Ojibway artist Helen Pelletier brings more than two decades of birch bark experience and learning from Elders, mentors and community members to Victoria later this month.
The Aunty Collective Gallery presents PelletierB次元官网网址檚 Wiigwas Manidoog: Visiting Lekwungen Territories Feb. 28 to April 19.
Her work, which includes winter birch bark etchings and contemporary designs such as backpacks, hats, and skirts, reflects both tradition and innovation. She frequently incorporates home-tanned hides and natural materials sourced from her community, imbuing her creations with layers of meaning and cultural significance.
This exhibition marks the first national show hosted by the Aunty Collective and highlights Pelletier's longstanding relationship with Wiigwas (birch bark) and the ways it shapes her artistic practice. It features intricately crafted baskets, garments, and functional art, each piece reflecting PelletierB次元官网网址檚 deep connection to Anemki Wajiw (Thunder Mountain) and Ojibwe traditions. With every creation, Pelletier honours her cultural roots while highlighting the evolution of Indigenous art.
The Aunty Collective is rooted in the principles of relationality, and aims to create spaces that centre Indigenous voices, cultures, and ways of knowing. Within the gallery space the aunties aim to maintain Indigenous creative practices, safeguarded from the pressures of colonial frameworks. By offering a space where Indigenous creatives feel respected and celebrated within a gallery space, the collective is fostering a growing sense of community, pride, and resilience.
The exhibition is part of the collectiveB次元官网网址檚 broader goal of providing Indigenous artists with professional development, exposure, and opportunities to grow their practices in an environment that is nurturing and grounded in Indigenous sovereignty. The collectiveB次元官网网址檚 curatorial model prioritizes collaboration, community engagement and mentorship, offering new models of curating that challenge the dominant Western art paradigms.
The exhibition launches with an opening night Feb. 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. at 2620 Rock Bay Ave.
