Aboriginal - Girls Action Foundation

War Shirt Woman: Joane Cardinal-Schubert
By Patricia Jones
Art established a new beginning for Aboriginal people in Canada, causing uproar and
praise from critics and admirers in the craft of creating. Uprooting the strength and
agony of the past in order to concoct a beauty that had been hidden behind closed doors
for centuries. Art is a chance for Aboriginal people to show their true colors and start to
erase the stereotyping and consumption of their people. While doing so making actual
and undeniably moving historical markers, putting Aboriginal people on the world map
to stand immoveable and concrete. Joane Cardinal-Schubert was a force to be reckoned
with in the art world, defined through her outspoken and frequently brutal sense of
identity. Joane was a war shirt woman: a warrior willing to sacrifice it all in order for the
world to partake of her art and her strength as an Aboriginal woman. Partnered perfectly
with her traditional influenced modern art Joanne began her journey to teach not only
the art world of her Blackfoot roots, but set out to educate the public about her people
and our on-going struggle to survive.
Joane was born in Red Deer Alberta during the year 1942. Beginning her post-secondary
career at the Alberta College of Art and Design. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine
Art Degree majoring in printmaking and painting in 1977 and eventually received a
Doctorate degree; both from the University of Calgary. In my own family tree I have
been blessed to have Joane as my third cousin on my father’s side. My great-grandfather
Henry Lee’s sister Martha Caroline Lee was Joane’s grandmother. I was regretfully never
close to Joane and only had the privilege of meeting her once. My father Heber Lee
Jones, my brother Lane Jones, and I were honorary parade marshals in the Crow’s Nest
Pass’ annual Rum Runner Days in Blairmore, Alberta. Along with my family Joane was
also an honorary parade marshal, after the parade had ended Joane approached my
father and said “ You’re Heber Jones, aren’t you? I’m you’re cousin Joane”. My father
had never met her and she was his second cousin, but much younger. She spoke to me
and my family and explained that she was an artist, but I had no idea of the magnitude of
her success. When I tried to contact her she had just passed away of cancer in September
2009. Joane continues to dominate the art world and although her voice cannot not be
heard anymore, her spirit is reborn through the ongoing significance of her work.
Patricia Jones
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