For Saulteaux artist Robert Houle, art has always been political.

From the Indian Act to the Oka Crisis and more, Houle has spent his career using his art to address the injustices facing Indigenous communities. Host Shelby Lisk explores how Houle’s artwork emphasizes the importance of Land as a spiritual and political legacy for Indigenous peoples. She speaks with Shirley Madill, executive director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, and author of ‘Robert Houle: Life & Work.’

This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.

To view the art referenced in this episode:https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty

Robert Houle: Life and Work by Shirley Madill: https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/robert-houle/

To listen to the full 2015 interview with Robert Houle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNdigmKB7So

Credits:

Oka Crisis: How It Started - The National/CBC/youtube.com 

Robert Houle, visual artist and 2015 Canada Council laureate - Derreck Roemer/The Canada Council for the Arts/youtube.com  

Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

For Saulteaux artist Robert Houle, art has always been political.
From the Indian Act to the Oka Crisis and more, Houle has spent his career using his art to address the injustices facing Indigenous communities. Host Shelby Lisk explores how Houle’s artwork emphasizes the importance of Land as a spiritual and political legacy for Indigenous peoples. She speaks with Shirley Madill, executive director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, and author of ‘Robert Houle: Life &amp; Work.’
This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty</a>
Robert Houle: Life and Work by Shirley Madill: <a href="https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/robert-houle/">https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/robert-houle/</a>
To listen to the full 2015 interview with Robert Houle: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNdigmKB7So">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNdigmKB7So</a>
Credits:
Oka Crisis: How It Started - The National/CBC/youtube.com 
Robert Houle, visual artist and 2015 Canada Council laureate - Derreck Roemer/The Canada Council for the Arts/youtube.com  
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust &amp; Goldie Feldman.
Donate to TVO: <a href="http://tvo.org/give">http://tvo.org/give</a>

Our stories define who we are.

When Indigenous cultures were outlawed across Canada, our voices were silenced.

When our stories went underground to survive, others tried to define us. 

But it was our artists who brought our stories back for the world to see and hear.

Join hosts Chris Beaver and Shelby Lisk as they explore the lives of eight First Nations artists whose art reclaims our voices and identities in a country that tried to silence them. 

Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.

Our stories define who we are. When Indigenous cultures were outlawed across Canada, our voices were silenced. When our stories went underground to survive, others tried to define us. But it was our artists who brought our stories back for the world to see and hear. Join hosts Chris Beaver and Shelby Lisk as they explore the lives of eight First Nations artists whose art reclaims our voices and identities in a country that tried to silence them. 
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust &amp; Goldie Feldman.

Join hosts Chris Beaver and Shelby Lisk as they bring us the stories of eight First Nations artists who changed the way we see Indigenous art; moving it from artifact to art and out of the museums and into galleries.

The Art of Sovereignty

Robert Houle

Growing up, Bonnie Devine's grandfather warned her to stay away from the bright yellow piles of powder in her community of Serpent River Anishinabek Nation.
Little did she know that those yellow triangles would turn up years later in her art practice as she explored natural resource extraction and Indigenous ways of knowing.
That curiosity, and a love for being Anishinaabe, led Devine to become the first tenured Indigenous professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design and the founding chair of the school's Indigenous Visual Cultural Program.
Host Shelby Lisk speaks with Devine about her life, her work, and paving a path forward for future Indigenous artists.

To view the art referenced in this episode:https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Credits:

Duck and Cover - Archer Productions/youtube.com  

Growing up, Bonnie Devine's grandfather warned her to stay away from the bright yellow piles of powder in her community of Serpent River Anishinabek Nation. Little did she know that those yellow triangles would turn up years later in her art practice as she explored natural resource extraction and Indigenous ways of knowing. That curiosity, and a love for being Anishinaabe, led Devine to become the first tenured Indigenous professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design and the founding chair of the school's Indigenous Visual Cultural Program. Host Shelby Lisk speaks with Devine about her life, her work, and paving a path forward for future Indigenous artists.
To view the art referenced in this episode: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty</a>
Donate to TVO: <a href="http://tvo.org/give">http://tvo.org/give</a>
Credits:
Duck and Cover - Archer Productions/youtube.com

Bonnie Devine

Growing up, Robert Davidson's Haida culture was so oppressed, he had no idea he was Indigenous.

Colonization was devastating his people. It had touched everything from their way of life and their environment to the arts.

Host Chris Beaver speaks with Davidson about how in the final hour of his fading heritage, he ushered in a revival of Haida arts and culture.

This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.

To view the art referenced in this episode:https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.

Growing up, Robert Davidson's Haida culture was so oppressed, he had no idea he was Indigenous. Colonization was devastating his people. It had touched everything from their way of life and their environment to the arts. Host Chris Beaver speaks with Davidson about how in the final hour of his fading heritage, he ushered in a revival of Haida arts and culture. This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty</a>
Donate to TVO: <a href="http://tvo.org/give">http://tvo.org/give</a>
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust &amp; Goldie Feldman.

Robert Davidson

What makes something Indigenous art? For Kainai artist Faye HeavyShield, Indigenous art is not just one thing. It is personal, and for HeavyShield, tied deeply to her story as a woman from the Blood reserve in Southern Alberta. Throughout her career, she has pushed her art into new realms, expressing the nuanced truths of her life. Host Shelby Lisk speaks with Faye HeavyShield about her life, her work, and individuality in art.

This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.

To view the art referenced in this episode:https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty

Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give

Listen to the full 2017 interview with Faye HeavyShield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzBSDUJKfN4 

Faye HeavyShield speaks about her art practice for the Lieutenant General of Alberta Arts Award: https://artsawards.ca/artist/faye-heavyshield/ 

Faye HeavyShield awarded the 2021 Gershon Iskowitz Prize at the Art Gallery of Ontario: https://ago.ca/press-release/faye-heavyshield-awarded-2021-gershon-iskowitz-prize

Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust & Goldie Feldman.

What makes something Indigenous art? For Kainai artist Faye HeavyShield, Indigenous art is not just one thing. It is personal, and for HeavyShield, tied deeply to her story as a woman from the Blood reserve in Southern Alberta. Throughout her career, she has pushed her art into new realms, expressing the nuanced truths of her life. Host Shelby Lisk speaks with Faye HeavyShield about her life, her work, and individuality in art. This episode mentions residential schools. The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 1-800-721-0066. Please take care while listening.
To view the art referenced in this episode: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty">https://www.tvo.org/article/the-art-of-sovereignty</a>
Donate to TVO: <a href="http://tvo.org/give">http://tvo.org/give</a>
Listen to the full 2017 interview with Faye HeavyShield: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzBSDUJKfN4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzBSDUJKfN4 </a>
Faye HeavyShield speaks about her art practice for the Lieutenant General of Alberta Arts Award: <a href="https://artsawards.ca/artist/faye-heavyshield/">https://artsawards.ca/artist/faye-heavyshield/ </a>
Faye HeavyShield awarded the 2021 Gershon Iskowitz Prize at the Art Gallery of Ontario: <a href="https://ago.ca/press-release/faye-heavyshield-awarded-2021-gershon-iskowitz-prize">https://ago.ca/press-release/faye-heavyshield-awarded-2021-gershon-iskowitz-prize</a>
Ontario Hubs are made possible by the Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust &amp; Goldie Feldman.

Robert Houle

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The Art of Sovereignty

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