Keimi Nakashima-Ochoa/KNO is a racialized immigrant settler. He was born on the lands of the Pur’hépecha, the Coca, and the Tecuexe, with ancestors from what is colonially known as Mexico, as well as Japan. She is a Disabled, bilingual worker, learner, and artist whose practice incorporates a variety of creative avenues, like reading, writing, weaving, printmaking, and more. They spent most of their youth in Amiskwacîwâskahikan, and are now building their life on the occupied ancestral territories of the Skwxwú7mesh, Xwməθkwəyə̓m, and Səlilwətaɬ peoples.
Keimi’s previous work includes being a support worker and arts educator for Autistic folks of all ages, a library research assistant with a collection of artist books, communications and marketing coordination for multiple arts organizations, and being the co-manager of the Accessible Exhibitions and Programs department at grunt gallery. As a worker at WePress, their work includes things like grant writing, managing budgets, building an archive, and developing programs to support artists, makers, and neighbours in the Downtown Eastside.
His work and worldview have been shaped through his learning of Disability Justice, and Black Feminist theory. They are interested in anti-colonial research and learning, accessible spaces, and liberated futures.
How to find Keimi:
Keimi is a racially ambiguous short person with a round face and a soft fat body, with skin the colour of an almond milk latte. Her hair is the colour of dark-roast coffee beans, and is usually in some form of messy, buzzed-sides mullet formation. He has a loud (sometimes disruptive) laugh, and a voice that ranges from frilly and flowery to sharp and stony.
They like to wear bold earrings, a gold hoop on their septum, and they have a scattering of tattoos across their body. Their overall style prioritizes comfort in their body, which experiences chronic pain— usually their clothes are oversized and soft, with a nice drape or a sturdy structure.
Vitória Monteiro, more often known as “veto”, is the Artistic Engagement Director of WePress. veto is a Brazilian immigrant settler who was born in Belém do Pará and grew up between Recife (in the Northeast of Brazil) and Turtle Island. They have been building roots on ancestral lands of the Skwxwú7mesh, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ nations for the past 9 years. veto works as an artist, facilitator, and arts worker, focusing on creating gentle and joyful spaces that prioritize care.
veto brings extensive experience in program development, community facilitation, and accessibility-centred cultural work from their various roles at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Simon Fraser University and grunt gallery alongside their work in grassroots organizing. Building on their artistic practice, veto likes to work collaboratively to challenge traditional power structures and create alternative ways of sharing knowledge and resources. Their approach is rooted in experimental pedagogy, rhizomatic theory, and disability justice frameworks.
At WePress, they co-lead organizational development while working closely with peer workers, the board of directors, and community partners. They are working towards creating lasting, accessible opportunities for creative and artistic expression for the neighbours of the Downtown Eastside.
How to find veto:
veto is a short human with a fair olive complexion. They have wavey shoulder-length dark brown hair that is shaggy and messy (in a cool way) and is often up in a clip or hat. They have various piercings around their head, which include one in their septum and five in their ears, all of them gold hoops (think “pirate”). You will often encounter them with a hat on, wearing well-loved black Dr. Martens, headphones around their ears, and a knitting project on the go.
Semillites is a brown, trans visual artist and graphic designer based in Vancouver, Canada, on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. Born in Roma Norte, Mexico City, Semillites migrated north at the age of nineteen. His artwork primarily focuses on self-portraiture that celebrates imperfection and is driven by in-depth research into the cultural and social associations of color. His artwork are love letters to himself, his ancestors and every person, flower and grasshopper that has ever crossed his path.
As an arts worker, his goal is to foster collaborations, share skills, and listen to and learn from the communities he serves. At WePress, his focus is on using his skills to facilitate more accessible communication with artists/ crafters and organizations.
Some of the organizations he has proudly collaborated with are: Vancouver Foundation, Watari, Ignite! Youth Fest, Vancouver Latin-American Film Festival, Vines Art Festival, YouthCO, among others.
How to find Semillites:
Semillites is a medium brown-skinned man, he is short, has a fluffy build and his hair is short and dark. He has a slit on his eyebrow and he always wears a silver or gold chain around his neck. During the winter, he is wearing either a beanie, bandana or cap and during summer he loves showing his skin. Most days, he’s seen with a backpack and a wide, bright smile that reveals his sharp, pointy front teeth.