Art Campaigns
Ribbon Skirt Workshop
At SNIWWOC's Ribbon Skirt Workshop in August 2022, a group of Indigenous participants of all ages came together over the course of a 3-day workshop, hosted at the Belfry Theatre, to learn about, design and create their own Ribbon Skirt, fostering community connection to culture, gaining new or furthered experience in sewing/design skills and creating connections within local communities.
Originating in Eastern Indigenous Nations, Ribbon Skirts have come to be worn as ceremonial regalia across Turtle Island and represent the resiliency of Indigenous people, our hope in the creation of these Ribbon Skirts is to empower more Indigenous People to partake in traditional art forms, community and culture.
Thank you to the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the Capital Regional District for funding this project.
Oral Histories Project : Bridging the Generational Divide
SNIWWOC's Bridging the Generational Divide: Oral Histories Project saw Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Youths paired together to document Elder's Oral Histories, cultural knowledge and personal stories for future and current generations, supporting both Elders and Youths in opportunities as well as engaging in their cultures and creating connections within their communities.
The Oral Histories Project, which took place over the course of November 2021, was funded by the First People's Cultural Council with recorded Histories to be displayed, with permission from both Elders and Youths, on their First Peoples' Map.
#REPRESENTATIONmatters: An Indigenous Artist Exhibit
#representationmatters: An Indigenous Artist Exhibit featured artwork created by ten Indigenous youth based in the Greater Victoria and Greater Vancouver area in fall 2020. The #representationmatters artist project features ten Indigenous youth from ages 18-35 years old, exploring the significance of representation of Indigenous voices through the arts.
Through this project, artists gathered through weekly sessions connecting with mentorship while building a connection network together.
Thank you to the City of Victoria and First Peoples Cultural Council for supporting this project.
Black Joy: A Photo Exhibition
On December 5, 2019 SNIWWOC will be launching a photo exhibit called Black Joy. The “Black Joy” exhibition will display positive imagery of Black youth, in contrast to the negative imagery portrayed by the media.
Black Joy is a hashtag and phrase that has gained increased social media significance over the past few years. As the phrase suggests, “black joy” is intended to put forward imagery of joyful black youth, and individuals in general.
The exhibition took place on December 5 2019 at 6:30pm in the Greater Victoria Public Library.
Thank you to Department of Canadian Heritage and Greater Victoria Public Library for supporting this event.
Reproductive Justice: Raising Our Voices Through Photography
In the summer of 2014, SNIWWOC hosted a series of photo voice workshops that used photography as a means of creating narratives around reproductive health and justice. Topics included the limits of discourses around choice, bodily self-determination, and control over our body. These conversations were expressed creatively though photo narration by workshop participants. The photos created during the workshops were exhibited at Open Space Art Gallery.
The project was led by Tribesty Nguyen and Boma Brown, and sponsored by the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR).
Photo caption from one of the participant's:
These photos capture reproductive justice in a unique way. The beach rocks represent diversity and unity. The sea represent the openness in reproductive Justice. The beach and the logs all capture the beauty of reproductive Justice. The crew ship represents the fact that sometimes we have to look and find Reproductive Justice in our everyday interactions with others.
Voices: Exploring healthcare access through photography
Voices” is a photo exhibit which shares stories about the experiences of women of colour. The powerful photography fuels a dialogue on multiple subjects, with a focus on health and access to health care for women often marginalized by many intersecting factors, specifically race and gender.
The pictures from the project were showcased at Solstice Cafe on June 27 2015, and project brochures were distributed across the city. This project was possible thanks to funding from Department of Canadian Heritage.
"Specialists are sometimes slow, but they are doing a terrific job"
Quadra Village: Behind The Lens
Less than a decade ago, Quadra Village was considered by many to be an unsafe part of Victoria. Over the past few years, residents of the neighborhood, including the Quadra Village Community Centre and the Hillside-Quadra Neighborhood Association, have worked hard to reclaim the neigborhood.
Presently, Quadra Village is home to a diverse group of indigenous peoples, immigrants and refugees due to its central location and being walking distance to the largest mosque, Sikh Temples, Fairway Market, a Halal butcher and many other multicultural businesses from China, Vietnam, Iran, and Jamaica. Unlike other neighborhoods in Victoria which have distinct neighborhood festivities, Quadra Village only has 1 which happens in May. This campaign was an opportunity for residents (including business owners) to celebrate their neighborhood and show us what it looks like through their lens.
This project was possible thanks to funding from Department of Canadian Heritage.