MetisWoman

About the Artist

Trish Paulson is a Metis Woman born in the Pacific Northwest of BC.  Her family hails from Manitoba Red River Settlement area including Portage La Prairie, Gladstone, Brandon, Westbourn, and St. Anne's during the 20th century and as far away as Moose Factory in Rupert's Land in what was historically called "British America". Her family names  are Bolland, Donald and Linklater. In the past she has identified by her parental names which for personal reasons she is more comfortable using her connection family names.  The modern names for the areas listed span across what is identified as treaty one and two areas for which the borders have changed over time.  

Trish has been an artist since birth whether it was her uncanny ability to master any medium that she was working with or to affectively depict her interpretation of nature in her own uncensored and unapologetic way.  She was trained in classic oil painting, batik, textiles/fashion, and classical music (violin) as a child.  

Trish ventured into hide work in the late 1980's when she became a new mother with lots of time on her hands while her son was sleeping.  She would recycle leather jackets into usable, wearable contemporary items that were highly sought after, hand cutting her own lacing and making original designs.  In the true Metis way Trish has always used what has been available to express  her Oji-Cree Metis and European background.

In the early 1990's she travelled the Province of BC attending community events and festivals and was featured on CHEK6 News for her work with leather halter tops, belts, and bikini's under her former business name "Amour Leatherworks".  

In the 2000's to present she travelled the Province of BC learning new mediums and has now expanded into working with silver, copper, stones and fused glass. You can see examples of her past work at the top of this page.

All of Trish's work is inspired by nature and wildlife as she is also involved in wildlife rescue throughout BC and is often referred to as "the Raven Whisperer" and "Eagle Lady".  While out in nature, whether it is for wild harvesting plant medicine, leading groups for learning, or rescuing wildlife. Throughout her life and as she enters into her elder years Trish is always observing the connections we all have to the land and ways of knowing.

Never being satisfied with the restrictions of a single type of media Trish continued to grow in her experience in other mediums such as metal, natural fibres, and rediscovering beadwork among other things.  "There is something amazing that happens when you can not only design and sew a garment and then also hand form the copper buttons that you apply to it."  clearly demonstrating she prefers to not be restricted in her work and rather a "break the rules of norms" kind of artist, knowing full well that you have to know where the lines are in order to cross them.  

As well as the many years of specialty classes that she has taught Trish has been honored to directly mentor many artists including accomplished Metis Artist Carly Nabess in hide work and who gifted the beautiful logo for Terrace Raven and Crow Rehab Sanctuary Society (TRACRS), and currently in 2024 is mentoring the amazing Gitxsan artist Hlox Majagalee  of the Fireweed Clan in her "Our Wealth Is Copper" project which is funded through a grant from the First Peoples Cultural Council.  

For Business Administration Support Services: go to "Services and Program for Organizations" on the menu at the top of this page. 

Trish has made significant contributions the the Metis Nation in BC. She served on various levels including as President of Northwest BC Metis Association, MNBC Region Region 6 (Northwest) Women's Representative, and was a member of the MNBC Governance Council. Trish has also served as the RDKS Alternate Director for Electoral Area "E" sitting in for Ted Ramsey and on the Thornhill Advisory Planning Council. Additionally she founded and operates Terrace Raven and Crow Rehab Sanctuary (TRACRS). Her active community involvement extends to raising awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).