Category: Blog

Marianne Nicolson, ‘Tayagila’ogwa, the 2019 Award of Distinction Laureate is celebrated for her extraordinary and sustained accomplishment in First Nations Art. Thirteen years ago, Marianne received recognition from BC Achievement with the Award in First Nations Art. Her practice is well-known for utilizing painting, photography, mixed-media, sculpture, and installation to create modern depictions of traditional  Kwakwaka’wakw concepts. 

As an artist of Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nations descent from Kingcome Inlet, Marianne has exhibited widely in Canada and throughout the world since 1992 and has been vocal on issues of Indigenous histories and politics arising from a passionate involvement in cultural revitalization and sustainability. 

Marianne’s training encompassed both traditional Kwakwaka’wakw forms and culture and Western European based art practice. She was trained by a master carver in traditional Kwakwaka’wakw design and followed this with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design, a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, along with a Masters in Linguistics and Anthropology, and a PhD in Linguistics, Anthropology and Art History. 

Marianne credits her success to the richness of her community’s history. At the presentation ceremony of the 2019 Fulmer Award in First Nations Art, she spoke of her gratitude. “I’m really grateful to be honoured as an individual, but I feel really that any kind of accolades that come my way really belong to my community, and the ideas and the history that they’ve brought forward, because it was such a rich place to come from and many spectacular people have come from Kingcome Inlet. I feel really honoured that I’ve been able to walk the path that they laid out before me.” 

Marianne also recognized that her contributions would serve future generations “I’m hopeful that myself, in turn, am helping to create a path that others can then also follow behind me.” 

The BC Achievement First Nations Art program was launched in 2007 to honour excellence in First Nations Art and has recognized over 85 talented artists within its alumni. BC Achievement is grateful to The Fulmer Foundation for its generous support of the program.

The Fulmer Award celebrates the intersection of art and culture, while honouring First Nations artistic traditions from throughout the province. Amongst the 80 individuals who have been honoured as awardees of this program since its inception, there is one each year who is recognized for their lifetime of artistic achievement through the Award of Distinction. This acknowledgement is presented for extraordinary and sustained accomplishment in First Nations Art in BC.  

The Award of Distinction is also a commemorative reflection on how these artistic leaders contribute to their communities, how they respect tradition, how they mentor the next generation, and how they transform reality. They ensure that BC is a place filled with astonishing craft, with unique and immensely expressive power, and continuous wonder.  

In keeping with all those who have been recognized as remarkable artists with this designation, BC Achievement is privileged to honour Evelyn Vanderhoop of Masset as the 2020 Award of Distinction laureate. Evelyn is a respected Haida traditional textile weaver in the Naaxiin (more commonly called Chilkat) tradition. Coming from a family of weavers, Evelyn delved into the origin of this technique by reading journals of the early explorers, learning from the stories of her ancestors and studying the old robes in museums around the world. Evelyn has shared her knowledge through her contributions to books on Northwest Coast Art, and lectures at universities and museums. She is now teaching others how to weave in this tradition, and has been making and posting weaving demonstration videos online to make it accessible to all. Parallel careers as a weaver and watercolour artist have marked Evelyn’s success in BC and internationally. 

Past recipients of the Award of Distinction in First Nations Art are:  

2007 Robert Davidson & Dempsey Bob  
2008 Mary Michell  
2009 Earl Muldon  
2010 Rena Point Bolton  
2011 Primrose Adams  
2012 Norman Tait  
2013 Mandy Brown  
2014 Alvin Mack  
2015 Joe David  
2016 Susan Point  
2017 Delores Purdaby
2018 Henry (Hank) Speck Jr.  
2019 Marianne Nicolson  

Across the world people are practicing self-isolation and shifting how they interact with others. Thankfully artists are accustomed to being creative and finding unique ways to share their art with diverse audiences. 

More and more we see artists showcasing their work online through virtual exhibits and digital gatherings. They’re relying on social media platforms to help them sell their art exclusively online, shipping it to clients directly and therefore, maintaining physical distancing. 

There’s no substitute for the experience of a real-time live art show which allows intimate access to the fine lines of the brushstroke, the smell of a cedar carving, or the texture of a custom fabric. However, until we can gather together again, the remarkable tools of social media and online viewing will direct the art lover’s experience.

