Artists/Artwork | Art Programs | Books & Anthologies | Film & Video | Galleries & Museums | Lesson Plans | Resources
Artists / Artwork
The resources included in this section are only meant to serve as a window into some choices to include in the classroom. There are endless possibilities and this section isn't meant to be comprehensive or represenative.
Carl Beam
From The Neon Raven Gallery, representing Carl Beam's Art: Carl Beam R.C.A. (May 24, 1943 – July 30, 2005), born Carl Edward Migwans, made Canadian art history as the first artist of Native Ancestry (Ojibwe), to have his work purchased by the National Gallery of Canada as Contemporary Art. A major retrospective of his work, mounted by the National Gallery of Canada, is on exhibition starting October 22, 2010, recognizing Beam as one of Canada's most important artists. He worked in various photographic mediums, mixed media, oil, acrylic, spontaneously scripted text on canvas, works on paper, Plexiglas, stone, cement, wood, handmade ceramic pottery, and found objects, in addition to etching, lithography, and screen process.
Louie Gong
From the Eighth Generation Website: Louis Gong is anartist and activist who merges Coast Salish art and influences from his mixed heritage to amke bold statements about his identity. His art, socail commentary and workshops have been featured in numerous media, including Unreserved: The Work of Louie Gong, a documentary that screened at Festival des Cannes.
Louis Gong writes: The name “Eighth Generation” references the inter-tribal concept of “seven generations,” which tells us that we should consider the consequences of our decisions seven generations into the future. I recognize that I’m standing on a foundation made stable and rich with stories because of my ancestor’s good decisions and sacrifices. By naming my business Eighth Generation, I hope to ensure that this perspective is embedded in all my work.
Unreserved: The Work of Louis Gong (Trailer)
Kim Picard
From Kim Picard's website: "Kim Picard is an Aboriginal Fashion Designer from Pessamit First Nations community. She is born from a Montagnais (Innu) mother and an Algonquin/Mohawk father. She has been living in Montreal for 15 years, she received a Fashion Design degree from LaSalle College in Montreal in 1997. Kim has worked for various companies, such as Natural Furs with Native Designer Darcy Moses, Native Innovation Designs, NTD Apparel, which specializes in movie character licenses, Roots Canada, Helene DeGranpré Haute-Couture, and many more… She also won some awards at the provincial and international levels. Picard took a sabbatical from the fashion industry for 4 years and worked for Quebec Native Women’s association as the Youth Coordinator." (Secondary students and up).
Art Programs
Aboriginal Visual Culture Program
Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) postsecondary program.
Books & Anthologies
The Exile Book of Native Canadian Fiction and Drama
by Daniel David Moses, 2011.
Staging Coyote's Dream: An Anthology of First Nations Drama in English
by Monique Mojica and Ric Knowles, 2003.
Staging Coyote's Dream: An Anthology of First Nations Drama in English, Vol. 2
by Monique Mojica and Richard Paul Knowles, 2009.
Film & Video
Canada’s Visual History.
National Film Board of Canada, 1997. (72 mins)
“The images included in the collection are a unique assembly of archival photos, rare paintings and drawings, and original charts and maps.” (National Film Board of Canada)
Expressions of Aboriginal Youth
Access to Media Education Society, 2004. (19:55 mins)
From the website: "Built around the work of three emerging First Nations video artists, this piece explores the role video is playing in helping Native youth recover their culture and develop a powerful voice."
The video can be found in three parts on Youtube: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
The Living Stone
National Film Board of Canada, 1958. (32:35 mins)
“This documentary shows the inspiration behind Inuit sculpture. The Inuit approach to the work is to release the image the artist sees imprisoned in the rough stone. The film centres on an old legend about the carving of the image of a sea spirit to bring food to a hungry camp.” (National Film Board of Canada)
The documentary is free to download
Galleries and Museums
AGO
Aboriginal Art Topics at the AGO
From the website: One of the distinguishing features of the Canadian Collection is arguably the world’s most important collection of contemporary Inuit art, with an emphasis on work produced in Canada since 1948. Among the more than 5,000 objects in the Gallery’s holdings are some 2,800 sculptures, 1,300 prints, 700 drawings and a selection of wall hangings. The AGO’s current focus is on new works, especially those that express the current state of affairs in the far North.
The Canadian department is also actively expanding the scope of its collection to include historical First Nations art. Exemplary objects include an Anishnaabe artist’s Gunstock Club from the early 1800s, which in 2002 became the AGO’s first major acquisition of Ontario’s First Nations heritage, and a Haida artist’s Sea Captain, c. 1840, acquired in 2008. Acquisitions of works such as Model Totem Pole by acclaimed 20th-century First Nations sculptor Bill Reid signalled an initiative to increase Aboriginal representation at the AGO.
Museum of Inuit Art (MIA)
From the MIA's website: " The Museum of Inuit Art, serves as a non-profit, permanent museum whose primary function is to ethically acquire, conserve, research, communicate and exhibit for the purpose of studym, educationm and enjoyment, material evidence of the history of Inuit art and culture in the Canadian Arctic."
