STEFANIE N. MARCHAND
Indigenous visual artist/craftswoman, cultural teacher
Stefanie (aickwala) is a multi-disciplinary artist and enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. Given the name “aickwala” (meadowlark) by her elders for the songs she sang loudly in the Sweat House as a child, her creative voice has been a guiding force throughout her life. Stefanie’s life’s work reflects her deep commitment to strengthening the connection between Native peoples and cultural identity—because when we know who we are, we can see where we are going. She believes that when Indigenous people grow their connections to their ancestors and roots, it brings healing not only to the individual, but to the community as a whole.
Her unconditional love for her people and Indigenous culture fuels her passion to create and share through many forms of art. Her work includes: painting (oil and acrylic), drawing, sewing (regalia and ceremonial wear), beadwork, pine-needle basket weaving, illustration, singing/drumming, and design. Stefanie also teaches various art forms and cultural practices as a way to pass on knowledge and support healing in community.
Unlimited by canvas, Stefanie has worked professionally as a Cultural Specialist, helping individuals reconnect with their Native identities through art and traditional practices. She is a licensed Substance Abuse Counselor, with a focus on advocating for Native people and bringing culturally rooted healing into different spaces.
Born and raised in Okanogan, Washington, on the Colville Indian Reservation, Stefanie now resides in Seattle Washington. Her work has been featured in several group exhibitions, art auctions, and an independent exhibition in the Spokane Public Library system, as well as in newspapers across the Pacific Northwest.
