Jessica Somers – Odanak Abenaki

Cultural Background: Odanak Abenaki, Ontario

Jessica Somers was born in Sudbury Ontario and is currently residing in Lavigne Ontario. She is Odanak Abenaki and her grandmother is also Métis. She is greatly influenced by her grandmother who enjoyed creating scenic and wildlife paintings. Her father’s passion for carpentry and his hard work ethics and determination are what attributed to her success as an artist today.

Jessica loves creating paintings that represent knowledge of the natural world we learn and share through generations. Jessica is captivated by the teachings by elders in her community and her Nation. She creates art that connects to these teachings. This honors her ancestors while also ensuring the knowledge is passed on. Jessica uses her artwork as self-reflection, a way of seeking peace, sharing knowledge, teaching moral lessons, and/or telling stories. Jessica believes that art has been survival, a way of holding on to stories and history, embodying a way of life, and expressing and sharing Indigenous identities.

Cultural origin: Abenaki from Odanak, Ontario

Jessica Somers was born in Sudbury, Ontario and currently resides in Lavigne, Ontario. She is Abenaki from Odanak and her grandmother is also Métis. She is greatly influenced by her grandmother who loved to paint landscapes and wildlife. Her father’s passion for woodworking, his work ethic and determination are what led to her success as an artist today.

Jessica enjoys creating paintings that represent the knowledge of the natural world that is learned and shared from generation to generation. Captivated by the teachings of her community and nation elders, Jessica creates artwork that connects with them, honouring her ancestors while ensuring that their knowledge is passed down. Her artwork serves as a means of self-reflection, peace-seeking, knowledge sharing, moral teaching, and storytelling. Jessica believes that art is a way of life, a way to preserve stories and history, embody a way of life, and express and share Indigenous identities.

Artwork by Indigenous Artist Jessica Somers