w IDENTITIES spring 1998 / planet of the arts 17 Tony Melting Tallow ony Melting Tallow will gain his diploma from Emily'Carr Institute this May after having formed important artistic partnerships and having mastered leading edge technolo- gies. During his years here he also has attuned his creative goals to a profound sense of historical purpose. Melting Tallow is a member of the Siksika First Nation, which is based near Calgary, Alberta. At Emily Carr Institute he has been enrolled in the School of Media’s intermedia programme. “The Siksika are at a critical point in working to preserve our history,” Melting Tallow comments. He explains that in the life- PHOTOGRAPH BY JONATHAN LANDER Alter Native Graduating Student Plans Archives For Siksika History time of the grandparents of the current generation of Siksika elders, a transition was made away from the traditional buffalo hunt and horse culture to living in settled farming communities. The elders in possession of this history are now in their seventies and older. Someone with Melting Tallow’s creative skills and social insight can play a concrete role in conserving and adding to the cultural resources of the Siksika Nation. He sees himself making such a contribution by using the skills and creativity he has devel- oped at Emily Carr Institute in the domains of video, photogra- phy, digital image making, and sound technology. One project he has in mind is to develop an archive contain- ing the recollections and stories of Siksika elders. This and other work by Melting Tallow will combine with the efforts of Siksika graduates from business and law in facilitating the transition to Siksika self-government. Melting Tallow also intends to continue being a member of a First Nations video collective based in Vancouver. The collective formed during the past year, and arose within the developing community of First Nations students at Emily Carr Institute. Ol Voices of First Nations Students Within the First Nation’s community, art serves as a vehicle and as a direct synthesis for the practice of medicine. Alter, according to the dictionary, means “adjust, change or castrate.” Alter (adjust) Native (original) Medicine (cure). “As we evolve together with the greater world we create our alter native medicine with respect and with an expectation of reciprocity.” By Shirley Bear, First Nations Education Advisor he First Nations Awareness Days are a celebration of our survival. These events are happening each year at most major universities, colleges and several secondary schools across Canada and the United States. Here at Emily Carr Institute, Alter Native Medicine was present- ed as an art exhibit which was part of the celebration of First Nations students and their uniqueness within the average Canadian student body. Racism is a constant element hovering - sometimes directly, othertimes indirectly - in the daily life of most of us in the First Nations community. Each artist’s concept extracted iconography from an innately relevant history and juxtaposed these images with experiences from their daily contacts or confrontations. In a previous edition of Planet of the Arts (March 1997), Judy Chartrand, a 1997 graduate of Emily Carr, stated: A number of students (white) stay away from First Nations Awareness events and might actually work hard at staying ignorant — we have all been fed misinformation throughout our lives through educational texts and the media — our identity is important to us and it is very hurtful when people try to take that away from us. There is a lot of pain involved with being Native and the supposedly positive, romantic stereotypes are just as painful to us as a people, as the negative stereotypes are. These events (First Nations Awareness Days) allowed us to share our visions and experiences. I feel that these events also allowed the First Nations stu- dents attending Emily Carr to feel a great sense of pride in our cultures. Chartrand organized the first of these events in 1995, as well as the second annual event in 1996. Fourteen artists were represented at Alter Native Medicine. The images were thought provoking and varied. E. Doris Whithead’s work offered us a look into the disturbing effects for children of the residential school victims. The directness of the stroke and the forthrightness of the colour misleads the viewer at first glance. On more intent observance, the energy that spurs on sur- vival becomes evident. Doris has just completed her third year in the School of Visual Arts at Emily Carr Institute. Doris writes, “As a student of Emily Carr, my drawings and paint- ings signify the importance of dreams. As well, the musical instru- ments represent my love of music and how this is able to cross all cul- tural separation. Any reference to historical influence is accidental.” Peter Morin is a printmaker who has just completed his second year, majoring in printmaking. He says, “My work is like a voice. I feel a tremendous amount of conflict in my life as an artist and as a First Michelle