See. I Am One. envisions everything connected to everything else, water as one entity whose health encapsulates ecological and social balance for generations to come. Cheryl considers water one whole being with rights, and a hopeful shift in how natural scientists and industry include, rank, and work with social scientists who can represent affected communities^[1] voices. The exhibit reflects the findings, influences, and experiences that shaped Cheryl’s research-creation journey within G.R.O.W., a large-scale Genome Canada project to enhance constructed treatment wetland systems to clean oil sands tailings pond water. Her research included tailings pond water, microbes, wetland plants, Indigenous and nonindigenous affected community¹ members, natural and social scientists, researchers across Canada, and government and industry representatives. The G.R.O.W. project proposal is for constructed treatment wetland systems situated on Treaty 8 and 10 Territories of the Denesuline, Woodland Cree, and Chipewyan First Nations, Inuvialuit people of the NWT, and the Homelands of Alberta Métis Districts 5 and 6. Cheryl is the first visual artist positioned to study the inner workings of a science-based, oil industry remediation project of this scope - an innovative interdisciplinary step towards balancing power for all participants.

Blending art and science exemplifies the collaborative effectiveness of addressing the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability, water security, and human rights. See. I Am One. supports regenerative sustainability by confronting uncomfortable truths about extraction and interdisciplinarity, and uncovering power imbalances. Cheryl’s work commented on the weak and strong collaborations and in some places, the lack of inclusion. USASK’s School of Environment and Sustainability's unprecedented permission for Cheryl’s master of environment and sustainability thesis to be expressed as an art exhibit, allowed her to create a platform of knowledge and inquiry more accessible than the conventional scientific thesis paper.

[1] An affected community or person(s) directly affected by oil sands remediation through place, rights, experience, impacts, or livelihood.

Cheryl Buckmaster is an artist educated at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design; and is a Master’s student in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. Currently in Canada, G.R.O.W., a large-scale genomics research project is being conducted for the optimization of constructed treatment wetlands to help clean oil sands processed water. Cheryl conducted research-creation to balance power for decision-making within the G.R.O.W. project. Cheryl’s artwork creates a public platform to communicate in a more accessible way.