representation matters
What is Representation Matters?
#representationmatters: An Indigenous Artist Exhibit features artwork created by ten Indigenous youth based in the Greater Victoria and Greater Vancouver area. The #representationmatters artist project supported by the Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC) 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. The work that is displayed through this exhibition was created through the last several months and is inspired by the community built through these gatherings. Representation Matters is a hashtag and phrase that has gained increased social media significance over the past few years. As the phrase suggests, #representationmatters is meant to convey the importance of media representation for Indigenous peoples.
This exhibit will be hosted for in person viewing at the Esquimalt Community Art Hub (ECAH) based in Victoria, BC from November 12th to 25th 2020 and will be open to the public Wednesday - Saturday from 10am to 6pm. For more information on how to attend please click the link below.
Thank you to First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the City of Victoria for supporting this project.
Meet the Artists
Tyrone Elliot
Based in Victoria, BC
Tyrone Elliott, Ancestral name Tiwuxiwulh, is a Cedar bark weaver from Snuneymuxw' and Quw'utsun. He has resided on Lekwungen territory for the past 3 years. Taught to weave by his Mother, Violet Elliott, from a very young age, Tyrone has over 20 years working with Cedar bark and other natural materials. He is currently reclaiming his language, Hul'q'umi'num, and incorporating it into his Work as he learns. Much of the Teachings that Tyrone has incorporated into his life have been derived from Cedar weaving, harvesting and other land-based Teachings. In co-facilitating with his mother, and eventually facilitating his own workshops, Tyrone's aim has been to impart a loving connection with Cedar and the land, and also to convey how Indigenous Laws derive and correlate with and from land based Teaching such as Cedar weaving.
Tyrone Elliot
Rowan Hynds
Based in Victoria, BC
Rowan is a Two-Spirited multidisciplinary artist who was born and raised as a guest on Lekwungen-speaking territory, where they still reside today. Their ancestry is Wikwemikong Anishinaabe and Irish, and their clan is wolf clan. Much of Rowan’s work as an artist is an expression of healing: all the messy, ugly, painful, beautiful, celebratory, and restorative parts of it. Through their creative practice, Rowan aims to explore the complicated nature of identity, and above all strives to create that which is honest, genuine, and authentic to their own experiences.
Rowan Hynds
Lajah Warren tᶱə nə sné. Čsə léʔə nə ɫ lək’ʷəniʔən. John Warren t̓ᶱə nə mén. Deirdre Warren t̓ᶱə nə tén.
Based in Victoria, BC
My name is Lajah Warren. I am from Lekwungen territory. My father is John Warren and my mother is Deirdre Warren.
My relations here are to the Albany family from the Songhees Nation and the Warren family from the Esquimalt Nation. Originally, we are from the Chilcowitch family group. I also come from European, Cree, Metis, and Ojibwe descent. My father is a Coast Salish artist, who I have watched making paintings and carvings all my life. I am working towards my degree in Child and Youth Care with an indigenous specialization so that I can work within my community to provide an art-based lens to healing.
Lajah Warren
Kristy Crawford
Haida Artist based in Victoria, B.C
Kristy Crawford, Haida artist, is from the Eagle K'aawaas Clan of Kiusta, Haida Gwaii,B.C. Born and raised in Masset, she was exposed to art through out her life in many different ways, and she has a passion for learning new things.
This lead her to the Freda Diesing School of Fine Arts in 2009, where she learned how to draw, paint, and carve northwest coast art under the instruction of Stan Bevan, Ken McNeil, and Dempsey Bob. Kristy completed her certificate in 2010, then took time off to raise her daughter. Later, she then completed her diploma in 2014.
Kristy Crawford
John Velten
Based in Vancouver, BC
Born and raised in Coquitlam, John has been an illustrator from a young age. Possessing over 10 years of drawing and illustrative practice, three years of fine arts production and one year of event producing experience. John’s studied Business and Fine Arts production under the mentorship of Alano Edzerza and Design Foundations through the mentorship of Rick Adkins. He continues his practice carving and sculpting with Phil Gray. Throughout the year of 2019, John’s involvement with the community has been providing & facilitating meetups for artists, providing spaces for creatives to pull together in the genres of visual art, music, dance and storytelling.
John Velten
Dahlila Charlie
Based in Victoria, BC
My Name is Dahlila Charlie and I am from Beecher Bay. I grew up surrounded by artistic and creative people which has inspired me to become an artist myself. The type of art work I like to create I draw from stories, myths and cultural teachings that incorporate Coast Salish formline with nature and realism in acrylic paint medium. Painting has always been a passion of mine I like creating personal artworks, as well as participating in different mural projects in Victoria.
Dahlila Charlie
Chantal Solomon
Based in Victoria, BC
Her ancestors began to arrive in “British Columbia” circa 1925 via Eastern Turtle Island, Europe & Africa. Chantal Solomon roamed many mountains & coastlines with curiosity for the old ways of the land which lead her to study Herbal Medicine & various mediums of Visual Arts. Her work has been exhibited at the Comox Valley Art Gallery, the Richmond Museum and The Courtenay District Museum & Archives.
Chantal Solomon
Cassandra Cross
Based in Vancouver, BC
“Creating projects about the struggles of the land and peoples through supernatural and symbolic story telling, using community and cultural support.”
Cassandra “Kaas” Cross is a First Nations female artist with over 6 years experience working in the film industry as a Director, Editor, Photographer, Cinematographer, and Music Composer.
Cassandra Cross
Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse
Based in Victoria, BC
Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé (b. 1992) is a proud Upper Tanana member of the White River First Nation of Beaver Creek, Yukon and Alaska. Teresa is a mostly self-taught artist however her Grandma Marilyn, an Elder and residential school Survivor, encouraged her to start by providing her with supplies and templates. Teresa primarily works with beads and other natural materials but she also enjoys indigenizing colonial garbage, by adding beads to found objects. In 2016, she received an Emerging Artist Scholarship from the YVR Art Foundation and in 2019 she received her second. Teresa currently resides in Lekwungen Territory where she is hoping to further establish her career as an emerging artist and curator.
Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse
Mal Blondeau
Based in Victoria, BC
Mal Blondeau is a Métis artist from Treaty 6 territory (Hinton, Alberta) currently living on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples (Victoria, British Columbia). She enjoys creating through various mediums, including beading, watercolor painting and digital illustration. Mal’s designs are inspired by the traditional floral beadwork of her Indigenous ancestors. She aspires to create designs and patterns that can be applied to textiles, stationery, and accessories.
Mal Blondeau
Meet the Facilitators
Jesse Campbell
Based in Victoria, BC
Jesse Is a visual artist of Metis/Cree ancestry. He has worked as a professional mural painter for ten years and has contributed to numerous public art installations throughout Greater Victoria. Jesse continues to work as a mentor for emerging Indigenous artists as well as an arts consultant and educator. His preferred mediums are acrylic on concrete.
Miranda Shannon
Based in Victoria, BC
Miranda is Nehiyaw iskwew (Plains Cree) from Frog Lake First Nation with Irish/Scottish ancestry. With a background in Indigenous studies, she focuses on advocacy and empowerment for Indigenous women and youth through her work as a facilitator.
For all project inquires please contact Miranda the Program Coordinator at miranda@sniwwoc.ca.
Thank you for visiting our Digital Exhibition presented by Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC)