Two Rivers Gallery is hosting a free virtual panel discussing and highlighting the work being done to recover and embrace Indigenous languages.
The discussion will be hosted by Two Rivers Gallery’s current Indigenous programmer Dene and Carrier artist Crystal Behn and include three panelists.
One of the featured speakers is Marjie Crop Eared Wolf, a Káínai / Secwépemc multidisciplinary artist who’s 2020 exhibit Iitsi’poyi at the Esker Foundation in Calgary documented her ongoing endeavours to learn Blackfoot.
The installation combined densely composed large-scale drawings comprised of thousands of Blackfoot words transcribed from the Blackfoot Dictionary with a sound and video work featuring Crop Eared Wolf reciting Blackfoot words and phrases from an audio tape made by her mother.
The panel also includes Eli Hirtle, a nêhiyaw (Cree), British / German filmmaker, visual artist, and curator who’s home community is Wabasca, Alta., part of the Bigstone Cree Nation.
His work focuses on documenting Indigenous cultural resurgence and revitalization. His short documentary Voices on the Rise which follows his journey as he connects with people at the heart of language revitalization in First Nations communities on Vancouver Island.
Lastly the panel features Yahlnaaw, a Skidegate Haida woman and founder of Taajuu Consulting, and is also the Gallery’s past Indigenous Programmer.
Taajuu, in the Skidegate Haida language, means “windy” and Taajuu Consulting offers services related to Indigenization, decolonization, reconciliation, rematriation, anti-racism, anti-oppression, anti-discrimination, 2SLGBTQIA+ knowledges, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The event will take place on Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. on Facebook Live.
