The Kiss of the Fur Queen by Thomson Highway has a central theme of art. In this novel, art is integrated into the lives of the characters. The modernist movement would indicate that art has the capacity to exist clearly “for the love of the arts.” Peter Lamarque notes: “To value a work for its own sake is to value it for what it is in itself, and not for the achievement of certain ulterior ends. » (par. 19) This commonly accepted view, according to which art is valued because it is great art, and not because of the role or function it plays in society, limits the impact of the arts. This perspective limits and does not allow us to reveal the profound effects that art creates. In The Fur Queen's Kiss, art has power; it does not simply exist but has a function. The observable function of art in this text is education, providing identity and ultimately uniting Gabriel and Jeremiah to their cultural roots. Art educates. This education can be both positive and negative, but art can function as an educational tool with lasting effects. A 2009 New York Times article titled "Schools embrace art as a building block of education" indicates the growing acceptance of how art works in education. In this article, the building's unique architecture was put to practical use by students "measuring fanciful figures of hot air balloons, paper airplanes, and pinwheels built right into the walls of their school" (para. 1). Architecture also served as inspiration for further learning. Additionally, the article documented the perspective of a four-year-old who proclaimed, “When you watch it, it helps you learn.” (par. 20) When Jeremiah looked at the picture of heaven and hell, he learned important life lessons. This photo which was presented at the boarding school...... middle of paper ......ovel. The embedded role of a trickster in the novel highlights the underlying importance of art in the brother's life and the concept that this novel itself is a Cree story; it's art. Throughout this novel, a small piece of indigenous art functions to unite Jeremiah and Gabriel together and to their native roots. In The Kiss of the Fur Queen, art is not only shown to have a function, but specific examples are provided. The art in this text functions in three main ways. It functions as education, identity and cultural training. Contrary to the idea that art can simply exist for art's sake, the meaningful functions of art are found in everyday life. This novel crystallizes this concept and confirms that the preservation and continuation of artistic endeavors are necessary not only for the sake of art, but also for the many profound implications of artistic functions..