Mother Earth Turtle

With the world on its back, this turtle sculpture is a symbol of interconnectedness of all life.

Soapstone
Approx. 16 x 12 x 3 cm

Tonia hails from Ohsweken Ontario, Canada and has been carving since 2006. She represents one of a very small number of female Haudenosaunee stone carvers. She is enamored by the extractive nature of stone, despite its irreversibility.

The subjects of Tonia’s work include the Mohawk clan animals (bear, wolf, and turtle) and singular more abstract pieces that center around Indigenous women and the challenges they face.

Tonia holds degrees in Native Studies from Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario) and in Art Foundations from White Mountain Academy of the Arts (Elliot Lake, Ontario). In addition to her work in soapstone, she expresses in painting, printmaking, and fashion design.