Draft:Saige Mukash

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Saige Mukash
Born1996 or 1997

Saige Mukash (born 1996 or 1997), also known as Nalakwsis, is a Canadian Cree (Eeyou Istchee) and Abenaki beadworker, photographer, illustrator,[1] and digital artist.[2]

Early and personal life

Mukash hails from Whapmagoostui, Quebec, where they live with their parents and two siblings.[3][4] Their grandfather, Matthew Mukash, is the former grand chief of the Cree Nation.[2] They moved to Montreal as a child,[5] and attended F.A.C.E. School.[4] In 2013, they participated in Journey of Nishiyuu, a protest march organized by Idle No More.[6][7]

Mukash is non-binary and two-spirit,[1] and uses they/them pronouns.[3][8]

Career

After completing school, they returned to their Cree community and founded an art business called Nalakwsis in the late 2010s.[4]

In 2018, Mukash was named to the Magenta Foundation Flash Forward awards. Mukash's photographs were portraits of indigenous people smiling in their traditional regalia, a direct reference to portraits taken in residential schools of indigenous children with cut hair wearing Western clothing.[9]

In 2019, Mukash's online "Bead This In Your Style" challenge gained traction among Indigenous beadworkers.[3]

By 2022, Mukash had partnered with electronic music group The Halluci Nation to create graphics for their stage shows.[10] In 2023, Mukash's art was featured in the CBC documentary series Telling Our Story.[2]

Exhibitions

  • Through memory, 2025 La Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone, Montreal[1]

Awards

  • 2021 Youth Artist of the Year, Cree Native Arts & Crafts Association[8]

References

  1. Beavis, Lori. "Nalakwsis". La Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  2. "Meet the Indigenous artists featured in Telling Our Story". CBC. 2023-09-19.
  3. Deer, Ka’nhehsí:io (2019-08-25). "Meet the Cree artist behind the 'Bead This In Your Style' challenge". CBC.
  4. Matthews, Immanuel (2017-11-07). "Work of passion gains momentum". The Concordian. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  5. "Indigenous Artist Left Montreal To Find The Community They Needed Back Home". HuffPost. 2018-11-26. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  6. Atkinson, Cathryn (2013-03-18). "Indigenous youth on epic journey to Ottawa deserve attention and respect". rabble.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  7. "Cree Idle No More walkers reach Algonquin community". CBC. 2013-03-06.
  8. "Nalakwsis". Cree Native Arts & Crafts Association. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  9. "In photos: Through the eyes of Saige Mukash". The Globe and Mail. 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  10. "The Halluci Nation - Millennium Stage (November 12, 2022)". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved 2025-09-16.