Students spotlight Indigenous aesthetics in art showcase

Indigenous Studies students presented their work at a special showcase on April 17 in Nawapon.

The exhibit featured original pieces created in the course Indigenous Arts: Aesthetics, Culture and Reclamation. Over the winter term, students explored a wide range of Indigenous artistic traditions across First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. They worked with materials like pencil crayons, markers, clay, paint, hide, rocks and wool, while also learning about music, dance and theatre. The showcase focused on their visual art, but it reflected that broader learning.

“I feel like students really outdid themselves and they really embraced learning about the different art forms through their visual art creations, through their 3D work, with the innukshuk and the clay creations and the finger weaving,” said Marina Westbrook, Coordinator and Professor of Indigenous Studies. “I think they had a lot of fun doing it and they appreciate what their peers have accomplished and managed to create. It’s a really beautiful culmination of this course.”

Each piece was rooted in both technique and story. Students drew inspiration from established Indigenous artists while developing their own voice. The result was a collection that spoke to identity, culture and personal expression.

This marked the second year for the showcase, following a successful pilot that drew strong support from friends, family and the wider community.

For visitors, the event offered a chance to see how learning translated into meaningful, hands-on expression. For students, it was a moment to step back and recognize what they had created over the term.