McGeough, Virgin. Colour Photograph, 16” x 20”, 1997 Niedicine Nations person. I was not raised on a reserve and I feel that I am with- out any real traditional teachings. This voice within is my ‘Shamanistic’ power which is enabling my healing journey. The First Nations Awareness Days are important,and significant to me because of the comfort that comes from the realization that the other students are struggling with similar issues as myself” Daina Warren states, “For me a lot of my work or subject matter is based upon my dreams. I am currently influenced by a few female surrealists as well as several expressionists. I love exploring the psy- chology of my dreams because it isn’t something that is planned; it’s totally uncontrolled and irrational sometimes. I feel this concept relates to the show because I use a traditional subject matter and I bring it into a new light with the help of non-traditional influences.” Daina has just completed her second year in the School of Visual Arts. Michelle McGeough, a fourth year Photography major, is already an accomplished photographer. Her work offers the viewer a sense of irony. She writes, “The First Nations Awareness Days, as I see them, are an opportunity to share with the rest of the Emily Carr commu- nity an insight into who we are. We come from a variety of back- grounds and life experiences. Fortunately, many of us are reaping the benefits of the hard work of those that had the drive and commit- ment to bring about a celebration such as this. I think that the First Nations students owe a big thank-you to Judy Chartrand, who orga- nized the first two First Nations Awareness Days at Emily Carr. The work I chose to present in the exhibition Alter Native Medicine dealt with how people often perceive us as First Nations people. It is my way of challenging the stereotypes, especially in how they pertain to First Nations women.” This exhibition also included works by the following: Leonard Beam, 4th year Visual Arts; Richard Campbell, 2"4 year Visual Arts; Zachary Cailing, 3" year Visual Arts; Calvin Cooper, 3" year Media Arts; Thriza Cuthand, Foundation; Sondra Cross, 274 year Visual Arts; Anthony Melting Tallow, 4th year Media Arts; Michelle Sylliboy, 4th year Visual Arts; Linda Whattam, 3'4 year Media Arts. The students in Alter Native Medicine work and study pretty independently but did come together for this show. It was not a thematic exhibit but by the fact of their original roots, their processes wove a cohesive tapestry based on concepts, techniques, and innate knowledge. It’s empowering to see and read the students’ voices. I personally feel proud to have been a small part of this activity and look forward to next year’s exhibit. ey IDENTITIES spring 1998 / planet of the arts 17 Tony Melting Tallow ony Melting Talo wil gain is diploma from Emily Care Tastitte this May aftr having formed important artistic partnerships and having mastered leading edge technolo: es During his yearshere he also has attuned his reatve goals to profound sense of historical purpose. “Melting Tallow is member of the Skska First Nation, which is based nea Calgary, Alberta. t Emily Car Inttate he hasbeen énrlled inthe School of Mess ntermedia programme The Sikska ate cital point in working to preserve our history?” Melting Tallow comments. He explains that in the it Graduating Student Plans Archives For Siksika History time of the grandparents of the curent generation of Sikska ‘elders transition was made away fom the traditional bufalo hunt and horse culture to living in settled farming communities. Te elders in posession ofthis history are now in their seventies and oder. Someone with Melting Tallow’ creative skis and social insight can play a concrete role in conserving and adding tothe cultural resources of the Siksika Nation. He ses himself making sacha contribution by using thesis and creativity he has deve: oped at Emily Institute inthe domains of video, photog ‘Phy, digital image making. and sound technology. ‘One project he has in mind is to develop an archive contain ing the recollections and storie of Siksika elders. This and other work by Meling Tallow will combine with the efforts of Sikska graduates from business and law in facilitating the transition to Silk self government “Meling Tallow also intends to continue being a member of First Nations video collective based in Vancouver. The collective formed during the past year, and arse within the developing community of First Nations students at Emily Carr Insitute. © Alter Native Medicine Voices of First Nations Students ‘With he First Nations commit, art sere asa vehicle and asa dict shes or the pace of medicine Alter, according othe dictionary, means “adjust change or castrate” Alte (adjust) Native (original) Medicine (cure “As we evolve together withthe greater world we rate our alte ative medicine wih spect and with an expectation of reciprocity” By Shirley Bear, First Nations Education Advisor he First Nations Awarenes Day ate a celebration of our survival, These events ae happening