Self portrait with chickadee by Dawn Saunders Dahl in Canmore

Dawn is a passionate advocate for Artists and Indigenous arts communities in Alberta. Since 2008, through various public art initiatives, exhibitions, projects, and events, Dawn's work has and continues to be influenced by her deep connection to the land, her ancestral heritage, and her commitment to learning. Dawn is of European (English, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, Swedish, French) descent and Red River Métis ancestry (Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Chippewa). She is honoured to be a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and was gifted a Iethka (Stoney) name. Her strong support for Indigenous rights grew stronger when she attended the last Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Edmonton. There, she pledged to acknowledge her own advantages and work to include Indigenous viewpoints in her roles in arts management. Dawn did not grow up in a Métis home, her upbringing was difficult and led to changing her name (she was born with the surname Grouette). Dawn’s interest in knowing more about her ancestry led her to explore museums and archives in Alberta and Winnipeg. She uncovered Métis Scrips, books, and articles about her family, and gained valuable insights into her roots. She continues to explore her ancestry, uncovering the history of her European grandparents, Point a Grouette (now known as Ste. Agathe, Manitoba) and colonialisms’ continued impact on her work and studio practices. In addition to her involvement in the arts administration, Dawn fosters her own art practice. She maintains Studio 209 as part of the Artists of Elk Run artist group in Canmore. Her studio work reflects her personal history and strives to initiate dialogue and raise awareness about community, culture, and identity. Drawing inspiration from her ancestry and her family's farming background in Alberta, Dawn's practice has evolved to explore the connections between land, community, blood memory, identity, and ghosts. She utilizes watercolours, oils, clay, film, Polaroid and draws inspiration from Indigenous place names, intending to highlight their importance in her creative endeavours. She also collects soil and water in jars from the farms where her family members lived, anchoring her artworks with a deep connection to the land. Dawn pursued her education at Red Deer College and holds two Bachelor of Fine Art degrees in Painting and Ceramics from the University of the Arts (formerly ACAD) in Calgary. She started her administrative work while still in art school, volunteered for Untitled Art Society (now the Bows) in Calgary until 2006. Since then, she has made significant contributions to the art community, establishing The Works Art & Design Festival's Indigenous Art Program in 2008 and working in the public art department at the Edmonton Arts Council from 2012 to 2015 to develop and manage public art projects, including the Indigenous Art Park. In 2015, Dawn accepted a position within the Town of Canmore Arts and Events Department and initiated National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, as well as managed temporary and permanent public art projects. Presently, Dawn holds positions at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Galerie Cite at La Cite Francophone in Edmonton, and serves as the Curator of Indigenous Public Art for Adisoke, the Ottawa Public Library and National Library and Archives Joint Facility (opening in 2026). Her dedication to the craft community is evident through her involvement as a board member for the Alberta Craft Council, the Canadian Crafts Federation, where she proudly represents Alberta. She also serves on Prairie Arts Network board, University of Calgary Nickle Art collections and Town of Canmore Cultural Advisory committees. Additionally, Dawn is in the developmental stages of launching Listen Studios and Retreats (website coming soon!) demonstrating her commitment to creativity. Through her diverse roles and projects, she continues to advocate for artistic and Indigenous communities, to find ways through reconcile-action to deepen her understanding the land, her ancestry, and her commitments.