We are honoured to introduce to you April Dawn Tobin Griffin, the artist whose work has been presented to Kelly Bron Johnson, recipient of the 4th Annual Jim and Ginette Munson Autism Leadership Award at our 11th Annual Canadian Autism Leadership Summit (CALS2025)!

April is an Indigenous artist and an autism advocate based in Arborfield, Saskatchewan, where she is pursuing a degree in Psychology and Anthropology. 

April is proud of her mixed and complex identity. Her family has roots in the Saskatchewan Nipawin and Tobin Lake area, situated in Cree and Metis Territory, as well as in Fleur de Lys Newfoundland–located along an ancient Paleo-Inuit soapstone quarry in Beothuck territory. 

April began painting at the age of eight with oil paints under the instruction of Prairie painter Margeret Rupert. Her art draws from her identity and experiences. She is a proud forest protector, working with her community to prevent a clear cutting in the Torch River Forest. She works to promote science-caused change across Saskatchewan to harvest and replant smarter.