his life.

"Since I started doing this, I've sobered up. I didn't go through AA. I didn't go to a rehab centre ... The urge just left me.

"With the rock, it was just a natural healing process for myself, health wise and spiritually."

Tootoosis worked at a casino for five years before finding a job at the Allen Sapp Gallery in North Battleford.

"I found it's far healthier for me to not be around gamblers and drinkers and the Sapp Gallery is such a positive place," he said.

Working at the gallery dedicated to renowned artist Allen Sapp, Tootoosis finds his art and work complement each other.

"Looking at Sapp's work all day long reminds me of when I was a kid and talking with the Elders."

He still keeps in touch with Cree Elders and was instrumental in getting them to discuss Sapp's work for an award winning multimedia exhibit called "Through the Eyes of the Cree."

"More and more Elders are realizing we have to adapt our traditions to keep them alive," he said.

Tootoosis teaches art at the gallery and at inner city schools in Regina and Saskatoon. He says Aboriginal children are amazed to learn something positive about their culture after seeing so much negativity in the media.

That's something Tootoosis intends to change, and he's poised to make that intention a reality.

Tootoosis has a solo show at the Duck Lake Interpretive Centre museum throughout the month of August, and a Battleford collector has agreed to help Tootoosis market his work and get into bigger international markets.

Despite the glimmerings of success, Tootoosis remains low-key about his abilities. He only applied on a lark to be in Dimensions, and seems surprised by the acceptance.

Grandmother Watches was created while Tootoosis' nephew was in town. The young man was troubled, so he and Tootoosis would talk while Tootoosis carved.

Sitting in his basement studio, Tootoosis explained family is his biggest concern.

"I'm the least I think about when I'm down here doing this," he said.