About the Artist and Artwork

About Megan

Megan Currie, a proud Dene woman - from English River First Nation, is the founder and creative director of X-ing Design. Over the years, she has fostered her beliefs surrounding visual sovereignty, which guides all her design work. Her unique focus in Indigenous design and visual sovereignty is showcased in her diverse portfolio of work. X-ing Design is a 100% Indigenous-owned and operated graphic design studio located on Treaty 4 land and within the traditional territory of the Metis, in the area called oskana kâ-asastêki ᐅᐢᑲᓇ ᑳ ᐊᓴᐢᑌᑭ, by the Cree peoples - later renamed Regina, in the province of Saskatchewan.

Megan’s educational pursuits have taken her through Northlands Design College in Melbourne, Australia, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Las Universidad de las Americas in Cholula, Mexico and finally The First Nations University of Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan.

To learn more about X-ing Design, visit their website.

Morning Star – The Creation/Creative Story

When asked to provide the artwork for this year’s Teddy Bear Affair, the creative brief asked to imagine the future of Indigenous children in care through the lens of Indigenous-Futurism; the theme resonated with me as a 60’s scoop and child welfare survivor. Since colonization, our people have been subjected to government-run child welfare, which has been traumatizing and played a huge part in our cultural genocide. That being said, as a survivor, it is important for me to have hope.

In July 2021, in my home province, Cowessess First Nation became the first Indigenous group in Canada to agree with Ottawa for federal funding to locally control their child welfare services. On the day of signing, Chief Cadmus Delorme of Cowesses shared, "We’re not shareholders or stakeholders; we’re rights holders, which are inherent to us and our children yet unborn.” This brings me hope.

The Morning Star is often seen as a symbol of hope.

The Plains People believe Creator gave power to the Morning Star to watch over us protecting us with spiritual blessings. The Morning Star represents the beginning of a new day, another day of life given by Creator. At the centre of the star is the Creator’s eye, making sacred everything it covers, keeping us forever safe.

My interpretation of the Morning Star was created with tears, tears recounting the pains of our past and then tears of hope, knowing we are moving forward. The design style embraces “Indigenous-Futurism” and provides space for those to come. There are many Morning Star teachings that I am not including in this “creation/creative story” and I encourage all that wish to learn more to seek greater understanding from the Knowledge Keepers or Elders with an offering of tobacco.

The teaching that inspired this piece is one of hope and I hope that this Morning Star brings all who see it, good dreams, prosperity, and protection.