Module 3: Creativity and Culture

Section 3.1: Cultural Expression—Past and Present

Lesson 3.1A: The Historical Context

Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C.
http://www.aboriginalbc.com/

Lesson 3.1D: Repatriation

U’mista Cultural Centre
http://www.umista.ca/about/index.php

Section 3.2: Creation/Transformer Stories

Section 3.2 Section Assignment: Creator/Transformer Stories

The Tribes
Creation stories from each of the Kwakwaka’wakw tribes..
http://www.umista.ca/kwakwakawakw/tribes.php

Stseptekwle-Stories of the Secwepemc
Legends of the Secwepemc people in text format, also available as audio files.
http://www.landoftheshuswap.com/legend.html

Bill Reid, Storyteller: Raven Steals the Light
Traditional Haida story describing the origins of light in the world.
http://www.civilization.ca/aborig/reid/reid14e.html

Section 3.3: Aboriginal Fiction, Poetry and Drama

Lesson 3.3A: Aboriginal Fiction

Aboriginal Fiction Online
Information about Open School BC’s module designed for use in senior English courses.
Can be used as an alternative to the novel study and short story sections of Open School’s English 12 course.
http://www.openschool.bc.ca/features/aboriginal.html

Lesson 3.3C: Aboriginal Drama

Native Theatre’s Curtain Call: Twenty Years Later, the Medium is Set for a New Stage
Summary of the evolution of Aboriginal theatre in Canada over the last twenty years, written by Drew Hayden Taylor, Ojibway.
http://www.thismagazine.ca/issues/2007/01/nativetheatre.php

Full Circle First Nations Performance
Website of the First Nations performance group founded by Artistic and Executive Director Margo Kane
http://www.fullcircleperformance.ca/

Exploring the Sacred in Aboriginal Performance Art
Article by Kristin Dowell on Aboriginal performance art, which includes commentary on the work of Dana Claxton, from Vancouver, also featured on the Grunt Gallery website.
http://hemi.nyu.edu/journal/2_1/dowell.html

Section 3.3 Assignment Part C: Aboriginal Performance

Full Circle: First Nations Performance
Video footage from Margo Kane’s highly-acclaimed Moonlodge. Click on  the link below and select either the Quicktime or Windows Media version of the excerpt.
http://www.fullcircleperformance.ca/content.asp?chapterID=12&subchapterID=43&pageID=132&tmp=0#0

Grunt Gallery First Nations Performance Archive
Performances by First Nations dramatic artists. A vast sampling of videos from which to choose.
Enter the site and select an artist. Artists with videos of their work have a “video” link at the bottom of the screen.
http://www.grunt.bc.ca/fnp/

First Vision
First Nations performance website sponsored by Grunt Gallery
http://www.firstvisionart.com/home.html

Section 3.4: Contemporary Media and Visual Arts

Lesson 3.4A: Digital Media

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)
The first national television network dedicated to First Nations, Inuit and Métis programming.
http://www.aptn.ca/

Aarrow Productions, Inc.
Independent Aboriginal-owned and run production company, creators of The New Canoe.
http://www.thenewcanoe.ca/aarrow.html

CopperMoon: Communications for Aboriginal Initiatives
An Aboriginal communications company.
http://www.coppermoon.ca/

Redwire Magazine: Native Youth Media
Online version of Redwire magazine,  a magazine of Native youth expression in the media and the arts.
http://www.redwiremag.com/

Redway B.C. News E-Zine
An online magazine for urban Aboriginal youth which serves as a link to employment opportunities, community, services, and news and events.
http://www.imakenews.com/spiritlink/

Spirit Magazine
Spirit is a volunteer-run publication produced by a youth-driven team. The magazine communicates the perspectives of Aboriginal Canadians on arts, culture, and current affairs.
http://www.spiritmag.ca/

Spirit and Youth Magazine (SAY)
Spirit and Youth Magazine (SAY Magazine) is the largest national magazine for and about First Nations youth.
http://www.saymag.com/

Ha-Shilth-Sa
The Ha-Shilth-Sa is published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.
http://www.nuuchahnulth.org/tribal-council/hashilth.html

Lesson 3.4C: Performing Arts

John Kim Bell
Official website of John Kim Bell
http://www.johnkimbell.com/

Buffy Sainte-Marie
Comprehensive website with information on Buffy Sainte-Marie
http://www.creative-native.com/

Rapsure Risin
Website of Rapsure Risin, with hip-hop artists Numinous (Carrielynn Victor) and Apt Exact (Theresa Point, formerly known as T MelaD).
http://www.myspace.com/rapsurerisin

Lesson 3.4D: Visual Arts and Natural Media

Sasquatch Tours: A First Nations Cultural Experience
Click on “Promotional Video” and “CTV Story” to see a clip that includes commentary on pictographs found in Chehailis territory. Kelsey and Willie Charlie, Sto:lo Nation, Chehailis are the founders of Sasquatch tours, a cultural tourism service that provides education and awareness on the First Nations heritage of the area.
http://www.sasquatchtours.com/video.htm

Culturally Modified Trees of British Columbia: A Handbook for the Identification and Recording of Culturally Modified Trees
Resource on CMTs provided in pdf format by the Archaeology Branch, B.C. Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/mr/Mr091/cmthandbook.pdf

Sacred Cedar: The Cultural and Archaeological Significance of Culturally Modified Trees.
Document in pdf format from the David Suzuki Foundation.
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/1999/SacredCedar_sm.pdf

Petroglyphs in British Columbia
Excellent summary of pictographs and petroglyphs in the province.
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/attractions/?id=37

Connie Watts
Website of mixed media artist Connie Watts, of Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan, and Kwakwaka’wakw descent. Flash player required.
http://www.conniewatts.com/

Celebrating Women
Documentary profiling the appliqué work of Patricia June Vickers.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7493590462834183899

Awaken100.net: Contemporary Aboriginal Arts and Culture
Online gallery of Aboriginal art. Also includes a discussion forum.
http://awaken100.com/

Urban Shaman Gallery: Contemporary Art
Aboriginal artist-run centre based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
http://www.urbanshaman.org/

Association for Native Development in the Performing & Visual Arts
Aboriginal arts service organization based in Toronto, Canada.
http://www.andpva.com/

Lesson 3.4F: Contemporary Artists

Bill Helin’s Crew Patch for Columbia Space Shuttle STS-78
Description of the crew patch for the Columbia Space Shuttle STS-78 designed by Tsinmshian artist Bill Helin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4saQ_bDeJKI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eopPU-Li_hQI

Connie Watts
Website of Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka’wakw  artist Connie Watts
http://www.conniewatts.com/

Robert Davidson
Website of Haida artist Robert Davidson
http://www.robertdavidson.ca/

Roy Henry Vickers
Roy Henry Vickers’ website
http://www.royhenryvickers.com/

Section 3.4 Assignment Part A: Aboriginal Writing and Publishing

The Red Cedar Bridge Gala and Auction: Dr. Evan Adams: Biography
Biographical information on Dr. Evan Adams (2003).
http://www.fpcf.ca/fundraiser2003/img-fundraiser2003/downloads/bio-adams.pdf

Turtle Island Native Network: Healing and Wellness—Evan Adams
This web page includes biographical information about Dr. Evan Adams, as well as an interview originally printed in the Powell River Peak.
http://www.turtleisland.org/education/education-evanadams.htm