Since Indigenous peoples have been on the lands of Turtle Island, storytelling has been a way to connect. Stories share knowledge, values, history, and rituals. They aren’t all serious though; they also include humour and joy. They are told with spoken word, singing, drumming, carving; through beading; weaving; and celebrations.
Contemporary Indigenous artists blend traditional expressions with innovative additions, flexing between the past and the present, laying fertile ground for future expressions. In writing pieces for Indigenous History Month, we definitely wanted to share some Indigenous artists and works to celebrate music, visual arts, performing arts. Here are some of the folks whose work and creativity bring us joy.
Tanya Tagaq is an Inuk throat singer described as an “original disruptor, a world-changing figure at the forefront of seismic social, political and environmental change.” She has released multiple albums, is a Juno award winner, and a Member of the Order of Canada, among other honours. And speaking of the Juno awards CBC shared a post on ten Indigenous musicians you should know for “creating works that both celebrate Indigenous culture and push creative boundaries”.
If movies and TV are your preference, you can go behind the scenes with Actors and Ancestors, an award-winning podcast featuring interviews with Indigenous actors who work in TV, movies and onstage. One of the interviews featured on the podcast is Dr. Evan Adams, who is a Deputy Chief Medical Officer for First Nations Health Authority and works creatively as an actor. A recent project he’s part of is The Conversation, a documentary series where substance use survivors, their families and friends engage in conversation about their lives, substance use, and pathways to healing. If you want to watch a classic film (1998!) that features Evan Adams, watch Smoke Signals. In a turn to comedy, the news series North of North follows a newly single mom in an Inuk community making her way with family, work, and romantic relationships.
Stories are also told through weaving and textiles: blankets, clothing, baskets. The linked article gives and overview of Coast Salish weaving tools and technologies from history. This piece from the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre talks about how blankets are worn as clothing, given as gifts, and are part of ceremonies. Clothing designer Robyn McLeod, whose work was featured at Milan Fashion Week in 2023, a first for Indigenous designers from Canada, says “When I’m creating things, it feels exciting, weaving in traditional art and ways of being with technology, contemporary objects and textiles to make something unique.” On the west coast of Canada, you can check out designers at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW), to “celebrate the rich diversity of Indigenous creativity, fostering a deeper appreciation for Indigenous art forms and cultural traditions.”
Visual artists are using traditional forms to make statements as well. Even if you’re not familiar with Cree artist Kent Monkman’s name, you may have seen some of his work, which rethinks art pieces portraying colonial exploration of Indigenous lands. Resurgence of the People is a widely known work and this short video provides historical context and narrative from Monkman on this and some more of his work.
Carey Newman is a West Coast carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker. One of his most significant works is The Witness Blanket, which is made of items collected from residential schools, government buildings and churches across Canada. He’s also a filmmaker, producing three documentaries to date.
Of course we can’t neglect the writers; there many great Indigenous writers to check out. These ones in particular we want to mention. Eden Robinson is from the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations. She talks about finding joy in combining darkness and light, and shares with aspiring writers “Your creative energy is sacred.” Monkey Beach and Son of a Trickster are two of her books that are widely read.
Billy Ray Belcourt is from the Driftpile Cree Nation and teaches at the University of BC (UBS). He talks about “queer Indigenous complexity”, as he describes his book Coexistence in this interview with Tom Power. He writes poetry and fiction, and his books include: A History of My Brief Body, A Minor Chorus, This Wound is a World.
Dr. Jeannette Armstrong is a member of the Okanagan Nation. Her writing includes novels, poetry, and academic writing. She’s a professor at UBC and an environmental activist. Her books include the novel Whispering in the Shadows, which combines her passion for writing with environmental harmony and dissonance. You can hear her speak about how we can all reconnect with the land and take care of where we are.
However you explore and engage with Indigenous artistry, here’s to finding joy and of all kinds.
Questions? Contact Janet Madsen, Capacity Building and Digital Communications Coordinator: [email protected]
See previous posts for National Indigenous History Month:
New Course! Walking with Truth And Reconciliation
Grounding where we are: land connections and reconciliation
Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Month and Day: A Métis Perspective