Cultural Background: Denesuline (Chipewyan), Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Dawn Oman, born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and is a direct descendant of Chief Snuff, Chief of the Yellow Knives, one of the signers of the original Treaty 8 with the Government of Canada. After moving to Vancouver as a teenager, she began seriously applying herself to her art, and in 1995, Dawn moved back to Yellowknife where she opened her own gallery in 1999. She continues to paint and welcome visitors and collectors from across Canada and around the world.
The recipient of both the Peoples Choice and Artists Choice Awards at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, Dawn’s art was chosen by the Royal Canadian Mint for the Festivals of Canada Series silver 50 cent collectors coin.