Tag Archives: art

Module 4

http://secretpath.ca/

The Secret Path began as poems written by Gord Downie, after he heard Chanie Wenjack’s story, who died at the age of 12 in 1966 while trying to escape residential school. The poems became songs, and the songs inspired a graphic novel of Chanie’s story. Gord Downie brought Chanie’s story into the conscience of Canadians. Some people may argue that Gord Downie is telling a story that isn’t his, but he was embraced by Chanie’s family and Aboriginal communities around Canada for his work in shining light on a dark corner of Canadian history.

 

http://www.firstvoiceskids.com/

This interactive website teachings children traditional languages through easy to click icons. There are no instructions, which makes it very kid friendly. They can click through and find an activity, like colouring, or click on icons that are linked to sound files to hear the names of everyday items or phrases. This would be a great way for students to learn new words at their own pace.

 

http://www.indigenousyouthwellness.ca/cuystwi

This is linked with the Ask Auntie site I posted about previously. While Ask Auntie is focused on girls, this a platform is set up in quests for youth to explore their identity and culture and become a young warrior. This is response to the suicide epidemic that was sweeping through some FNMI communities.

 

http://www.reelyouth.ca/GoldTrail.html

This is a link to Reel Youth, a company I hired while working as a digital media teacher. I was working in Ashcroft BC and teaching students in Lillooet, Clinton and Lytton via video conferencing. Reel Youth came to show students how to create stop motion animation. They weren’t just making any film, they had to think of an issue that really affected them and impacted their lives. I was amazed at how seriously my students took this assignment. Their films are political (without realizing it in most cases). They tackle issues like joblessness, poverty, healthcare, LGBTQ rights and the environment, all in 30 second claymation videos. One video in particular caught a lot of negative attention from a few community members and a YouTube comment war began. A parent sent it to Rick Mercer and he responded with a video. It was amazing to see my students in a tiny town be recognized by a public figure for their hard work. These videos are great examples of self representation and shows the issues the students (Indigenous and non-indigenous) feel are important and close to home.

 

https://native-land.ca/

This site is an interesting project run by a non-Indigenous person who is upfront about the questions of representing land on maps, which he sees are inherently colonial. You can enter an address and find out what traditional territory it is. Most of the results also link you to websites of those nations or language sites. It would be interesting to use this in a classroom ( there is a teacher guide as well). Students can zoom in or out to see the land covered by territories. It would offer a great way to start discussions about boundaries, nations and the uses of maps over centuries.

Module 2 – Post 4 (In Praise of Nonsense)

In praise of nonsense is a book written by interdisciplinary artist Ted Hiebert. This book focuses on how art and the construction of identity is often disconnected from truths, history, and location. In particular, it puts into question the remix world of cultural identity by examining the artistic works of willing participants.

In chapter 4 titled ‘Playing Dead’, Hiebert focuses on the Jackson 2Bears remix of Ten Little Indians. This is a remix that I highlighted in module one. Hiebert astutely analysis’s Jackson 2Bears’s work and offers an analysis that distinguishes 2Bears work from simple political commentary or satire. It challenges the notion that individual artistic works, especially media, do not fit within the framework of tribalism.

Justin’s Post 4 & 5- The Project of Heart/BC’s Aboriginal Education Scholarships

  1. The Project of Heart

The “Project of Heart” is an in inquiry based, hands-on, collaborative artistic journey of seeking the truth about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada. The purpose is to: examine the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada, acknowledging the loss of former students, commemorate the lives of the thousands of children who dies as a result of the residential school experience, and call Canadians to action through social justice endeavours.

The Project of Heart acknowledges the families and communities whom those children belonged to. Originally, this website was designed to bring awareness, but as it has evolved, this is a tool used to educate all Canadians about the history and legacy of this crime and tragedy.

This resource was created for: teachers who want to know the truth and inspire their own students to speak the truth and take a positive action in society, families who want to become more aware, and anyone who wants to know the truth behind the reality that Aboriginal people are faced with today and to work together to make a difference NOW.

Below is a link to the resource section: Click here

 

  1. BC Aboriginal Student Scholarships

There are over 60,000 students in BC’s school system who self-identify as being Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) ancestry. Recognizing that our students are our future, Aboriginal Education seeks to: improve the success of these students, support all students learning about Aboriginal peoples, and help teachers in their efforts to bring Aboriginal knowledge into their teaching practice. I’m not sure how many of us are high-school teachers, but below are some scholarship opportunities provided to Aboriginal students.

All information can be found on the British Columbia Education webpage under the Aboriginal Education tab.

