Tenille Campbell

Head and shoulders photograph portrait of Tenille Campbelle. She has long dark brown hair and wears a green shirt, light grey knitted cardigan and long earrnings. She is outdoors and the light is golden and warm.

Tenille Campbell is an award-winning poet and has published two poetry books: #IndianLove: Poems (2017) and Nedí Nezų (Good Medicine) (2021), and a professional photographer as the owner of sweetmoon photography. Campbell has been described as a “Daughter of Northern Saskatchewan” with Dene and Métis roots and hails from English River First Nation, with ties to Batoche, Duck Lake and St. Louis. Currently, she resides in Saskatoon and is pursuing her doctorate in English at the University of Saskatchewan. Learn more about Tenille Campbell and her work at tenillecampbell.com

Her 2024 residency focused on themes of friendship and joy, through photo portraits and self-love poetry. 

2024 Residency

The project by Tenille Campbell, our 2024 Indigenous Storyteller In Residence (ISIR) is up for viewing! "Framing Community" is the name of Tenille's polaroid project, and can be seen on the first floor of the Murray library, just outside of Room 134 (where her office was located). The photos will remain on display until the fall of 2024.

Embark on a visual journey that explores the intersection of Polaroids, womanhood, and community in the new project by the Indigenous Storyteller in Residence Tenille K Campbell called "Framing Community." This initiative harnessed the unique storytelling power of instant photography to amplify the voices of women and marginalized individuals within our community. Participants sat for a Polaroid portrait, capturing candid moments that reflect the diverse narratives of resilience, strength, and empowerment. Participants then decorated the back of their portraits, based on four prompts leaning towards self-care, self-love, affirmation and community awareness.

The project aims to challenge societal norms and redefine the narrative surrounding women by providing a platform for self-expression through the intimate medium of Polaroid photography. By fostering a sense of community, participants forged connections, shared experiences, and collectively created a visual tapestry that celebrates the multifaceted nature of feminism. “Framing Community” not only highlights the beauty in individual stories but also underscores the collective strength found within our shared struggles, promoting unity and solidarity.

Five grids of Poloroid photographs hang from the ceiling on the first floor of the Murray Library. Each Poloroid is a portrait of a person, the back of the photographs are decorated with drawings and writing. There are more Poloroids on the wall next to the mobile-like installation.