9 episodes
The Art of Sovereignty TVO
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- Arts
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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Our stories define who we are.
When Indigenous cultures were outlawed across Canada, our voices were silenced.
When our stories went underground to survive, others tried to define us.
But it was our artists who brought our stories back for the world to see and hear.
Join hosts Chris Beaver and Shelby Lisk as they explore the lives of eight First Nations artists whose art reclaims our voices and identities in a country that tried to silence them.
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.
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Bonnie Devine
Growing up, Bonnie Devine's grandfather warned her to stay away from the bright yellow piles of powder in her community of Serpent River Anishinabek Nation.Little did she know that those yellow triangles would turn up years later in her art practice as she explored natural resource extraction and Indigenous ways of knowing.That curiosity, and a love for being Anishinaabe, led Devine to become the first tenured Indigenous professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design and the founding chair of the school's Indigenous Visual Cultural Program.Host Shelby Lisk speaks with Devine about her life, her work, and paving a path forward for future Indigenous artists.
To view the art referenced in this episode: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty
Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give
Credits:
Duck and Cover - Archer Productions/youtube.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Robert Davidson
Growing up, Robert Davidson's Haida culture was so oppressed, he had no idea he was Indigenous.Colonization was devastating his people. It had touched everything from their way of life and their environment to the arts.Host Chris Beaver speaks with Davidson about how in the final hour of his fading heritage, he ushered in a revival of Haida arts and culture.This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty
Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Faye HeavyShield
What makes something Indigenous art? For Kainai artist Faye HeavyShield, Indigenous art is not just one thing. It is personal, and for HeavyShield, tied deeply to her story as a woman from the Blood reserve in Southern Alberta. Throughout her career, she has pushed her art into new realms, expressing the nuanced truths of her life. Host Shelby Lisk speaks with Faye HeavyShield about her life, her work, and individuality in art.This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty
Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give
Listen to the full 2017 interview with Faye HeavyShield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzBSDUJKfN4
Faye HeavyShield speaks about her art practice for the Lieutenant General of Alberta Arts Award: https://artsawards.ca/artist/faye-heavyshield/
Faye HeavyShield awarded the 2021 Gershon Iskowitz Prize at the Art Gallery of Ontario: https://ago.ca/press-release/faye-heavyshield-awarded-2021-gershon-iskowitz-prize
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Carl Beam
As an Indigenous artist, Carl Beam was often told that his art didn't look "Indigenous enough." Throughout his career, Beam pushed back against this, rebelling against cultural categorization.As he fought the stereotypes, he opened the door for other contemporary Indigenous artists. Host Chris Beaver speaks with Carl Beam's daughter, Anong Migwans Beam, who shares stories of her late father and how he forced a new way of thinking about Indigenous art.This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty
Canadian Encyclopedia entry on Carl Beam: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/carl-beam
“Aakideh: The Art & Legacy of Carl Beam” documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ExmLKxmT3k
Anong Beam speaks about how she was influenced by her parents to become an artist: https://ago.ca/events/art-spotlight-anong-beam
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.
Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Robert Houle
For Saulteaux artist Robert Houle, art has always been political.
From the Indian Act to the Oka Crisis and more, Houle has spent his career using his art to address the injustices facing Indigenous communities. Host Shelby Lisk explores how Houle’s artwork emphasizes the importance of Land as a spiritual and political legacy for Indigenous peoples. She speaks with Shirley Madill, executive director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, and author of ‘Robert Houle: Life & Work.’
This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty
Robert Houle: Life and Work by Shirley Madill: https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/robert-houle/
To listen to the full 2015 interview with Robert Houle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNdigmKB7So
Credits:
Oka Crisis: How It Started - The National/CBC/youtube.com
Robert Houle, visual artist and 2015 Canada Council laureate - Derreck Roemer/The Canada Council for the Arts/youtube.com
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.
Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Alex Janvier
"[It's time] Indians become landlords again." For artist Alex Janvier, Denesuline, from Cold Lake First Nation, sovereignty and land are inextricably tied to one another. It is a relationship that signals responsibility and reciprocity rather than dominance and subjugation.Throughout his long and distinguished career, Janvier has explored this connection in varying ways through his art.Host Chris Beaver digs into his storied career and speaks with him about land, sovereignty, and his hopes for the future.He is also joined by Greg Hill, Kanyen'kehá:ka artist and the Audain Senior Curator of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada.
This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.
Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.