Brandon community photovoice project coming to Winnipeg gallery

An exhibit based on the results of a Brandon research partnership will go on display in Winnipeg in September.

Graffiti Gallery, located at 109 Higgins Ave., will present A Warrior’s Red Road, from September 6 through October 25, 2024. First displayed at the Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art at Brandon University (BU) in 2023, A Warrior’s Red Road is a photovoice project, using photographs to showcase Indigenous men coming together to connect with their traditional culture through drum making. An opening reception, featuring a drumming performance and an artist talk, will take place on Friday, Sept. 6, beginning at 7 p.m., at Graffiti Gallery.

From Graffiti Gallery:

The Good-Hearted Warriors/Akicita Cante Waste are a group of men who have been provided the responsibility of land and resources owned by the Brandon Friendship Centre at the East Site venue.  They have sovereignty over ceremonial buildings, collection of resources and overall protection and caretaking of the space.

With a spiritual advisor providing teachings on culture and ceremony, members of the group alternate between teaching and learning to share their knowledge about activities such as hunting, fishing, and trapping.  

This exhibition is the result of a year-long research partnership that followed the men from the Good-Hearted Warriors though the process of drum-making.  It gives evidence that many of the Good-Hearted Warriors’ activities have direct effect on the caretaking and protection of the land and, as revealed in the themes represented through this photovoice project, the impact of the group extends much further.  The hope is that by witnessing the project, the public, policy makers and funders will find a newfound respect and admiration for Indigenous men’s cultural programming and see the importance of supporting this type of work.

The research team within this project are Dr. Candice Waddell-Henowitch, Dr. Rachel Herron, Dr. Jonathan Allan and research assistant Stephanie Spence from Brandon University with Frank Tacan from the Brandon Friendship Centre, as well as Jason Gobeil and Marti Ford.

Opening Reception: September 6, 7 to 10 p.m.

Opening Prayers: 7 p.m.

Drumming Performance and Artist Talk: 7:30 p.m.

Graffiti Art Programming Inc. facilitates low barrier youth-led community programming in the North End and Downtown of Winnipeg that promotes social engagement through the arts.

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