Winter Spirit Wolf and Grandmother Moon

Title: B'boon Manidoo Ma'iingan minwaa Nokomis Giizis or Winter Spirit Wolf and Grandmother Moon

When I learned that my cousin was battling cancer, he was already walking close to the Spirit World. He had quietly carried his illness, sharing it with very few people.

Wanting to help with his treatments, he encouraged me to paint more in a Woodland-inspired style so that I could sell my artwork and support him.

This painting became my response to the overwhelming grief I felt after learning of his illness.

Growing up in Honey Harbour, my cousins and I spent our childhood exploring together like a pack of wolves. Those memories became the foundation of this piece. The wolves stand together while the spirit wolf rises toward Grandmother Moon, symbolizing the connection between this world and the next.

Only after completing the painting did I realize that Grandmother Moon carried the gentle features of my great-aunt—my cousin's mother—who had already walked on before him. I had painted her face without consciously intending to.

This painting honours love that continues beyond loss, reminding us that family remains connected across both worlds.