bruno canadien

In memoriam

The art world recently saw the passing of one of its greats: artist, activist and curator Joane Cardinal-Schubert. She was a role model for many young native people, including myself. I won't forget the support and encouragement she gave me, particularly in the early years during and after my time in art college. It is an honour to have known her, and I know she will be missed by many.

Please read Nancy Tousley's commemorative piece on Joane Cardinal-Schubert in the Calgary Herald.

more studio pics...

1. got ribbon? 2. Caribou People detail. 3. studio table. 4. Work in progress.

 

 

Alberta Arts Days 2009

If you are in Edmonton this weekend, celebrate Alberta Arts Days (September 18 -20) with a visit to Narrative Quest, an exhibition showcasing a selection of artworks by Aboriginal artists included in the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Terrance Houle, Joane Cardinal- Schubert and myself are just some of the Alberta artists featured in this exhibition. Narrative Quest is on at the Arts Branch in the Capital Arts Building at 10708 - 105th Avenue.

Also in Edmonton is ABOUT FACE, an exhibition (also drawn from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts) which explores the art of portraiture from the perspective of First Nations artists including George Littlechild and Frederick MacDonald. ABOUT FACE is on display at the Royal Alberta Museum September 18 to 27.

For more on Alberta Arts Days events, please click here.

Fighting the Alberta Oil Sands

While some communities in northern Alberta try to work with companies like Shell and Syncrude to recieve some benefit from the Athabasca Oil Sands development, others are fighting the largest mining operation on earth as it destroys their traditional lands. Here is a brief summary of communities currently engaged in tar sands opposition:

Chief among these are the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Mikisew Cree First Nation who have concerns over the surrounding environmental destruction, pollution, and the high rate of cancer in their communities. Read more about their actions at Indigenous Environmental Network's Tar Sands Campaign.

The Lubicon Lake Nation and the Woodland Cree First Nation have been struggling for years with oil and gas development in their backyards (literally) that has seen the loss of their hunting and trapping economy in just the past few decades. More at Lubicon.org.

The Beaver Lake Cree Nation are currently suing the federal and provincial governments to uphold their treaty rights, by protecting the land from the tar sands which are obliterating their traditional hunting and fishing grounds. Raventrust.com has details.

Beyond Alberta's borders, Dene communities in the N.W.T. have rquested a moratorium on oil sands development, due to concerns over water pollution. In British Columbia, the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation and the Haida Nation are opposing plans to build a pipeline through their territiories, linking the oil sands to the west coast. In Minnesota, members of both the Fond du Lac and Leech Lake bands of Ojibwe are protesting an Alberta pipeline being built across their reservations.

photo of Syncrude's operation courtesy of Wikimedia commons.