A poet, painter, and educator, Sarain Stump was also named Sock-a-jaw-wu, meaning “the one who pulls the boat.”  Largely self-taught, Stump’s work frequently explored Indigenous icons, including bears, bison, teepees, and heroically-depicted warriors, as well as more abstract forms, vacillating between realistic depictions and symbolic imagery. He endeavoured to promote traditional Indigenous values and encouraged many to take pride in their Indigenous roots. His 1969 book There is My People Sleeping influenced a generation of Indigenous artists and writers with its combination of poems and original drawings.