Audrey’s journey

I am an Indigenous Cree woman from the Bigstone Cree Nation in Wabasca, Alberta. I was born in Dawson Creek, BC on April 7, 1968, raised in Chetwynd, and later lived in Calgary for several years. I eventually planned to return north, but a stop in Revelstoke changed my life — I found home there, and it’s where I raised my son as a single mother.

While living in Revelstoke, I traveled back and forth to Calgary to complete my PCA course, with the goal of continuing into nursing. When my practicum was unexpectedly delayed for three months, my path shifted. During that time, I discovered a deposit of BC jade and serpentine. I tried selling the raw stone to buyers across Nunavik and BC, but no one wanted to pay the price I asked.

One day, standing alone in front of the pile of stone in my yard, I heard a whisper: “What does it take?” Suddently, I saw a tiny bear inside one of the stones. I picked up a wooden chisel and began carving — as if my hands already knew what to do. The bear emerged quickly, and I realized I had a gift.

I tried another stone. Then another. I felt the power, the energy, and the presence of spirit in each piece. Soon I was carving larger stones — a cougar, an eagle’s head, and more.

I emailed Nations across BC, introducing myself as a Cree stone sculptor. I received one reply: an invitation to the Splitting the Sky art competition. I was told to bring three pieces, but I only had two. With only days to prepare, I looked into the stones again and saw a grandmother spirit waiting to be revealed. I carved her and traveled to Cranbrook with my son, who was 17 at the time. At that show, I won two awards for the third sculpture I had ever created.

From there, my journey grew. I continued sculpting, building a collection of high‑end artwork. I sold pieces at the local farmers market, where I was invited to showcase at the prestigious Dale Auger & Friends event. That led to an invitation to the Calgary Stampede the following summer.

In 2003, I opened my first art gallery, which I still proudly operate today in Malakwa, BC. I continue to heal from a brain injury, and that journey inspires every piece I create. Today, I carve stone, paint, and create artwork from the images that come alive from within the stone, and I share my gallery space with other artists.