Critical Writing Index

Pe'l A'tukwey: Let me...tell a story

by Robin Metcalfe

Arts Atlantic, Winter 1994, v. 12, no. iss. 48 no.4, pp. 25-31

This article covers two exhibitions featured in the 5th National Native Artist Symposium in Halifax: Pe’l A’tukwey marked the beginning and Indigena: Contemporary Native Perspectives marked the end of the symposium. Indigena was composed of nineteen Native artists from across the country responding to the Oka crisis. “Pe’l A’tukwey was Atlantic Canada’s first major survey exhibition of contemporary Mi’kmaq and Maliseet art.” Robin Metcalfe provides a brief history of the cultural dynamics and clashes between Native Americans and European settlers, as seen in the content of the artwork. Metcalfe questions how a Native American audience may respond to contemporary trends featured in the exhibitions. How relevant is this work to a Native American community, and does its relevance simply run as far as a Native American ART community?

ITEM 1994.004 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Electronic TotemMike MacDonald

Seven SistersMike MacDonald

Secret FlowersMike MacDonald

Hunter ShamanNed Bear

De'kedjShirley Bear

Lithic SpheresLance Belanger

Ginap in the Shaking TentDavid Brooks

CuspPeter Clair

I, ObjectCharles Doucette

The Lost GenerationDozay (Arlene Christmas)

Margaret Johnson

MonopolyTeresa Marshall

Audrey Mitchell

Tractor and RavenLeonard Paul

Jonathan Sark

Luke Simon

A Woman with a GunRoger Simon

All my RelationsAlan Syliboy

CelebrationAlan Syliboy

Tribute to Christopher Columbus's supposed discovery of Indians and this countryPhillip Young

Wikisi GolfShirly Bear

Peace, Order and Good GovernmentTeresa Marshall