each year at most ‘major universities, colleges and several secondary schools across Canada and the United States. Here at Emily Car Institute, lter Native Medicine was present cdasanart exhibit which was par of the elebration of First Nations students and ther uniqueness within the average Canadian student ‘body, Racism isa constant clement hovering sometimes direct, cothertimes indirectly - in the dally le of most of usin the First, [ations community. Each artists concept extracted feonography from innately relevant history and juxtaposed these images with ‘experiences from their daily contacts o confrontations. Ina previous edition of Planet ofthe Arts (March 1997), Judy (Chartrand, a1997 graduate of Emily Car, stated: ‘A. number of students (white) stay away from First Nations Awareness events and might actually work hard at staying ignorant ~we ave all been fed misinformation throughout our lives through educational text and the media — ‘our identity is important tous and itis very hurtful when people ty to take that away fom tus There i alot of pain involved with being Native and the supposedly postive, romantic ercotypes are just s painful to us sa peopl, 2% the negative stereotypes are. These evens (First Nations Awareness Days) allowed us to share our visions and experiences. fee that these events aio allowed the First Nations tu dents attending Emily Care to fel a great sense of pride in our cultures, Chartrand organized the First ofthese events in 995, a8 well asthe second annual event in 996 Four sn atts were represented at Alter Native Medicine. The images were thought provoking and varied . Doris Whithesds work offered us look into the disturbing Affects for children of the residential school vetims. The dirctnes of the stoke and the fothrightnes ofthe colour misleads the viewer at first glance. On mor intent observance, the energy tha spurs on Su vival becomes evident. Dori has just complete her third year inthe School of Visual Arts at Emily Care Institut. Doris writes,"Asa student of Emily Carry drawings and paint- ings signify the importance of dreams. As well the musical intr ‘ments represent my love of music and how tis is abet crosall cul tural separation. Any reference to historical influence i accidental” eter Morin isa printmaker who has just compete his second yearsmajringin printmaking, Hesays,"My work slike a voice fel ‘tremendous amount of conflict in my life as an artist and as Fist Michelle MeGeough, Virgin. Colour Photograph 16°20", 1987 [Nations person. 1 was not raised ona reserve and feel that Lam with fut any real traditional teachings. This voice within is my ‘Shamanistic’ power which is enabling my healing journey. The Fist, Nations Awarenes Days are importantand significant to me because ofthe comfort that comes from the resization that the other students ae struggling with similar issues as mye” Daina Warren states, "For me alot of my work or subject matter {sbased upon my dreams. am curently in enced by afew female surest as well as several expressionist I love exploring the py chology of my dreams because it isnt something that is planned; is totally uncontrolled and irrational sometimes. I feel this concept relates to the show because I use a traditional subject matter and I bring tint anew ight withthe hep of non-traditional influences” Daina hasjust completed her second yearin the School of Visual Ars, Michelle McGough, a fourth yar Photography major, i already an accomplihed photographer Her work offers the viewer sens of irony. She writes, "The First Nations Awareness Days as Ise thers, ate an opportuity to share withthe rest ofthe Emily Care comm: nity an insight into who we are. We come from a varity of back ‘grounds and life experiences. Fortunately, many of us ae reaping the benefits ofthe hard work of those that had the drive and commi ‘ment to bring bout a celebration such as this. think tat the Fist, Nations students owe a big thank-you to Judy Chartrand, who ora ized the first two First Nations Awareness Days at Emily Cat. The ‘work I chose to present inthe exhibition Alter Native Medicine dealt with how people often perceive us as First Nations people. Ii my way of challenging the stereotypes, especialy in how they pertain to Fit Nations women” “This exhibition aso included works by the following: Leonard Beam, 4 year Visual Arts, Richard Campbell, 2» year Visual Arts; Zachary Caling, 3 yea Visual Arts; (Galvin Cobper sf yer Mesa Arts ‘Thrza Cuthand, Foundation: Sondra Cross 2 yest Visual Arts Anthony Melting Tallow, 4 year Media Arts Michelle Syiboy, 4 year Visual Arts ‘nda Whatam, 3 year Media ‘The students in Alter Native Medicine work and study pretty independently but did come together for this show. It was not a ‘thematic exhibit but by the fact of thee original oot, thee processes ‘wove cohesive tapestry bated on concepts, techniques, and innate nowledge. Ws empowering to sce and read the student voices. I personally feel proud to have been a small part ofthis activity and lok forward tonest years exhibit. ©)