Supporting the Spirit of Art, Tradition, Community

Candace is a Red River Metis artist, doula, community helper, and cedar bath conductor from Treaty One Territory in Winnipeg. Her spirit name, ‘Leads with Light,’ guides her work and keeps her grounded in family and community. She comes from a long line of fierce aunties and now carries on that tradition with her 13 nephews and nieces, and a great-niece too.

At the young age of four, Candace remembers sitting at her grandmother’s feet, threading her needles as she sewed vibrant quilts from scraps of fabric. That’s where the inspiration for Deadly begins.

I grew up watching her hands sewing, making patterns, calculating measurements, cutting fabric, and lighting up her Craven Menthol cigarettes during breaks, Candace shares. I have been creating art ever since.

These early memories are stitched into the very fabric of her stunning beadwork today. Deadly is a tribute to her grandmother, Elizabeth Nobiss (née Sinclair), and a continuation of the stories passed down through generations.

The piece is layered with meaning: a lace doily with soft, feminine edges lies underneath a glass ashtray, the beaded Craven Menthol burning down to the stub. The title Deadly speaks volumes – its literal meaning death, and its contemporary slang use, meaning something bold, cool, or powerful.

“My work is inspired by my family, memories, dreams, ceremonies, and the work I do in community. Alongside Indigenous midwife Melissa Brown, I co-founded Zaagi’idiwiin Indigenous Doula Training. Together we have trained hundreds of doulas from Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. A lot of my work is centred on Indigenous women and two-spirit people.”

Candace’s introduction to WAG-Qaumajuq was through CRAFTED, our annual show and sale. It was a natural fit given her commitment to community. CRAFTED celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 with over 100 artists taking part. Candace was juried into the 2024 show and sale, where she sold many of her works. Sherri Van Went, WAG-Qaumajuq Manager of Retail Operations and Partnerships, took notice and invited her to sell through ShopWAG. That’s where Marie-Anne Redhead, WAG-Qaumajuq Assistant Curator of Indigenous and Contemporary Art, first saw Deadly.

“I saw Deadly at the Shop and immediately knew it belonged in our permanent collection,” says Marie-Anne.

I thought it would be a perfect addition to our contemporary Indigenous collection and would be seen by more people through exhibitions than if I were to purchase it personally, and I wanted to show off the artwork!

“I was honoured when I heard about Deadly being acquired, I was in awe of the opportunity,” says Candace. “And then to have this piece as part of the Threads of Kin and Belonging exhibition, alongside so many great artists, for me was incredible. This piece represents family and community connections. The stories my grandmother told me while she smoked and sewed resonate with me, and connect me with these lands, community, family, and myself.”

Candace has since been featured in galleries across Canada, including the Bill Reid Gallery in Vancouver, The Mackenzie Gallery, in Regina, Latitude 53 Gallery in Edmonton, and now WAG-Qaumajuq.

Thanks to your support, artists like Candace are gaining the recognition they deserve. Make sure to visit Threads of Kin and Belonging before it closes in November 2025—and experience Deadly in person.

More on the show