Lesson 9 — Activity 2: Expressions of Indigenous Artists
Completion requirements
Lesson 9 — Activity 2: Expressions of Indigenous Artists
Warm Up
Art is an important part of the culture of Indigenous peoples in Canada, and Indigenous artists, writers, and performers are recognized and have won acclaim around the world.
In this activity, you will examine the works of and learn about some well-known Indigenous artists.
flickr.com
'Woodland Art' by Norval Morrisseau
Art has always been an integral part of Indigenous peoples' lives. It was interwoven with the production of tools, the construction of dwellings, and the manufacture of clothing. Visual art has always been integrated with song, dance, ceremony, and oral traditions.
In these cultures, art is a part of everything. Indigenous people view art not as a separate practice but as something that is integral to their everyday life. Art is incorporated into everything to remind them of their relationship to their beliefs and traditions and to the land and community.
Art has always been an integral part of Indigenous peoples' lives. It was interwoven with the production of tools, the construction of dwellings, and the manufacture of clothing. Visual art has always been integrated with song, dance, ceremony, and oral traditions.
In these cultures, art is a part of everything. Indigenous people view art not as a separate practice but as something that is integral to their everyday life. Art is incorporated into everything to remind them of their relationship to their beliefs and traditions and to the land and community.
In these cultures, art is a part of everything. Indigenous people view art not as a separate practice but as something that is integral to their everyday life. Art is incorporated into everything to remind them of their relationship to their beliefs and traditions and to the land and community.
There are a great many renowned Indigenous artists. Here is a sampling of them:
Bill Reid (1920–1998)
Bill became interested in traditional Haida carving techniques when he was a teenager, and he began to create wooden masks and totem poles using traditional techniques. He also was a goldsmith, a sculptor, and a writer, as you will see below.
The image above is one of his best-known works The Raven and the First Men, which can be seen at the University of British Columbia. This work tells the story of the mythical raven and the part he played in creating humans.
Joseph Boyden (born 1966)
Joseph Boyden is a highly acclaimed Canadian novelist and short story writer of Irish, Scottish, and Ojibway descent. His writing focuses on the experiences of First Nations people in Northern Ontario.
His first novel Three Day Road, is about two young Cree boys named Xavier and Elijah who sign up for the military during the First World War.
Joseph's second novel, The Orenda, was published in 2013. This novel was nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and for a Governor General’s Award.
Susan Point (born 1952)
Susan Point is a Coast Salish artist from Musqueam, a First Nation in Vancouver, British Columbia. She began making prints on her kitchen table in 1981 while working as a legal secretary. She took courses in silver, casting, and carving, all of which led to sculptures in mixed media, and she was the first Northwest Coast artist to work in glass. She continues to release a number of print editions each year, but her focus has been on creating sculptures.
Susan Aglukark (born 1967)
Susan Aglukark was born in Churchill, Manitoba and raised in Arviat, Northwest Territories, which is now part of Nunavut. She has developed a distinctive musical style, fusing traditional Inuit chants with modern pop melodies.
Susan is Arctic Canada’s first ever Juno Award winning Inuk singer/songwriter. She has won three Juno awards and has received The Order of Canada.
In 2008, Aglukark was made a scholar in residence at the University of Alberta, where she mentored Aboriginal artists and helped develop a joint native studies, recreation, sport, and community health degree program.
Douglas Cardinal (born 1934)
Douglas Cardinal architect
Douglas Cardinal is a distinguished architect from Calgary, Alberta. He is best known for designing the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. You can also see his designs throughout Alberta: in Edmonton, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Ponoka, and Grande Prairie, to name just a few.
creative commons