Take a moment to check out some beautiful work by Indigenous photographers from around the world. So happy to have one of my photos included in the 2021 Indigenous Photograph Year in Pictures
Community film screening - Healing through Storytelling
in film
Please join us on Thursday, December 16 for a community screening of the film documentation of the project "Healing through Storytelling”.
Image: Mo Horner in Agnes’s André Biéler Studio with collaborator Devon Runions.
"Studies in Solitude" - Agnes Etherington Artist Residency
in Art, Photography
Studios in Solitude is a micro-residency program probing solitude’s dual potential as both a disruptive force and site of historic privilege. This past year has required artists to repeatedly pause, pivot and adapt their practices. In recognition of this precarious backdrop for artmaking, and in keeping with Agnes’s new iterative style of programming that emphasizes the social and civic function of the gallery, this micro-residency offers Agnes’s space and resources to support solitary contemplation or creation without the pressure of productivity. Participating artists-in-residence are site-specific theatre artist Mo Horner, multimedia and beadwork artist Shelby Lisk, graphic artist ck nosun and multimedia installation artist Vivian Sheng.
FREE FOOD: Food Sovereignty Film Screening and Panel
Join us for a screening of Rematriate: Passing the Seeds by Shelby Lisk, and a discussion on paths to food sovereignty with Ama Amponsah of Seed Change Canada, and Professors Nikki Auten (Indigenous Studies, Fleming College) and Priscilla Settee (Indigenous People’s program, University of Saskatchewan).
Tuesday October 26, 6 PM EST
Film screening & discussion on Zoom
My photography featured on LENSCRATCH
in Art, Photography
“A year ago, Spirit: Focus on Indigenous, Art, Artists and Issues, was launched featuring artists Will Wilson, Shelley Niro, Meryl McMaster, Kiliii Yuyan, Donna Garcia, Pat Kane, Jeremy Dennis, and the collaboration of Kali Spitzer and Bubzee.
The objective was to elevate Indigenous voices and highlight Indigenous issues, as well as create opportunities for the artists, with the end goal being securing purchases of Indigenous artwork within mainstream museums’ permanent collections.
Today, we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day and continue that celebration throughout the week with Indigenous art, artists and issues at the forefront. This year we asked the participants from 2020 to nominate their fellow artists for 2021. This year’s featured artists include Pat Kane and Brian Adams (nominated by Kiliii Yuyan), Robby Dick (nominated by Kali Spitzer), Jenny Irene Miller (nominated by Jeremy Dennis), Shelby Lisk (nominated by Pat Kane), and Tonita Cervantes (nominated by Donna Garcia).”
My work was selected this year and Donna Garcia wrote a great post about my series ‘Time spent breathing with water’ which I created during an artist residency on Toronto Island in 2019:
http://lenscratch.com/2021/10/spirit-focus-on-indigenous-art-artists-and-issues-shelby-lisk/
Outdoor film screening with Breakthroughs Film Festival
in film
On August 15, my film “Rematriate: Passing the Seeds” played at an outdoor screening at the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show with Breakthroughs Film Festival, alongside a program of short films by Indigenous filmmakers. It was the first public screening I have been able to attend since COVID.
Online gender advocacy workshop for Indigenous youth
Join us on August 6th!
‘You belong in this world’: Two-Spirit survivors share their stories
I wanted to wait a little bit to post this as our community continues to grieve. But I do want to share this very important story I had the privilege to work on with four two-spirit residential and day school survivors. We talked about their experiences navigating the world, before, after, and during residential school and where this country has failed and continues to fail two-spirit people.
https://www.tvo.org/article/you-belong-in-this-world-two-spirit-survivors-share-their-stories
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 4,000-page final report does not contain a section dedicated to the specific experiences of Two-Spirit people at residential schools or to the needs of the Two-Spirit community in moving toward reconciliation. In fact, Two-Spirit people are mentioned on only half a page.
“We didn’t know how to cope with life, because we didn’t understand life. The day schools and residential schools, and the Catholic schools, they all taught us the same thing: that it was wrong to be who we were," says Two-Spirit Elder Charlotte Nolin.
“Because of how I grew up, I was so terrified of offending anybody that I chose not to do anything for many, many years,” says Connie Merasty. “But I wish somebody had told me, ‘You belong in this world, you’re a part of this world, you’re a part of creation, and you have every right to be on Earth.’”
The individuals I spoke with were a part of a storytelling project organized by Fierté Canada Pride and led by Jennifer LaFontaine. Over the next three months, there will be a number of screenings of digital stories that were created as a part of the workshops, with the storytellers in attendance. The first screening (link below) will take place on July 22 in a joint presentation with Fierté Canada Pride and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. There will be additional sharing events announced.
Winner of JHR's award for Outstanding work by an Indigenous Youth Reporter
About two months ago I shared that I was shortlisted for a journalism award for a piece I wrote on families passing down their Indigenous languages. On May 19, I found out that my piece was chosen and Tanya Talaga presented this award and honour to me at a virtual awards ceremony (the most amazing honour).
https://jhr.ca/jhr-announces-winner-of-2021-indigenous-youth-reporter-award
Now, more than ever, about how powerful our languages are and what important work it is learning and re-learning our native tongues.
I truly believe our languages are the antidote to colonialism.
I want to again share my gratitude to all of the families who shared their stories with me for this piece: Rochelle Allan, Marsha Ireland, and Karen Mosko. And to the translators who helped this piece get published in four Indigenous languages: Ian McCallum & Karen Mosko, Debbie Parliament & Marsha Ireland, Mina Beauvais & Heidi Nicholas, Jason Jones & Shirley Andy. As well as the beautiful illustration by Tehatsistahawi Kennedy - Nyawen'kó:wa to all of you and to everyone reading this for your continued support of my work.
You can read the language story here: https://www.tvo.org/.../for-our-children-how-families-are...
You can also read the two other nominees outstanding work here:
"A story of resilience: Decision to take son off of life support still haunts Membertou First Nation father" by Oscar Baker
https://www.saltwire.com/.../a-story-of-resilience.../
&
"How can you reconcile on stolen land?" by Chezney Martin
Mohawk Word of the Day!
As some of you may know, I have been on a journey to learn my language, Kanyen'kéha, for about 4 years now. One year ago my partner Matthew and I started learning the language together and have just completed our first year of a 2-year program. We are currently off on our summer break and wanted a way to stay motivated to continue learning new words and using the language every day so we started a Mohawk Word of the Day challenge for ourselves. We post a video teaching a new Mohawk word every day with weekly themes like family relations, flowers, or household objects.
You can follow along on my Twitter or Instagram accounts @shelbyliskphoto.
