“I’m grateful to be different, to see the word through my own lens. I’m grateful that I was a wilting flower and now I’m blooming.” – Raintree Shipman
by Raintree Shipman (Langley)
I was born in London, Ontario. My Band is Walpole Island. I am half Anishinaabe and half Cree.
Growing up in the foster care system was like standing in front of judge and jury, absolute strangers telling you things you don’t even have the comprehension to understand. I ended up there because both of my parents carried the intergenerational trauma of residential schools. My Mom drank which left me and my siblings with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. I also suffer from social anxiety, dyslexia and depression. I wasn’t diagnosed until my teens which made school not a fun place.
I’m grateful for my family who help me move forward in life, and in the toughest of times they support me no matter what.
I’m grateful that I was born with my Dad’s gift for art. He was a painter. I’m grateful to be different, to see the word through my own lens. I’m grateful that I was a wilting flower and now I’m blooming.
What can I say about the pandemic? It started across the sea and I didn’t think it would get far. Then it spread across the country shutting things down.
Raintree’s photography has been on display at the Ministry of Health Art Gallery in Victoria.
On March 19, 2020 my sister saw a tree in the park near our house. Every day I posted a shot of this tree to remind people that life outside of the small world of COVID-19 simply continues and thrives. I did this for 123 days.
This pandemic forced us to grow and survive under new circumstances. I look forward to the new normal and to the change in the way people treat each other.
I also look forward to building my photography practice. In May, my work was chosen for display at the Ministry of Health Art Gallery in Victoria B.C. I feel so much gratitude for being given this chance to show my photographs. I have never displayed my work for the general public to see and was nervous to take a step and show it off.
I’m ever so thankful for the support I received from my family.
Raintree’s Photography
You can visit Raintree’s Etsy store to see her photography and purchase prints at: www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ShutterstoreDesigns
You can also follow her on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/shutter.madness