Aboriginal artists
Victoria: Coast Salish project takes shape, colour
Bonnie Quaite fine tunes the painted borders of a spirit in the sky, blowing a ship to shore. The idea behind the image, Quaite says, “is that you’re always surrounded, looked over and watched – taken care of in a way.” Quaite is the team leader of a group of six youth spending their summer [...]
B.C. First Nations and Aboriginal Artists and Arts Organizations Awarded AADA Grants
The First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council (the First Peoples’ Council) today announced that the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards (AADA) program has this year awarded 47 grants totaling $540,000 to Aboriginal and First Nations artists and organizations working in all artistic disciplines across the province. Proposals are accepted annually from First Nations and Aboriginal [...]
Vancouver: Aboriginal artists painting what may be Vancouver’s largest mural
Urban aboriginal artists in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside are creating what may be the city’s largest mural. The giant 743-square-metre mural is a labour of love for five Aboriginal artists who have been working for a month on the west wall of the Orwell Hotel on Hastings street. The colourful mural is a mix of Aboriginal [...]
Sculpture in Parksville
Parksville city council will install Nuu-chah-nulth artist Connie Watts’ 4.4 metre Circus sculpture at the corner of McMillian Street and Highway 19A. It will be erected as part of the Downtown Business Association’s (PDBA) public art program. Council approved the location and committed $15,000 for the installation of the metal sculpture. That was always the [...]
Penticton: Filmmakers focus on First Voices
Two graduates from the En’owkin Centre are part of a major documentary film project, exploring the creative efforts B.C. First Nations communities are making to preserve their languages for the future. Megan Fortier and Bracken Hanuse Corlett helped produce the first segment for a new series on the Knowledge Network. Our First Voices is a [...]
Victoria: Unknown thief targets Salish pair’s carvings, Separate break-ins net two valuable pieces
Coast Salish artists Luke and John Marston complete every one of their carvings with steady precision and careful attention to the traditions of their ancestors. Which is why the theft of two of their valuable pieces — collectively worth more than $60,000 — from two downtown Victoria art galleries in the last four months feels [...]
Sechelt artist revamps Stanley Park for First Nations’ future
When visitors from around the world trek through Stanley Park in Vancouver this summer, chances are they will find themselves in the Klahowya Village, a brand new cultural exhibit featuring First Nations art, carving, stories, cuisine, performances and history. The man behind the design and handiwork of the village is Sechelt Nation artist Richard Krentz. [...]
Christina Lake: Story Pole Raised in Traditional Way at Christina Living Arts Centre
Every community has a story. For Christina Lake the story dates back to the times before even the First Nations story began, back to the time that only exists in the legends of the S’nixit people who lived in the area. Marilyn James, of the S’nixit nation, explained that the story of Christina Lake is [...]
Hope: Artists rally in support of Trails Crossing
The first Trails Crossing Friendship Centre Aboriginal Day celebration in Memorial Park was a chance for First Nations artists to showcase their talents locally. The fledging Friendship Centre, headed by Bonnie Millward and a board of directors, hopes to provide services to aboriginal and the Metis communities through support, referrals and cultural revival. Despite a [...]
Cranbrook: Sculpture symbolizes reconciliation
Just one week after signing an historic agreement with the Royal BC Museum on the maintenance of Ktunaxa artifacts, the Ktunaxa Nation celebrated another significant milestone on Monday, June 21. Members of the Nation joined representatives from the City of Cranbrook as well as the artists, residents, dignitaries and business sponsors for the unveiling of [...]
CUPE BC Sponsors DTES Festival for National Aboriginal Day
A four-day celebration of aboriginal culture and communities in the Downtown Eastside – culminating in National Aboriginal Day on June 21 – promises to be an empowering event for the Lower Mainland’s First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples and an eye-opener for the non-native population, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The June 18-21 [...]
Many ways to experience aboriginal culture: Growing number of tours and attractions focus on native history
There’s never been a better time to explore Canada’s aboriginal heritage, thanks to an expanding array of attractions and tours ranging from the rugged to the luxurious. One of simplest ways to experience the first nations culture is to attend a powwow where there is plenty of traditional singing and dancing. Such events take place [...]
White Rock: Native jewelry stolen from gallery
White Rock RCMP are asking for public help in recovering more than $10,000 worth of unique native-art jewelry stolen during a May 13 robbery at Neo Concept Gallery. The 15787 Marine Dr. gallery was targeted just after 4:30 a.m. Police say a lone culprit kicked in the front glass door and smashed two display cases [...]
Vancouver: Felled cedar will rise again in Stanley Park this summer
A 15-metre eagle with a belly big enough for people to walk through will be part of Klahowya Village in Stanley Park this summer. The village is being made out of an ancient cedar tree that was removed Friday from Stanley Park for safety reasons. Artist Richard Krentz is one of the artists awarded a [...]
Duncan: Museum-quality Native art featured downtown
The arts council’s first exhibit of all-Native work opens Thursday in downtown Duncan. “Part of our mandate is inclusive of Native art,” said Jeffrey Birkin of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council. He’s tanked up about some three-dozen multi-media pieces being displayed under heavy security in CVAC’s storefront gallery on Station Street. The exhibit dubbed Aboriginal [...]
