INDIAN GIVER is in partnership with Craft Ontario and Culture Storm. This exhibition of commissioned works addresses issues of cultural appropriation through fashion, textiles and wearable art with curatorial vision by Erika Iserhoff and Sage Paul, founders and directors of Setsuné.

Location: Gallery 1313 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L8

Phone:(416) 536-6778

Exhibition dates: June 8 to June 19th

Opening Reception: June 9 from 6:30-10pm

Cultural Appropriation Panel Discussion: June 18 from 2-4pm, moderated by Denise Bolduc with a panel of artists from the exhibition

Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday 1pm-6pm

The established and emerging artists include Erika Iserhoff (Cree), Jodi Lynn Maracle (Kanien’kehá ne Kenhtè:ke – Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte), Jeneen Frei Njootli (Gwich’in) in collaboration with Rodrigo Hernandez-Gomez (Nahua/Mestizo), Sage Paul (Dene), Lido Pimienta (Wayuu), J'net Ayayqwayaksheelth (Nuu-chah-nulth), and Louise Minowinsetchketkwe Solomon (Ojibway).

Recent media has been flooded with incidents of cultural appropriation: Urban Outfitter’s illegal usage of the Navajo Nation’s cultural trademarks, the Washington Red*kins logo and name, and Canadian designers Dsquared2’s fashion collection D*quaw, to name a few. While these cases have been recognized as derogatory or racist, there are initiatives in the mainstream that are Indigenous-led and truly share in celebrating our culture, history, aesthetic, or contributions to modern day. This seminal exhibition, Indian Giver, addresses the disjointed “appreciation” of our culture and the theft of intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, artifacts or traditional materials by reclaiming these ideas and placing voice and creation squarely back into the hands of Indigenous artists.

*All artists will be in attendance and are available for interviews*

THANK YOU

Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des Arts du Canada, Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario and the Toronto Arts Council