On now at Comox Valley Art Gallery
Potlatch 67-67: The Potlatch Ban – Then and Now examines the impact of the attempted cultural genocide through the potlatch ban and the resilience of Indigenous people in maintaining and reclaiming traditional cultural practices and in creating new forms of cultural expression. 2018 marks the 67th year since the Canadian government’s Potlatch Ban was lifted, after it was imposed on Indigenous people for 67 years.
Nagezdi, Rob Everson Hereditary Chief of the Gigalgam Walas Kwaguł, recognized that many Canadians do not understand the history of Indigenous peoples. He envisioned an Indigenous art exhibition and cultural program that would powerfully engage the local community and fellow Canadians, both Indigenous and settler, about this shared history and the impact. With organizers, community partners, artists, and a clear vision, the creators of Potlatch 67-67 present this convergent thematic program.
