Thanking the Botwood Mural Arts Society endlessly for hosting this great festival, titled "LaRUE", mixed with rural and urban street art and live music. With 5 mural artists from across Newfoundland, and several local music artist from the East Coast, this trip to Botwood was another fantastic one.

I created this design in 2018 with hopes to bring it to life on a large scale in the future. Being asked multiple times what this piece was named while painting it, my mind went blank. I finally decided to title this painting "Here to Stay". Thinking of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Girls and Women movement, along with my own personal experiences, in my mind, this piece depicts the spirits of the women missing and no longer here with us - but they are. Their spirits will always surround us to keep us safe and watch over. My dad gave me the name 'Crow Feather' when I was younger for always finding crow feathers and being so excited about something so simple. Today, when I see a crow, I feel safe, I feel happy. It makes me think that someone is in a better place then they were before, but always here to stay.

I also think of my friend, Kyle when I look at this painting. He lost his battle this past April at such a young age and it has myself and many, many people at a loss. That being said we all know you're free, happy and enjoying life again and always here with us.

This piece carries a lot of emotion for myself and others I've came in contact with while painting, thank you for taking the time to read how this painting came about.