Photo used with permission from Tanya Senk, Toronto District School Board

Collaborative Connections is an art exhibition featuring the work of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students from the Toronto District School Board’s Aboriginal Education Centre. The students, from grades 8 through 11, had participated in the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Education Project earlier this year. The exhibition debuted at City Hall as part of their National Aboriginal Day celebrations and it will be on display at the Toronto District School Board building at 5050 Yonge St. starting in September.

– Cora-Rae Silk
Indigenous Community Arts Coordinator & Communications Assistant
ArtBridges / ToileDesArts

“Historic Indigenous leadership was for and about the community. It was about a leader caring and loving the people in his or her community, and about leaders using their imaginations and creativity to gather and move the people together to find their life.”
– Cajete, Indigenous Scholar

The rationale for the work by twelve Aboriginal youth leaders was to look at issues of identity, stimulated by Aboriginal community members that inspire them. The central panel contains writing and images of these Aboriginal role models.

In a one-day studio session students were introduced to the visual arts photo-transfer process, and the students learned how to transfer photographic images onto plexi glass. Their self-portraits and hand images holding significant objects such as an i-pod, bracelet, sweetgrass, a turtle, corn, and a Métis sash personalize the open hands in each student’s work. The overarching intent of the work is a celebration of self. Students asked themselves: Who Am I? What do I value? What are my aspirations? Their writing forms an integral part of the work, together with the text in the central panel.

In this contemporary artwork, TDSB First Nation, Métis and Inuit students worked collaboratively using their imaginations and creativity to create a mixed media installation. They combined photography and text as they braided and wrapped the threads, beadwork and tobacco pouches to reference Traditional Teachings in honour of their identities and cultures. Careful stitching of their own ideas created a collaborative work that is at once deeply personal as well as a story of youthful ideals, aspirations and thinking.

Aboriginal youth artists: Emily Bennette – Toutant, Chantelle Breen, Dakota Jacobs, Christopher Landry, Chantel Linklater, Cohen Pinkoski, Justice Ryan, Bradley Sophocleous, Jasmin Sophocleous, Eithne McPherson, Jesse Migwans, James Migwans

Sumbitted by Tanya Senk, Coordinator
Aboriginal Education, Toronto District School Board

Photo used with permission from Tanya Senk, Toronto District School Board