Events & Gatherings
An Opening Conversation: Marianne and Midori Nicolson
Join artist Marianne Nicolson and her sister, biologist Midori Nicolson, for a conversation celebrating the opening of Carried by rivers, held by lands, the culminating group exhibition of the eponymous multi-year initiative.
Together, Marianne and Midori will introduce the Dzawada̱’enux̱w community installation presented in the exhibition and discuss the intertwined relationships between people, culture, and the Gwa’yi River. Reflecting on efforts to restore traditional fishing technologies, cultural practices, and forms of knowledge disrupted through colonial dispossession, they will consider what it means for knowledge, skills, and people to return home. Through stories of the eulachon run and the river that sustains it, the conversation will explore how cultural renewal and environmental stewardship remain inseparable.
Please note that the conversation will begin promptly at 7 PM. Following the talk, guests are invited to stay for light refreshments and exhibition viewing.
Event/Exhibition meta autogenerated block.
When
July 30 at 7:00PM–8:00PM
Where
Remai Modern Atrium
July 30 at 7:00PM – 8:00PM
About the Speakers
Marianne Nicolson is an artist activist of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nations. The Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw Nations are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwak’wala speaking peoples) of the Pacific Northwest Coast. She is trained in both traditional Kwakwaka’wakw forms and culture and contemporary gallery and museum-based practice. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design (1996), a Master of Fine Arts (2000) from the University of Victoria, as well as a Master of Arts (2005) in Linguistics and Anthropology and a PhD (2013) in Linguistics and Anthropology with a focus on space as expressed in the Kwak’wala language. Nicolson works as a Kwakwaka’wakw cultural researcher and historian, as well as an advocate for Indigenous land rights. Her practice is multi-disciplinary encompassing photography, painting, carving, video, installation, monumental public art, writing and speaking. All her work is political in nature and seeks to uphold Kwakwaka’wakw traditional philosophy and worldview through contemporary mediums and technology. Exhibitions include the 17th Biennale of Sydney, Australia; The Vancouver Art Gallery, The National Museum of the American Indian in New York, Nuit Blanche in Toronto, Ontario, Museum Arnhem, Netherlands and many others. Major monumental public artworks are situated in Vancouver International Airport, the Canadian Embassy in Amman, Jordan and the Canadian Embassy in Paris, France.
Midori Nicolson is Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw, and a member of the Dzawada’enuxw nation who reside in the village of U’kwanalis, on the Gwa’yi River in Kingcome Inlet. A biologist, she has worked in territorial stewardship for many years, and has been an advocate for Indigenous leadership managing traditional territories in a way that respects our value systems. Midori’s current work includes studying climate change impacts to local fisheries ad landscapes, as well as the important role of women in traditional governance.
Carried by rivers, held by lands is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.