Aboriginal artists celebrated as modern day warriors and changemakers
Artists hailed as First Nations changemakers
Grania Litwin, Times Colonist - Sunday, October 29, 2006
The role of the indigenous artist is that of a warrior, says Victoria writer and First Nation's philosopher Taiaiake Alfred.
"The definition of a warrior is one who struggles to make change in life, but also maintain the visual connection to our selves," said the eloquent orator.
The Mohawk, who moved here from Montreal, spoke at the Victoria International Arts Symposium yesterday, and gave the Indigenous art session keynote address.
He said "warrior artists" battle the culture of dependence, victimization and path of self destruction that many First Nations people are on and are, in some cases, "better leaders than the leaders."
The academic said that thanks to colonialism, having been taken from their land and having others' will, religion and beliefs imposed on them, "we have not been given the freedom to live life as our ancestors did, in relation to the world and each other."
But painters, filmmakers, singers, writers, dancers, carvers and artists of other kinds are helping "us recover our true selves."
Alfred, who is director of Indigenous Governance Programs and the Indigenous People's Research Chair at the University of Victoria, said disconnection is the greatest crisis facing First Nations and results in psychological discord, anger and aggression. The value of the artist today is in helping us reconnect to self, to each other, to the land, traditional stories and our ancestors' teachings.
"I'm not talking about buckskin, beads and feathers, but our authentic selves. I'm talking about people who keep us strong and vibrant . . . by offering wisdom and guidance."
The discussion panel included local carver Tony Hunt, storyteller Tim Tingle, from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Vancouver filmmaker Loretta Todd, who were asked: How do we navigate in a world that is increasingly conservative, celebrity driven, and assaulting us with information?
"By finding a way to integrate the constant downloads that stop us being attentive," Todd answered.
Artists, like warriors, can make sense of knowledge and make space for silence," Todd said. "This does not mean emptiness, but implies being in the moment when you bring all your experience to bear."
She noted the best hunter-gatherers today are those who can assemble and analyze knowledge.
Master carver and hereditary Kwakiutl nation chief Tony Hunt, whose totems stand in dozens of cities around the world from Mexico to Japan, said artists are those who record history. He was taught to carve by Mungo Martin at Thunderbird Park from 1952 to 1962 and passed on his knowledge to 150 others.
"The legacy of poles is stories, and being an artist-warrior means to spread a form of friendship and peace . . . history and understanding.
"The tradition we carry on today is more than 10,000 years old, but how weak it was in the 1950s. How dangerous it would have been if Mungo Martin had not taught me."
Tingle sees this as a strong and powerful time, during which virtues of listening and hard work are critical. "Through art you can tell everything," he said, noting any external journey is a journey of introspection.
Community Arts Centre Gallery curator Paul Scrivener said the cultural resurgence among First Nations people is a wonder to behold. "It's the return of the sacred."