Part 1:
Visions of Heaphen Photography along with Every Women Empowered, Missing Cara, Stolen Sisters & Brothers Awareness Movement and Aurora Hair and Makeup Artistry collaborated on a project to bring awareness of the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Project Change.
Deonna Fetzko is the sole force behind Aurora Hair and Makeup Artistry. Raised in a predominantly Cree community, she has always felt a strong attachment to First Nations Cultures and Traditions, but only recently uncovered her own Cree Heritage. She draws inspiration from the lessons and lore of her ancestors in many cultures to create her body paint and SFX works.
When she heard about this project to help bring light to the issues surrounding our First Nations people's still and more specifically our Indigenous women, Deonna jumped at the chance to do something to connect with and show her love and support for her community.
April Eve: Her paint is representative of the different ways we mourn the loss of culture and the loss of our loved ones. White represents mourning and the strong black lines accentuate victory in her ability to bring power to the loss. Showing that a way to seek justice is empowering and honors the memories of those fallen.
Brianna: The makeup represents the strength and courage of our youth. The black is on her eyes to show that she believes that we can make great victories and changes in her life time, that these losses will not be in vain. The white dots below her eyes represent the tears shed by those mourning the loss of the women of the red dress, the lost lives and the lost connections.
Shawna: The red hand is a representation of our leaders call to arms. Red represents strength and a warriors vitality and courage as well as the blood of battle. We will not be silenced in our call to arms.
I was honored when Shawna J Serniak came to me and asked if I’d be interested in collaborating with her on a Red Dress Project.
Each blog I post, I will have a little write-up on each of the ladies that were a part of this project. This blog we have, Shawna, April and Deonna.
Shawna is the founder and Motivational Speaker at Every Women Empowered. Shawna J Serniak is an international Motivational Speaker. In 2012 she Founded Every Woman Empowered and in 2016 the charity, Every Woman Empowered Endowment Fund.
Shawna is a strong Metis woman, from Canada who believes in empowering all people to better themselves through learning, changing and growing.
April Eve Medicinespiritdancer is the founder of Stolen Sisters & Brothers Awareness Movement April Eve Wiberg is nehiyaw iskwêw, advocate and founding member of the Stolen Sisters & Brothers Awareness Movement (SSBAM), a 100% grassroots movement raising awareness on the national epidemic of Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Formerly named the Stolen Sisters Awareness Movement, the Stolen Sisters Awareness Walks were created in Edmonton on May 5th 2007 to honor the victims, support families and survivors and to raise widespread awareness to the disproportionate number of missing and murdered Métis, Inuit, Non Status and First Nations Women and Girls in Canada.
Ms. Wiberg is a proud mother of two, an Edmontonian and member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation whose traditional territory covers a large portion of Northeastern Alberta (Treaty 8). She comes from a large blended bi-racial family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters. April Eve is an intergenerational survivor of the residential school system and in her lifetime has overcome addiction, racism, homelessness, abuse and exploitation.
Ms. Wiberg continues to strive at breaking the cycle of poverty and violence by being a hardworking advocate and volunteer. April Eve is actively involved in her community and has committed herself to being a strong voice against sexual exploitation, racism and human rights abuses.
Contact April Eve: M: 780.224.2323 E: stolensistersawareness@hotmail.com
This one image that I took and edited speaks volumes. A powerful image. Three beautiful ladies showing power. No more silence, we will be heard and there will be Change.
The shoot took place in my studio. VOH Studios. We were hoping to be able to do a few outdoors, but with the weather the way it was cold, raining and trying to snow we decided it was best to stay indoors.
My name is Heather Fryer I’m the lady behind the lens and creator of Visions of Heaphen Photography. (Pronounced Heaven) You can also find a lot of my work at my Instagram.
I spent some time researching images of the red dress. I had a vision of what I wanted to create with my photography and turn the photos into art. I had a meeting with Shawna and showed her what my vision was. She loved it. Over the next few weeks I will start working on my vision.
I searched all the places for a red bench to use in the photos. a local man named Lawrence makes them. Never realized how big it was till we put it in the studio. I love it. This will be a beautiful addition to my props.
I grew up with two talented ladies that I admired. My gramma was an artist and taught me so much about shadows and light. My mom was crafty and would help me create projects. Mom would tell me all the time “ I love your photography.” I feel they are both with me on all my shoot projects, when I’m editing and creating art. Most of my photography has a painted kind of feel to them.
My Dad is from New Brunswick and has Miꞌkmaq roots. My Daughter’s Grand Mother is from Hudson Hope and has Cree Heritage.
I had the pleasure of meeting so many beautiful ladies yesterday at the studio and I hope to stay connected to each and every one of them.
We are working on a Gallery reveal once the photos are edited. I will be posting the dates ahead of time to let everyone mark their calendars.
More images to come. We hope to spread the word that Change needs to happen NOW.