Canada Council Grant Supports Mi’kmaq Photographer

Patricia Bourque began as a self-taught photographer and has been working as a professional for five years. Funding allowed her to attend a workshop in PEI to hone her craft.

Artist steps out of her comfort zone

Patricia Bourque has been photographing events in her Mi’kmaq community for over 10 years, using her own DSLR camera, flash and light box. She realized recently that to grow as an artist, she needed to learn from someone with more experience. She had long admired photographer Dave Brosha’s work, so when she learned he would be at the 2019 Land & See photography workshop in Charlottetown, she was keen to attend.

Paying it forward by sharing the teachings

In July 2019, Bourque attended Land & See, where she had the opportunity to watch Dave Brosha work and to grow from his teachings. She is now planning a show for later this year entitled “Beyond the Regalia.” She will produce portraits of Mi’kmaq women that strip away stereotypes, capturing them in studio, in nature or wherever they are most comfortable. Bourque plans to apply what she learned at the workshop and share the teachings with other aspiring photographers.