Another way I am of this land is through the knowledge that I have of the relationship between me, the water, the ocean's creatures, the creatures of the land and air. I understand our connection and understand that we each have a role to fulfill in this world. This knowledge has been passed down through many ways and among our oral story telling this knowledge is shared through our art.
This is how I came to create Ancestor Love. I studied our art via books, scholars, master carvers and modern day artists. I grew to learn how our form line came to be and learned that only the best pieces of art were used to adorn our regalia, our clothing, our furniture, our houses, our memorials, and so on. Knowing that each piece carefully created by an artist with the tools and supplies available to him 1000's of years ago and then was vetted by a panel of chiefs for approval made our art so special to me. I realized that each piece I was able to study was a labour of love, Ancestral Love. I studied the form line and took some of what intrigued me and created this piece.
Some of the lines are not used today, but, I saw them, on some obscure part of the pieces that I studied and I took those vetted lines and brought them to the present. This is Ancestral Love.
]]>This piece was created in many stages and will morph into a different piece before long. But, even though, I am changing, growing, deepening my knowledge of our Ancient Art, there is always this 'knowing' that this art form has been preserved for me somehow and I strengthened with this Knowing.
]]>Raven was fascinated with the light in the box in the possession of a great Gitxsan Chief, he wanted to own it because he felt that he would be the most powerful creature if he owned the light. He impregnated the Chief's daughter by turning himself into a pine needle and the daughter swallowed the pine needle while drinking water. After he was born he cried to play with the light, the Chief would not let him. The Chief finally gave in to the crying and let the Raven child play with the light in the box. After a few times of playing with the light and then returning it, Raven eventually flew off with the light. He laughed so hard at the angry Chief as the Chief was hollering at Raven. He laughed too hard and let go of the light. When the light hit the earth it split into a million pieces, some of which turned into the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. That is how we got the sun, the moon, the stars and the planets.
]]>The wolf is respected for its intelligence, strength, agility and cunning ability to hunt. Their capacity for loyalty and devotion to family is one of the pillars of our culture. The wolf's speech and song through its howl is impressive and is imitated in our dances.
]]>Faces were drawn on masks to represent the reason for the mask. The mask could be a mourning mask and you may see tears on the mask, or the mask could represent transformation where a face would appear on the front and the mask would open to reveal a secondary Spirit.
Each culture has their own personal story. If you are wondering about a mask, or what a face means, ask a member of that nation or the holder of the mask.
]]>Some believe that Killerwhales inhabit ancient villages deep in the ocean and shed their black and white skins and live as humans there. In some cultures, when a chief dies, Killerwhales will come close to shore to carry the chief's spirit on the last leg of his or her journey.
Like the wolf, the Killerwhale are familial and are always seen in pods. Because it is the protector and a Sea Wolf I have a 'watcher' in my killerwhales' dorsal fin and a wolf within its' body.
I love the Killerwhale and love the environment in which it lives. My ancestral name, which was carried by my grandmother and many grandmothers before, is Wii' hlbuun. It translates to the 'splash made by the whale's tail as it hits the surface of the ocean'. Love and Light.
]]>I am afraid to describe this art as it might be copied by appropriators and culture vultures - as much of our art is stolen already. I will say that the beautiful squares and dots do have meaning and this art is very Sacred indeed.
The chilkat art style is also being recreated by foreign companies and sold for profit - culturally appropriated. Please be sure you are buying this art form created and made by an Indigenous person/company.
]]>I remember my Gran, Nora, explaining the meaning of the name to me. She held her right hand in front of her bent left arm and dropped her left hand onto her right hand making a loud smacking noise. "It's a big splash, Lene". She knew I would have the name and made sure I knew what it meant.
I have one design that I call Wii'hlbuun and you can see it on the kimono and abstracts on leggings. I will be adding more chilkat art to my collection.
]]>I have many Two Spirited humans in my family and friend circle and I do love their unique perspective and love them even more so. I created my rainbow butterfly to show that love to them.
]]>The beautiful singing of the Ganada often represents the common voice of all people, it is therefore empowering and magical to be a recipient of a mystical performance. Often, you will see the Ganada's tongue touching another being, this is how it is exchanging knowledge and power. Or, you may see a Ganada peeking out from another creature or living organism. You can be assured that the creature has seen and heard what Ganada has seen and will heed it's advice.
The Frog clan is found throughout the west coast of BC and into the United States and is an important clan throughout. In nature, where the frog dwells the environment is healthy and stable.
]]>Owls are revered for great powers of wisdom, the ability to foretell, and a keen sense of perception. In other cultures it symbolizes darkness and bad news. I reject that and love these creatures, of course owls are near cemeteries as this is where the rodents hang out too.
While there is a perception of darkness and death with the owl, and the reason most artists will not draw an owl, I see this magnificent creature very differently.
The owl, like the eagle, is beautiful, it is a rare sight, and it is powerful, wise and perceptive.
In spite of all this, we rise. We rise together, we lift each other up and we know that we are warriors. We are educators, we are educated, we are entrepreneurs, we are decision makers, we are life givers, we know that we are the heart beat of our nations.
As Indigenous peoples, we have been described by many words. Indian (as in the Indian Act), Aboriginal, First Nation, First Peoples, Native, Indian of non-destinction and so on.
I am Indigenous. I am of this land. I am proud of that. Teach your children right away that they are beautifully Indigenous!
]]>Form line is a part of my art that is 1000's of years old. The form line was vetted thousands of years ago as a part of or a complete work of art by high ranking chiefs. As each apprentice artist created his masterpiece he did so knowing if may not get to the front of a long house or it may not be displayed in public.
It is because of this vetting process I take each form I create with very seriously. What mastery to transcend the generations! The dart is very simple yet so demanding as it draws your eye and insists you continue your gaze to the next dart and so on.
The darts on Finawear clothing sends energy down into the earth where it can be rejuvenated and sent back out to be used again.
]]>In Indigenous art and mythology, the Eagle in an important being. It is respected for its' intelligence, power and it's ability to see beyond realms. I believe that the Eagle is able to travel between worlds and carries a strong feeling of hope when you see one soaring high above you. I, personally, have witnessed Eagles soaring high in the sky as we prepare to say good bye to a loved one and when we are thinking of a loved one passed on. Because of this ability, the Eagle is often said to carry messages from loved ones.
In my art, the Eagle represents strength, intelligence, peace and power. In my culture, the Eagle is one of the clans in our Gitxsan nation. The Eagle's feathers and down are very sacred. To be in receipt of a feather is to be acknowledged for your work within the Indigenous community. To be in a down cloud that is formed when dancers dance with down in their regalia is to be acknowledged for being a witness to an event and to be blessed.
]]>In other cultures, the feather symbolizes respect, communication, healing, and embracing. To be in receipt of a feather is to be acknowledged for your work that benefits your community. In some Indigenous groups the feather is used like a Talking Stick in that only the holder of the feather can speak. In a culture where people tend to speak over each other I think we all need to carry a Feather.
]]>The butterfly teaches us trust, resilience, and honour. It trusts its' destiny and goes forward knowing that there is an unknown in its' life. It is resilient as it accepts and adapts to change as it happens around it and to it. It honours its' destiny by emerging from the safety of it's cocoon after going through life changes and being beautiful.
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