This Land Is My
Land, first published in 1993, was clearly a
bestseller during Littlechild's exhibition at Edmonton's Bearclaw
Gallery, May 18-31, 2000. The paintings in this book, such as one of
an RCMP officer and an Indian chief, make strong statements about
what it means to be a First Nations person in North America today,
but the message is delivered with a delightful touch of humour and
within a colourful and basically joyful aesthetic framework. "I try
to help people see that art is fun," he says.
This is Littlechild's introductory comment in This Land Is My
Land:
"In Indian Country we are reviving our culture and traditions.
Working as an artist is my way of healing the pain of the past and
helping the next generation of Indian people. My goal is to heighten
awareness of the history and experience of Native Peoples of the
Americas and to promote understanding among all peoples."
Littlechild hastens to add, though, that the process of conveying
this weighty message is highly intuitive. "I don't plan what my work
is going to say to people," he says. "I am simply the vehicle.
Cultural messages and stories develop when I begin to paint. I allow
the message to be as it is supposed to be."
For example, Littlechild was fond of drawing horses, right from the
earliest years. He later learned that horses represent spirituality
in the Cree culture. Similarly, he has always used bright colours in
his work, and he now knows that the Cree were known across the
Americas as "the colourful people."
"Our people had a highly developed oral culture that has almost been
destroyed," he adds. "My paintings are another way of telling those
stories."
While in Edmonton in May, Littlechild also spent several days in
classrooms, talking to young people—some Native and some not—about
art and about what it means to be a Native person at the beginning
of the 21st century. These classroom visits are a regular part of
Littlechild's life. He sees them as another way to build bridges of
understanding between the Native and non-Native worlds.
Happily, talking to kids is also something that Littlechild loves to
do. "Kids have no screens up like adults," he says enthusiastically.
"They give you a direct message."
Explaining how this all came about, Littlechild says, "About 20
years ago, someone asked me to visit a school, and the workshops
just took off from there. I've received phenomenal feedback."
"When I talk to kids, I try to impart hope—and reality," Littlechild
says. This is how he paraphrases the ideas that he tries to get
across to youth: "It's okay to be you, to accept your heritage. Come
out of the woodwork. Stand up and be counted. This can be hard
because almost everybody will try to hurt you. Do it anyway. Find a
mentor if you can, work through your anger and get on with life."
"The next generation of First Nations people will be stronger than
we are," he adds.
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
