Cousin Bear Comes to Visit

A tender tale of two cousins

In Cousin Bear Comes to Visit, Métis artist Halie Finney introduces us to Francis the Bear as she prepares to reunite with her cousin. The pair haven’t seen one another in quite a while, so it’s time to catch up, laugh–and uncover Cousin’s big secret.

This debut work by Finney reveals a small snippet of the mythology of characters that she has created and modeled after her own hometown and the people who reside there. She uses the tales that come from her imagined world to explore themes of Family, nostalgia, and grief from Indigenous and small-town perspectives.

About the Author

Halie Finney is a multidisciplinary Métis artist who was raised in a little hamlet called Canyon Creek in northern Alberta. It’s the same area her mom, and her grandparents, and probably her great-grandparents were raised. They share the same gravel roads, creek, lake, neighbours, and many other things. Her work calls back memories of her hometown and often celebrates nostalgia, grief, comfort, and other feelings you might have if you’re deeply rooted in a small town.

Nowadays, Halie lives in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), where she continues her art practice alongside her work as a tattoo artist. She has shown her work locally and internationally, is a core member of Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, and does a bit of illustration too.

Publication Details

ISBN: 9781772620993
120 pages, 4.25 x 6.25 inches
b&w, trade paper
September 2024