A tender tale of two cousins
In Cousin Bear Comes to Visit, Metis artist Halie Finney introduces us to Francis the Bear as she prepares to reunite with her cousin. The pair haven't seen one another in quite awhile, so it's time to catch up, laugh–and uncover Cousin's big secret.
This debut work by Halie reveals a small snippet of the mythology of characters that she has created and modeled after her own hometown and the people who reside there. She uses the tales that come from her imagined world to explore themes of Family, nostalgia, and grief from Indigenous and small town perspectives.

Halie Finney's profile page

Halie Finney is a multidisciplinary Metis artist who was raised in a little hamlet called Canyon Creek in northern Alberta. It's the same area her mom, and her grandparents, and probably her great grandparents were raised. They share the same gravel roads, creek, lake, neighbors, and many other things. Her work calls back memories of her hometown and often celebrates feelings of nostalgia, grief, comfort, and other feelings you might have if you're deeply rooted in a small town.
Nowadays, Halie lives in Amiskwaciwaskahikan (Edmonton), where she continues her art practice alongside her work as a tattoo artist. She has shown her work locally and internationally, is a core member of Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, and does a bit of illustration too.