There are lots of local artist talks and online galleries available to peruse while you’re at home https://www.eventbrite.ca/d/canada–vancouver/art-exhibit/ 

Give your local artist some love and like and share their work. 

Modern Indigenous economies are revitalizing traditional practices, developing new skills, and helping share knowledge between communities. And there’s no better place to look to see examples of this than the Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program, now in its 12^th year of honouring and recognizing business excellence.  

Indigenous businesses like those recognized through the IBA program, provide goods and services to their local communities, create employment opportunities for Indigenous people and serve as leaders, mentors and trailblazers for others seeking to create their own business. 

Indigenous businesses are leading the way in building a stronger economy in Canada and BC. A pre-COVID report from RBC this spring found that the number of Indigenous business owners was growing at five times the rate of self-employed Canadians. And Indigenous women were becoming entrepreneurs at twice the rate of non-Indigenous women. Indigenous businesses are expected to grow exponentially and continue to be a powerful force in the provincial economy.  

The Indigenous Business Awardees announced this week serve as examples of resilience and innovation during this tumultuous year. With their tenacity and hard work, Indigenous businesses will continue to be a driving force in British Columbia. 

BC Achievement applauds these exceptional businesses and the people who share in their success. Congratulations to the 2020 Indigenous Business Awardees! 

Longhouse Media serves local, national and international clients. Longhouse provides customers with synergistic digital solutions that add value to businesses and personal brands.  Awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year. 

Raven Reads is designed as a safe space to learn about other cultures, about history and to discover beautifully crafted products made by Indigenous entrepreneurs from around the globe through the use of Subscription Boxes.  Awarded Business of the Year – one-to-two person enterprise. 

Sḵwálwen is an Indigenous business creating botanical skin care products based on Indigenous Plant Science and honouring traditional plant knowledge.  Awarded Business of the Year – three-to-ten person enterprise.  

OneFeather Technologies  is an Indigenous technology company  that offers digital services for modern nation-building including election and voting services, data sovereignty, community engagement, and now a full suite of banking solutions for the individual.  Awarded Business of the Year – 11+ person enterprise. 

Alkali Resource Management (ARM) is an integrated forest management company that was established in 2001 to manage the forest licenses, woodlot and community forest on behalf of Esk’etemc (Alkali Lake).  Awarded Community-Owned Business of the Year – one entity. 

 Lil’wat Holdings Limited Partnership is the holding company for all the economic development companies of  Lil’wat Nation (known as Lil’wat Business Group).  Awarded Community-Owned Business of the Year – two or more entities. 

Nupqu is a full-service resource consulting company owned by the communities of the Ktunaxa Nation.  Awarded Business Partnership of the Year. 

Outstanding Business Achievement is awarded to Top of the Line Catering, for their traditional First Nations catering business in Burns Lake.  

The IBA program was launched in 2008 to honour and celebrate business excellence and has recognized over 200 remarkable businesses within its alumni.  

Why an Orange Shirt? Former residential school student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad has shared her story of her first day at residential school when her new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year old girl. This act left Phyllis feeling invisible and worthless and affected the way she lived for much of her life. 

September 30th is annually recognized as Orange Shirt Day, highlighting the damage the residential school system did to the well-being of Indigenous children. Equally, it serves as a healing journey for the survivors and a commitment by all who wear an orange shirt, that every child matters. 

Chief Fred Robbins, a former student of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in Williams Lake, BC started Orange Shirt Day to ensure that residential school survivors are not forgotten. Through his vision, Chief Robbins brought together First Nations, Tribal Councils, local government leaders, school districts, and former students to remember, recover and reconcile. Chief Robbins was recognized as a BC Achievement Community Awardee in 2017, for giving voice and hope to reconciliation in BC.  

Orange Shirt Day can be hard for those who survived residential  schools and their families. Over 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential schools in Canada from the late 1800’s until the last one closed in the 1990’s and of those attending, it’s estimated that over 5,000 died while under residential school care. Many survivors are still dealing with the trauma of abuse experienced at these schools, and the impact it’s had not just on them, but on their families as well.  