The MIA is located in Toronto, southern Canada's only public museum devoted exclusively to the display of art made by Inuit, offers school visits and educational programs, and publishes a semi-annual magazine devoted to the museum, its collections and its visitors. (Grades 1 and up)
Bear Claw Gallery
A great site to view pictures of contemporary Aboriginal art and crafts. Includes artist and regional origin of each object. (All grades)
Ed Flash McMichael Canadian Art Collection
- view original artwork, including prints, drawings, and sculptures, while learning about the lives and traditions of the Inuit people.
- tour with the Inuit print-making studio for a full-day educational experience or book one of the new Aboriginal Winter Celebration programs.
The National Gallery of Canada
Aboriginal Art in the Collection of Indigenous Art
The National Gallery of Canada’s Collection of Indigenous Art includes First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artworks, with an emphasis on contemporary art from 1980 to the present day. The National Gallery of Canada has collected works by Aboriginal artists since the early 20th century.
The Virtual Museum of Métis Art and Culture
From their website: "This website is the most comprehensive attempt to chronicle traditional Métis history and culture on the World Wide Web and contains a wealth of primary documents – oral history interviews, photographs and various archival documents – in visual, audio and video files. In addition, many of our proven resources such as Steps in Time and Gabriel Dumont: Métis Legend have also been added to this site. Finally, new material, suitable for general information and for educators, has also been commissioned for The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture."
The Aboriginal Curatorial Collective
From the website: The Aboriginal Curatorial Collective / Collectif des Conservateurs Authochtone (ACC/CCA) supports, promotes and advocates on behalf of First Nations (Indian, Inuit and Métis) art, artists, curators, and representatives of arts and cultural organizations in Canada and internationally.
The Inuit Gallery of Vancouver
From their website: Since 1979, the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver Ltd has offered a museum-quality collection of masterwork Inuit and Northwest Coast art in the heart of Gastown. We carry a tradition of presenting important exhibitions of Canadian aboriginal art, featuring new works by senior artists and exploring the work of the talented next generation of artists.
Museum of Anthropology Collection Online (UBC)
Museum of Anthropology Blog
The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia is world-renowned for its collections, research, teaching, public programs, and community connections. It is also acclaimed for its spectacular architecture and unique setting on the cliffs of Point Grey.
Allen Sapp Gallery: Through the Eyes of the Cree
This website provides access to the paintings in the Allen Sapp Gallery/Gonor Collection in North Battleford, SK. The website also provides links to interviews with Cree elders, Allen Sapp performing songs from his childhood and the extensive "Allen Sapp's Art - Teacher's Resource Guide".
Allen Sapp's Art - Teacher's Resource Guide
This 150 page Teacher Resource Guide includes traditional teachings, biographical material, reproductions of Allen Sapp's paintings and accompanying lesson plans.
Allen Sapp Gallery: The Gonor Collection
This website provides access to the paintings in the Allen Sapp Gallery/Gonor Collection in North Battleford, SK.
Lesson Plans
Gestures and Movement in Aboriginal Dance
Grade 7; Intermediate
Ontario Ministry of Education - The Teacher's Toolkit
Description/Keywords: Students interpret gestures and movements used in Aboriginal dances, verify their interpretations through research, and create a presentation to show what they have learned.
Sensitivity, Cultural differences, Oral communication
My Own Blanket
(Grades K-4) Subject Strands: Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts, Math
Norval Morriseau X-Ray Painting
(Grade 3 to 8) Students will learn about artist Norval Morrisseau as they create an x-ray painting in the Eastern Woodland Style.
First Nations Oral Traditions
(Grades 4+) Subject Strands: Language Arts, Social Studies, Drama
Examining Folklore
(Grades 4+) Subject Strands: Language Arts, Social Studies, Dance
Story Telling
(Grades 4+) Subject Strands: Language Arts, Social Studies, Drama
Who Am I?
(Grades 4-6) Subject Strands: Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts
The Medicine Wheel and Seven Stages of Life: Ojibwe Nation Lesson Plan
(Grades 7-9) Additional Strands: Geography, Natural Science, Botany, Astronomy, Art
National Gallery of Canada
(All grades) Lesson plans based on Canadian contemporary Aboriginal art.
A Critical Challenge Approach to Aboriginal Art
(Any Grade) Subject Strands: Social Studies, Visual Arts, Language Arts
From the website: "This lesson plan focuses on contemporary Inuit sculpture, dating from 1973. It presents the diverse thematic and aesthetic approaches to art making in the North." (Level Intermediate/Senior)
Using First Nations Literature in the Classroom
From the website: "This unit consists of four sections. Each section begins with a chart that summarizes the objectives that will be covered in that particular section as well as what types of activities will be used to achieve the listed objectives. Following the summary chart, you will find a description of the activity, samples of how charts (templates) are to be completed and links to any templates." The website suggests that these lesson plans can be adapted to literature from any culture, so long as the literary resources are available. From Saskatchewan.
Resources
A blog which discusses current appropriations of Aboriginal culture in North America. (Grade 11 and 12)
Allen Sapp Gallery: Through the Eyes of the Cree
This website provides access to the paintings in the Allen Sapp Gallery/Gonor Collection in North Battleford, SK. The website also provides links to interviews with Cree elders, Allen Sapp performing songs from his childhood and the extensive "Allen Sapp's Art - Teacher's Resource Guide".
Allen Sapp's Art - Teacher's Resource Guide
This 150 page Teacher Resource Guide includes traditional teachings, biographical material, reproductions of Allen Sapp's paintings and accompanying lesson plans.