Lita Fontaine facts for kids

Lita Fontaine, born in 1958, is an amazing artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She creates many different kinds of art. Her art often shows the important roles of women in Indigenous communities, both long ago and today. Lita is proud of her heritage. She is part Dakota, Anishinaabe, and Métis.

Growing Up and Learning

Lita Fontaine was born in Portage la Prairie. She is a member of the Long Plain First Nation. Lita grew up in Winnipeg.

She studied art at the University of Manitoba. She earned her Diploma in 2000. Later, she got her Master's degree from the First Nations University of Canada in 2005.

Lita also taught drawing at the University of Manitoba. Her sister, Leah Fontaine, is also an artist and art teacher.

Her Art and Community Work

Lita Fontaine creates beautiful art using many different materials. She often uses traditional designs from her Anishinaabe and Dakota heritage. She also works on community art projects. For example, she has helped people make masks.

Her art has been shown in many places. She had solo shows at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2001. She also had shows at the Urban Shaman Gallery in 2006 and 2013. In 2015, her work was part of a big exhibition. It was called We Are On Treaty Land at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Since 2002, Lita has been an artist-in-residence. She works with the Seven Oaks School Division. This means she brings art experiences to students. She helps them learn through art. For instance, she guided students in creating a huge mural. It was called 'We Are All Treaty People'.

Lita also helps other artists. In 2009, she was a mentor. She guided artists in a program called Mentoring Artists for Women's Art.

In 2008, Lita showed a famous writer, Lucy Lippard, around the Whiteshell Provincial Park. They visited the ancient petroforms. These are rock formations made by Indigenous people long ago.