Art Practice & Services
Art Therapy
Leanna is both a clinician and artist. She earned her Masters in Social Work in 2005 and graduated as registered art therapist in 2023. She has always used art-making in her clinical practice as a way for people to understand their experiences in a meaningful and visual way. In her own arts practice, Leanna tells stories of her ancestors and of the land through textiles, performance art, community art and poetry. Leanna explores metaphors using textiles to help explore hidden, painful areas of life while at the same time using it as a source of reclamation, comfort and strength.
Leanna is a second-language learner. She is slowly and lovingly learning Anishnaabemowin.
Performance Art
Leanna is a member of Zhaaboshkaa Collective – a performance based collective whose focus is on responding to the needs of, and caring for our community. Zhaaboshkaa has created 2 powerful performances that centred around processing and resisting colonial and environmental violence. We work collectively with community members using art, movement, and ceremony. The Zhaaboshkaa Collective centre’s their work around creating comfort and strengthening relationships with Mother Earth.
Writing
Leanna writes to express social inequities and demonstrate actions of kind-heartedness to work through the effects of colonial violence. Leanna’s writing is integral to her arts practice. Leanna writes poetry as a response and narration of spiritual and physical realities.
She has her poems and essays published in several art gallery catalogues across Ontario. She is proud to have one of her poems published in the book: Before the Usual time: A Collection of Indigenous Stories and Poems.
Community Art
Leanna truly believes that people's quality of life is increased when we are collaborating and creating together. Leanna facilitates community art-based groups and programs. These programs are designed to meet the needs of the community or group. Leanna has hosted Art Hives- a community art studio that welcomes everyone as a creative being. She has designed an art-based, anti-racism workshop series, Lean into Love self-esteem series, Loving the Land series, Skirt-Making & Poetry series, and Arting Anishnaabemowin Series. Leanna also co-hosts hide-tanning and softening workshops with her sister, Jean.