Module 1 – Technology in Quebec Cree Communities

After doing the readings for Module 1 and learning about the importance of place, and based on the experience I have working and living in a Cree Community for a bit over three years, I am interested in the programs and opportunities that introduce, use and promote media and technology, not just in K-11 education, but in various aspects of community life.

I wanted to include N’we Jinan, because they have a big presence in the community I live in. They have visited my school and created music videos with our students. The writing, production and filming processes are truly amazing!  However, others have already mentioned the program, so I will leave it out.

1. Minority Media

Minority Media is a company based in Montreal that creates virtual reality games. They have focused on introducing a new type of video game genre: empathy games. In 2014, they released Spirits of Spring, a game that centers on a young boy, Chiwatin, and his friends in Northern Canada who are trying to come to terms with bullying.

Minority Media also created a virtual reality game for the Cree School Board to help young students learn Cree Syllabics. With the help of a girl named Niipiish and her dog, students learn new words in a really exciting way. I’ve played this game and watched my students use it. It is a very interesting way for them to practice their language.

2. Mikw Chiyâm
Mikw Chiyâm is an arts program with the goal of increasing student retention and engagement. Professional Canadian Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists are in residency at an appointed CSB school for a 7 week program. There are four residency cycles per school year, which allows the students to be exposed to a variety of artistic forms. They collaborate with local artists and students to help them express their voices creatively. While this program is not explicitly about technology, certain of the artists-in-residence have this as their specialty and incorporate it into the program in various ways.

3. Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute

The Cree Cultural Institute is a museum with information and artefacts aimed at preserving and passing on Cree traditions, knowledge and values. Almost everything is accessible through the website. Visitors can virtually explore categories such as hide and fur preparation, moccasins and mittens, and snowshoes and toboggans. There are descriptions, images and even videos. There are also different zones, such as The Community’s Way of Life and The Land Has Memory. The museum even has an app!

4. The Nation: Cree News

The Nation is an independent Aboriginal news publication that covers and reports on stories about and impacting residents of the James Bay area in northern Quebec and Ontario. In addition to news and events, The Nation website also has an extensive list of Cree Legends, available in both English and Cree.

5. EIJBRG

Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government website provides a wide range of information about this region, such as a brief history, the territory and their services. The publish reports on important issues such as drinking water, as well as news. The website also live streams events, such as elections and council meetings.

Module 2: Cyber Journey

Here are a few websites that I have come across:

  1. Indspire is a charity for Indigenous people by Indigenous people.  When I worked with young ladies from the Kahnawake reserve in Montreal we attended a conference given by Indspire and it was something that none of us had ever experienced before.  We had various speakers from various Aboriginal sectors speaking to the students their fields of study ranging from communications, to medicine, to the military.  The speakers left the students motivated and inspired about their futures.
  2. Muskrat Magazine is an online magazine whose primary focus is on Indigenous arts and culture.  The magazines focus is to exhibit original works of art in various forms and to engage in critical commentary.  Muskrat magazine uses both rural and urban settings and uses media arts, wireless technology and the internet to distribute information in an eye opening and interesting manner.
  3. https://fasdprevention.wordpress.com/ is a blog created to increase awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  Since I am looking at social media use among Indigenous peoples, I am looking into what blogs are out there and what areas are these blogs in.  Healthy and well-being, seem to one of the big concerns among indigenous peoples and many blogs seem to be appearing in these areas for individuals looking for help.
  4.  http://www.naho.ca/radio: Radio Naho is a new initiative from the National Aboriginal Health Organization aimed to bring health issues to the masses from a holistic perspective.  The goal is to educate individuals with an emphasis to be placed on prevention.  This radio station is geared to youth and young adults and wants to educate and influence healthy behavior by bringing on experts, advocates and role models.
  5. An Index of Indigenous Podcasts  this post found on Media Indegina website lists various podcasts created by Indigenous individuals.  There is no secret that it can be hard to find Indigenous representation in podcasts but this list is start.

Learning Resources For Teaching First Nations Art

We are currently participating in a school-wide inquiry at my school to increase First Nations cultural awareness through First Nations art, music and performing arts.  I am providing you with some website links that have helped us along the enriching process.

 

First People’s Art For Learningscreen-shot-2016-09-17-at-9-56-55-pm

The following website was a group project created in ETEC 511.  Our goal was to create a cross curricular resource for teachers that linked Canadian First Nations art and artefacts to the curriculum via a visual literacy framework.  Our goal is to continuously add to this resource, with the intention to add oral stories and personal accounts from elders.  Please share, make comments or ask questions about this resource.

