Indigenous History Month Art Activity In June 2022, we got together virtually to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Month by working our way through a month-long art project. Each person was to think of an Indigenous artist they admire, research the artist and their work, and create a piece of art for themselves influenced by the artist they had chosen. Throughout the month we presented on these artists and why we connect to their art and discussed important topics like appropriation vs. appreciation. We learned a lot about Indigenous artists in Canada and about each other and ourselves. The art project allowed people to connect with their heritage as well as Indigenous peoples; it was as much a research and art project as it was a team-building and self-reflection activity.

1. Indigenous History Month
Art Activity

2. Harper Friedman
Attached is an image of my paintings for Indigenous
History Month and the following is a short statement
for the paintings:
I was inspired by Christi Belcourt, who is a Métis artist,
and her dotted paintings that are reminiscent of Métis
beading. I used four small canvases, acrylic paint, and
a fine liner to paint plants and animals that are
important to the Secwépmc people, whose territory I
grew up on in Spallumcheen, British Columbia.
The top image is of the porcupine or skú7pecen, the
left image is of the great blue heron or téllpe7, the
right image is of a branch of sage or kéwku, and the
bottom image is of a sockeye salmon or sqlelten7úw̓i .

3. Selina McGinnis
This activity helped me look closer at Indigenous
artists as individuals and learn about the stories
behind their pieces and styles, often relating to land
and culture. The real bridge was when I went to make
my own interpretation, I was able to clearly see the
thread of connection between myself and Chief Lady
Bird – like hey, yeah, I feel that scene. Or hey, those
berries are important to your expression, I have some
different ones that are important to me too! Despite
the differences they turned out to express themselves
so beautifully through a style and similar
representations of Chief Lady Bird.
Lastly, this activity has helped broaden the art and
content I see online, which again, connects me with
more people 😊

4. Britt Dzioba
I decided to draw from the style of Métis artist Christi Belcourt
and her dot work paintings, inspired by beadwork art.
I love the intricate patterns and rich colours that she uses, as
well as the heavy influence of florals.
Belcourt’s work focuses on questions of culture, identity, place,
and community, which I connect deeply with as subject for art.
As a settler from Ukrainian immigrants, I felt like Belcourt’s style
works well with traditional Ukrainian folk art, which also includes
a lot of beadwork, dot work paintings, bright colours, and
intricate floral patterns.
In this painting, I have depicted a feminine spirit wearing a vinok,
which is a traditional floral headpiece and a symbol of
womanhood in Ukraine.
More recently, the vinok has been used as an anti-war symbol
among Ukrainian women.

5. Gabrielle Lamontagne
My inspiration was artist Jan Ash Poitras
whom I had the opportunity to meet at
Edmonton’s Bear Claw Gallery. I collect used
books from free mini libraries in my area
and decided to emulate the collage style
Poitras uses. There is a lot of religious
iconography, definitions that relate to
Indigenous peoples, and photos of nature-
including real flow pretals, as well as some
of my old art. I think the message I had in
my mind was reflecting on the effects of
religious belief systems on Indigenous
traditional ways and the environment.

6. Rebecca Shortt
I really enjoyed this project because it allowed for
creativity while also learning a lot about an artist
that I have admired for a long time. Working in a
group, I not only learned about Roy Henry Vickers
(my piece is inspired by his work), but I also got to
learn about other Indigenous artists and my
coworkers as they shared their learnings and
stories about their pieces.

7. Helena Prins
I was inspired by the work of three different
Indigenous artists, Christi Belcourt, Leah Dorion
and Jane Ash Portrais. I listened to different
interviews, read different blogpost and articles,
while producing three mini-portraits. The final
piece, in appreciation of Jane Ash Portrais, gave
me the opportunity to integrate my South African
past with my current Canadian Context, and even
contained hidden messages, like Portrais would
do in her art, in my mother-tongue. Portrais has
referred to her art as “medicine boards”, and this
project gave me a glimpse of how art can be
medicine and a powerful tool in reconciliation.

8. Ross McKelrich
Artist info: Danika Saunders (Naccarella) -
Nuxalk First Nation, Bella Coola, BC
@designsbydanika
The main lesson is it was way more than an
art project. I learnt tons about Indigenous
history and how climate change impacts
Indigenous traditions and way of life.

9. Moira Hall
I came to hear about Lisa Walker’s beading through my
colleagues here at BCcampus, and then was very
excited to attend her session during the Indigenous
speaker series in 2020. Around that time, I began my
Instagram stalking, following her page as well as a
number of other Indigenous beaders. I loved the tiny
jewel beads, colours, pattern and detail. I was also
inspired by Lisa talking about the healing that came
through the making – the methodical and detailed
nature of the beading creates a very soothing craft
experience. I followed an online tutorial posted to
Youtube by Harvest Moon Designs in collaboration
with Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services to complete
this pair of pink fringe earrings; a nod to the joyful
warm colours that have featured in some of my
favourite designs Lisa has released.

10. Valerie Cross
Karl is a member of the Tsawwassen First Nation and a Coast Salish artist and carver. Karl’s
is related to me through my grand Auntie Sophie who was his great, grandma. I have been
in awe of his work over the years and how he has grown and then mentored. Karl finds his
inspiration from the inhabitants of the Salish Sea, the Fraser River and surrounding Coast
Salish lands. Karl has been carving for 28 years; and was taught by Joe Becker of the
Musqueam, Jody Wilson of Ladner, B.C. and Eric Robertson.
I am inspired by his art and how he is so willing to mentor and to share his artistic gifts when
asked.
• TFN celebrates 10-year treaty anniversary
• He has art and carvings:
• Tsawwassen FN Logo, treaty logo
• Tsawwassen Youth Centre
• Tsawwassen Admin House posts
• Tsawwassen House posts
• Personal commissions
• Provincial and federal commissions
• Tsawwassen Mills.
• Delta School board
• BC ferries
• Tsawwassen Town Centre
• Trails BC
• Police foundation run
• Lacrosse, Delta Islanders jersey logo

11. Gwen Nguyen
I’m inspired by the Indigenous poet Gordon Lonethunder
from Sagkeeng First Nation, who once said that “as much
as I appreciate the polish final product, I like poems that
come off a little improvised, spontaneous, beat, obtuse,
indecipherable. And that it’s ok not to understand, and
that it can also be a thrill in his conversation with Quinn
Stacey, the Malahet, editorial assistant. I would love to
share my two poems
• “am no indigenous” as my positionality statement (I
used my daughter (Suzie Hang)’s painting of a Viet girl
as a background for this poem.)
• “lest forget” (I used my own photo during my
afternoon walk around University of Victoria’s campus
as a background for this one.)