Now is the time to listen to the stories of survivors and their families and learn from them, so that these mistakes are not repeated. It is a time for conversations about understanding the survivors’ truths and beginning the journey toward reconciliation. Now is the time for an exploration of opportunities to do better for generations of children to come.  

Join the movement and remember to wear your orange shirt tomorrow. 

For more information go to OrangeShirtDay.org  

Participate virtually, post pictures, share your story #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters 

Here at BC Achievement we deliver award programs recognizing the spirit of excellence demonstrated by the people of this province. Since our inception in 2003, hundreds of worthy artists, designers, entrepreneurs, volunteers, leaders and innovators have been elevated and celebrated for their achievements. All in keeping with our mission to honour excellence and inspire achievement throughout British Columbia.

Within and amongst these amazing individuals, there are those who are singled out for their exceptional contributions during a lifetime of achievement, these fine folks are recognized as Award of Distinction laureates.

Gordon Hutchens, ceramist, was awarded this designation for the 2019 Carter Wosk Award in Applied Art + Design, and he is, by definition, a perfect exemplar of this award. Gordon is an accomplished artist with a comprehensive body of work, an established career and an international reputation. Gordon’s outstanding work has helped bring recognition to both his craft and the province.

Renowned for the depth and diversity of his glazes and refined forms, Gordon has inspired a generation of ceramists. To quote from the website Fired Up: Contemporary Works in Clay, the website for a select group of BC ceramic artists begun by Robin Hopper: “Gordon’s work shows a long developing exploration of form, texture and colour. He mixes together natural minerals and chemical elements and through the art of complex firings, where subtle nuances in the character of the flame can make a dramatic difference, he brings these glazes to life. Here is an expression of balance, not just physical, but the balance between control and spontaneity, traditional and contemporary, technique and creative thought.”

Living on Denman Island surrounded by the natural landscape, Gordon finds beauty all around him. “I get sustenance from the natural world; it helps feed my work and is part of my inspiration. The ocean, the rocks along the shoreline, the changing weather, the forest, the moss growing on the trees, lichens growing on the rocks” – all are unique components of his muse.

As well as working as a potter, Gordon finds ways to mentor others and share his talent and passion for the craft. Gordon teaches ceramics at North Island College in Courtenay, BC and is a regular instructor at Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts. He’s also exhibited his work across Canada, the US and in Japan. And he’s often at Circle Craft market in Vancouver, selling his pieces or demonstrating his skill at the pottery wheel.

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Receiving the honour in 2017, Danika Naccarella was the inaugural recipient of the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist Award in the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art program. The Award is presented to an emerging artist in honour of Emily Carr University Director, Aboriginal Programs, Brenda Crabtree and the late Bill McLennan, UBC Museum of Anthropology’s Curator Emeritus. Danika was recognized for artistic excellence in melding of classic northern Northwest Coast design with Nuxalk style, in particular for her work in traditional hand-poke tattooing and skin-stitch techniques. 

We recently reached out to Danika to see what she’s up to now. Not one to stand still, this talented First Nations artist continues to work hard and extend her artistic ability with new art forms. 

Following her studies at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, Danika now assists  with art instruction to Kindergarten to Grade 12 Nuxalk Nation youth at Acwsalcta School in Bella Coola from where she also graduated.  

When she’s not teaching, Danika is hard at work creating art in various forms including acrylic painting, digital art, jewellery, hand poke tattooing, regalia making, and carving – sometimes. Born and raised in Bella Coola, Danika and her fiancé recently purchased their first home off reserve in Hagensborg, BC where they work and live out of their cabin that serves as a studio space for Danika’s tattooing and a small carving shop for her fiancé. 

When asked what inspires her artistry, Danika reflects on her peoples’ history, “My ancestors and those who came before me have inspired me to dedicate myself to the art form. Studying the old masterpieces has set a high standard for my own practice, the pieces we see in the museum collections really are masterpieces as the ones who created those pieces had the privilege of refining their skills that were passed down for many generations. My generation has to relearn everything that was taken away from us – we are reviving what was almost wiped out.” 

