Hi, I’m Cailin
I’m a Mi’kmaw graphic designer from Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia, with a passion for creating visual work that connects and inspires. My work is rooted in my heritage, Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing), and guided by the teachings of my ancestors, blending cultural insight with creative strategy.
When I’m not working on Paperina, you’ll probably find me feeding pigeons at the local park.
What is Paperina?
Paperina means “little duck” in Italian; a nickname my grandfather gave me when I was a kid. It felt like the perfect name for the little world I’ve created around my art.
As an urban Indigenous person, I’ve often found myself looking for Indigenous art that reflected the things I love: pop culture, nostalgia, nerd culture, and my experiences as an Indigenous person today. I wanted to see more work that felt like it was made for people like me, so I decided to make it myself.
Paperina is my way of bringing those worlds together. I create prints, beadwork and stickers that blend Indigenous perspectives with the things that inspire me. Right now, Paperina lives primarily at markets, where I get to share my work directly with the people who connect with it.