Ocean Hyland (Ts;simtelot)

Ocean Hyland (she/her) is an artist who works in the realms and media of painting, engraving, wood carving, and digital design. Along with her practices she enjoys wool weaving and learning about ethnobotany. Ocean currently lives in Qualicum Bay on Vancouver Island.

As a young woman, Ocean received the ancestral name ts;simtelot which was shared with her by her Mother. This name has been passed down through her family on her Cheam side. On her matrilineal side she is Tsleil Waututh, Squamish, Cheam, Hawaiian, and Chinese. Through her father she is Scottish and Irish. The richness and diversity of her cultural heritage is what inspires Ocean in her many art practices.

Ocean has studied at both Native education college specializing in NWC jewelry arts, and at Simon Fraser University focusing on the sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim, building up her proficiency in one of her mother tongues. She has also gained valuable knowledge apprenticing with creators `Zachary George and Aaron Nelson Moody.