Lac La Biche-area artist Andrew Boostrum is preserving and expressing his Métis heritage through his artwork.
His traditional artwork includes colourful dreamcatchers, medicine wheels, carved walking sticks, and jewellery. Some of his works are on display in local schools, including the Lac La Biche Outreach School – one of five operated by the Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) division – where he also volunteers a cultural teacher.
For the past few years, Boostrum has been volunteering at the outreach school. Helping out at the school has afforded him the opportunity to teach students about his culture.
“If they’re willing to learn, I’m willing to teach it,” he told Lakeland This Week. “I love to share my work…I always did.”
Some of Boostrum’s more distinctive works include a large dreamcatcher that he recently donated to the outreach school which is being used to teach students about the Seven Sacred Teachings.
This dreamcatcher, he explains, was requested by a school official, who provided him with ideas of what they wanted for the project. In many Indigenous cultures, dreamcatchers were traditionally hung over a cradle or bed to be used as protection against bad dreams and nightmares.
Not all of Boostrum’s works are solely about Indigenous culture. He draws from the many cultures of the Lac La Biche Culture. One example, he said are the walking sticks he likes to craft. While many have Indigenous designs, others offer references to other cultures.
A recent project saw Boostrum create a walking stick engraved with the Lords’ Prayer, written in Arabic. The walking sticks, like many of his art pieces have seen many transitions over the years.
When he first started making walking sticks, Boostrum used butter knives and a torch to burn into the wood to make the designs on the wooden sticks. However, these days, he uses modern tools for these creations.
All of his projects are done inside of the carpentry shop situated next to his home.
“When I was younger, I used to work in a carpenter shop,” Boostrum said, explaining that during his career, he worked for the Alberta government as well as various nonprofit organizations.
Always being resourceful, the veteran artist uses a wide range of repurposed materials for his projects, including jewellery and beads, which he purchases from thrift shops.
The large dreamcatcher that is on display inside of the Lac La Biche Outreach School was constructed out of items such as moose and deer hide, bandanas, and cloth.
“I’ve got so many ways of using things,” he said, explaining that he’s always been a creative person.
As a child, he was raised around family members who made a living by trapping. It was during this time that he was also exposed to various forms of traditional Indigenous artwork, and at the age of six, he set out making his own art.
“I have seen many types of artwork and I just carried it on from there,” he said, explaining that he is a self-taught artist and never did any formal education in this area.
In addition to providing a creative outlet, Boostrum’s art has also helped to get him through sickness.
Pieces like the large dreamcatcher at the Outreach School normally aren’t sold to organizations. Boostrum says simply offering the pieces and seeing them appreciated can be payment enough.
“I don’t like selling my work,” he stated. “I give a lot of it away.”