Richard’s path to academia and art was non-linear. Having overcome past homelessness and the challenges of undiagnosed dyslexia, he has profoundly re-purposed his life. Much like his sculptural practice of renewing digital, found and natural materials, he has reshaped his own trajectory from a former tradesman into an artistic and academic one. He recently served as the VP of Internal Affairs for the Métis Students of USask. His resilience and dedication have been recognized with a dozen academic honours, most notably the Peter Stoicheff Undergraduate Indigenous Leadership Award.