Natesa Medlicott-Kappo, 2025 award recipient

Natesa Medlicott-Kappo is an emerging Nehiyaw artist and Indigenous rights activist from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 Territory Alberta. Natesa was taught traditional Nehiyaw arts from a young age and she incorporates these practices in her work. She has a diploma in visual art and design from Northwestern Polytechnic and  a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Natesa is a mixed-media artist that focuses on Indigenous arts, new media, textiles, and installation and she is currently the artist in residence at Arts Habitat Edmonton’s McLuhan studio

Natesa has had group shows in various Alberta galleries and her work is owned by Northwestern Polytechnic, The City of Grande Prairie, and the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre. She has been the recipient of numerous awards. Natesa is currently working on a public monument that will honor the traditional caretakers of Treaty 8’s Peace Region in Grande Prairie, Alberta.