 

 

Authentic Indigenousscreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-11-38-26-am

This website was created by the Aboriginal Tourism BC (AtBC) foundation who have established the Authentic Indigenous Arts Resurgence Campaign (The “ARC”).

Its initiative is: “aimed at promoting and supporting authentic Indigenous artworks in the retail and wholesale marketplace.”

Its goal is: to “undertake various activities designed to protect Indigenous control over Indigenous artwork and to ensure that its sale benefits Indigenous artists and communities economically.”

This website provides a comprehensive list of First Nations Artists in Canada where they are listed by first name in alphabetical order.  Each artist has their own page where viewers can read a short bio, view examples of their work, and search any links that may take them to projects or personal websites.  It also posts events, campaigns, and articles, and members can connect with each other through the blog, and social media.

 

CCCA Canadian Art Databasescreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-11-40-27-am

This informational website provides a database of Canadian artists, including First Nations, located across Canada.  Anyone can search for artists by name, location, subject/category, and advanced search options which include curriculum.  It is a place where Artists have the showcase their work, mention projects they are working on, and list events that are happening across Canada to promote their Art.

 

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centrescreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-12-36-17-pm

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre was founded to showcase the art, history and culture of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh (people of the Squamish villages) and the L̓il̓wat7úl (the people of the land) nations.  Visitors on the website can learn about the Nations’ past and present history, shop online for authentic artisan merchandise, as well as book tours.  During the visits, visitors are taken through a guided tour of the centre, and they also have the opportunity to sign up for interactive workshops which could involve an interpretive forest walk, holistic tour and indigenous tea ceremony, or participation in various indigenous crafting workshops.

 

Aboriginal Tourism BCscreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-12-56-20-pm

The page dedicated to Arts and Culture, on the Aboriginal Tourism BC website, takes the visitor on an exploration of the many art galleries, studios, museums, cultural sites and cultural centres that are located throughout BC.  Visitors to the website are also able to book special visits and tours.

The Morrisseau hoax exposed blog

The Morrisseau hoax exposed blog

A strong polemic by John Goldi on the hoax that many of Morrisseau’s paintings are forgeries.  The site details through documents, videos, timelines a complex story of the attempt of art dealers to raise the value of some of Morrisseau work by calling into question the authenticity of many of his later work.

http://themorrisseauhoaxexposedblog.com/

Module 2 post 1

Cultural collaboration or appropriation? How does Christi do it with Valentino Fashion House (Module 4-Post 4)

http://aptn.ca/news/2015/06/30/canadian-metis-artist-collaborates-fashion-powerhouse-valentino-2016-collection/

I was interested in find out how First Nation/Art could be used without cultural appropriation after so many incidents in the fashion world and beyond. Christi Belcourt, before her collaboration with the fashion house Valentino, took her time to think about and find out if this would be culturally appropriate. In my earlier weblogs, I investigated cultural appropriation in the context of arts/fashion and beyond.

Indigenous Youth Screen and Digital Media

I found this link while researching for my digital storytelling paper. imagineNATIVE “presents new and innovative film, video, audio, and digital media works.” (from the imagineNATIVE mandate) They promote Indigenous artwork by exhibiting works, offering workshops or networking opportunities, having community screenings and many other events to support and promote Indigenous art.

The youth screen media section caught my eye because of what each artist is expressing through the use of digital media.

http://www.imaginenative.org/home/node/2768

To view the actual artwork scroll down and click the hyperlinks at the bottom of the page.

Module 2 – Post 3: Nancy Turner on the importance of BioDiversity to First Nations

Nancy Turner addresses the importance of biodiversity and its importance to First Nations  in maintaining the same and enhancing it throughout the history.

She goes on to say:

“Not only is biodiversity important in food systems, technology, and medicine, but plants, animals and fungi are also prominent in First Nations’ belief systems, art, songs and ceremonies (Turner 1988, 2005). Ceremonial species and those featured in art and narrative are often the same ones that had practical application (Garibaldi and Turner 2004). The richness of Northwest Coast First Peoples’ intense connections with biodiversity is reflected perhaps most famously in their world- renowned artforms representing stylized animals, birds, fish and other beings, in magnificent wooden sculptures, totempoles, masks and dishes, as well as in exquisite jewelry and paintings (cf. Holm 1965, 1990; MacDonald 1996).

Please see here:

http://www.biodiversitybc.org/assets/Default/BBC%20Importance%20of%20Biodiversity%20to%20First%20Peoples.pdf