Abstract

An exploration of Thornton's work reveals an attempt by a woman to push the boundaries of her own creativity, as well as the limitations and restrictions embedded in a society that sought to delineate the space between aboriginal and Euro-Canadian people along racial lines. Her written and visual material read together provide an example of an alternative to traditional iconography and stereotypical representations of Native people. Yet, her work cannot be removed from the context of art production by Euro-Canadian artists of the early 20th century, who were interested in "salvaging" aboriginal traditions and customs through their brushes and palettes, sometimes with total disregard for the actual people. This multi-faceted and conflicting process is what defines Thornton's work, and provides an opportunity to explore issues of cultural appropriation as well as the complexity of human relations.