Indigenous Art

Local Art Gallery

Click here to visit: I-Hos Gallery

I-Hos Gallery presents a collection of traditional and contemporary Northwest Coast artwork, including masks, prints, gold and silver jewelry, wood carvings and more produced by First Nations artists.

Our culture is expressed through our art. We are located between Courtenay and Comox on Vancouver Island, on the site of the original K’ómoks Village. We deal directly with all of our First Nation artists and provide you with all legends and artist biographies.

Artist Profiles

Andy Everson

Andy Everson was born in Comox, BC in 1972 and named Na̱gedzi after his grandfather, the late Chief Andy Frank of the K’ómoks First Nation. Andy has also had the honour of being seated with the ‘Na̱mg̱is T̓sit̓sa̱ł’walag̱a̱me’ name of Ḵ̓wa̱mxa̱laga̱lis I’nis.

Coast Salish Art

Perpetual Salish: Coast Salish Art in the Classroom

Perpetual Salish: Coast Salish Art in the Classroom is an online resource centre for teachers, offering cross-curricular lesson plans to engage students and facilitate their understanding of Coast Salish culture and art.

Coast Salish Design Elements by Qwalsius – Shaun Peterson

“A brief overview of two dimensional shapes used in Coast Salish design of Natives of the Pacific Northwest Coast Art tradition. This also explains briefly how this art form is not a formline tradition but a tradition unto it’s own serving the needs of it’s people, its community.” – Qwalsius – Shaun Peterson.

Comox Valley Art Gallery

Public Place: Sacred Space click here to explore

This ongoing multi-year program integrates themes of welcoming, gathering and healing through the incorporation of Indigenous place-naming, installations, public art, a full circle tea garden, exhibitions, cross-cultural sharing, performance, video screenings, workshops, gatherings and residencies. The undertaking was a collaboration between the Comox Valley Art Gallery, participating artists, curators, Elders, the K’ómoks First Nation community and the City of Courtenay.

Together, the components in this program are seen as a step toward reconciliation and recognition of the historic relationships the K’ómoks peoples have had with this Valley for thousands of years.

Potlatch 67-67 hiłt̕sist̕a’a̱m: The Copper Will Be Fixed. To explore this past CVAG exhibit click here

2018 marks the 67th year since the Canadian government’s Potlatch Ban was lifted, after it was imposed on First Nations for 67 years. Hereditary Chief Rob Everson of the Gigalgam Walas Kwaguɫ, recognizing that many Canadians do not understand the history of Indigenous peoples, envisioned an arts and cultural program that would powerfully engage the local community and fellow Canadians, both Indigenous and settler, about this history and the impact.

Reconcilation Art

Resistance 150: Indigenous artists challenge Canadians to reckon with our history

The #Resistance150 project, led by Métis artist Christi Belcourt, has emerged as a prominent voice of protest. Many other artists have joined the movement, sharing work that celebrates the resilience of Indigenous communities and challenges Canadians to reflect on our country’s complicated legacy from a new perspective.

Reconciliation Art Project

The Reconciliation Art Project is designed to help children, in an artistic and engaging way, explore our shared history and begin to imagine a future of togetherness between Indigenous People and all Canadians.

U’mista Cultural Society Virtual Tour

This virtual tour of the Potlatch Gallery at U’mista Cultural Centre comprises 6 different panoramic scenes, with links to high-resolution 360 images for each 3-dimensional object in the collection. (U’mista Potlatch website)

This tour is an excellent way to view the masks in the gallery!

Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson Haida Artist

Raven Calling productions click here