Danika is hoping that her art work will inspire other young Northwest Coast artists to continue this art form and bring it even farther than where it is now, while staying true to the traditional form and learning the foundations that define the art form. “There are so many mediums of art that I want to be able to pass on to the generations after me. Not only is passing on knowledge important, it is also important to bring light to our small community, to let others know we are still here and thriving.” 

During these challenging times as COVID-19 continues to  impact our lives, Danika shares that her personal art practice did suffer a major setback. “During the beginning of the pandemic I was unable to practice hand poke tattooing – which is a major part of my practice as an artist. Commissions and larger pieces weren’t feasible to clients either due to costs – so I migrated my energy to small affordable handmade earrings. Now that our world is a lot different, many people are choosing to support locals, which is a beautiful thing. I always give back and support other artists and businesses as that helps our local economies and families.” 

Since receiving the Crabtree McLennan award in 2017, Danika is excited to share that that her practice has flourished. “I am so honoured to be awarded this title, as a young female artist in a male dominated market, it has solidified my confidence in my art practice. Being the inaugural recipient of this title was unbelievable. To have both Bill McLennan & Brenda Crabtree there was such an honour.” 

If you’re interested in Danika Naccarella’s art practice, you can reach her at her Facebook and Instagram pages and be sure to watch the film made to honour this young artist at bcachievement.com. 

One of the organizations that is powering BC’s growing Indigenous economy and cultivating innovation is Indigenous Tourism BC. As a non-profit, Stakeholder-based organization, Indigenous Tourism BC is committed to growing and promoting a sustainable, culturally rich Indigenous tourism industry. Through training, information resources, networking opportunities and marketing programs, Indigenous Tourism BC is an important resource for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities in British Columbia who are operating or looking to start a tourism business. 

As of last fall, it boasted over 200 Indigenous tourism businesses and a growth of 85% over the past 20 years. At that point it was “one of the fastest growing industries in BC, with Indigenous tourism businesses contributing $705 million each year to the provincial economy” according to Brenda Baptiste, Chair of Indigenous Tourism BC. “We are so proud of our communities and stakeholders who have dedicated their time to bringing Indigenous cultural experiences to life for visitors” she shared. 

Due to COVID-19, Indigenous tourism has felt the impact of reduced travel and many Indigenous businesses are deciding how and when to re-open to visitors. With responsible tourism now the expectation, Indigenous tourism is once again poised to reinvent itself, grow, and support BC’s economy by creating more jobs for Indigenous people and other BC residents through their activities. 

At the 2019 Indigenous Business Award Gala, Indigenous Tourism BC was featured in IBA’s inaugural ‘Spotlight Series’ developed to honour and celebrate those organizations who play a vital role in cultivating innovation and powering BC’s growing Indigenous economy. 

By 2029, there are expected to be up to 861,000 job openings in BC — more than 77% of these jobs require technical or trades training. The Industry Training Authority (ITA) provides early trades training for youth, helping them secure the skills they need to find a job even before they graduate.

Given that Indigenous youth is the fastest growing demographic in the country – according to Stats Canada – we know there is a young and growing Indigenous population in BC which is an “untapped” resource to drive the future of the economy.   

The ITA helps bring trades training to youth and by doing so, they are also helping the Indigenous economy by supporting this growing Indigenous youth segment. Through its many programs the ITA works with employers, apprentices, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, support apprenticeships, fund programs, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades. 

Thanks to the efforts of ITA and its community engagement last year over 3,000 Indigenous apprenticeships were underway in our province. 

Andrew George, who served ITA as an Apprenticeship Advisor from 2014 until 2019 when he left to begin an Indigenous culinary program outline at NVIT, – is extremely proud of ITA’s accomplishments, citing that when he began at ITA there were 50 Indigenous apprenticeships. By the end of 2019, it had surpassed 3000! 

At the 2019 Indigenous Business Award (IBA) Gala, ITA was featured in IBA’s inaugural ‘Spotlight Series’ developed to honour and celebrate those organizations who play a vital role in cultivating innovation and powering BC’s growing Indigenous economy. 

ITA works with a community-based network of Indigenous community training and employment service agencies across the province and with trades jobs opening up over the next decade, never has there been a better time for Indigenous people to enter skilled trades.