Indigenous and Urban taking it to the streets at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

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Gatineau, Quebec, June 27, 2013 — They’re hip. They’re diverse. They’re Indigenous artists in the city. Get ready for an amazing line-up of avant-garde talent as the Canadian Museum of Civilization presents Indigenous and Urban, a summer-long program that showcases urban artistic expressions of Canada’s First Peoples.

Be prepared for a 21st-century mash-up of traditional and modern, dazzling displays of creative thought and expression by today’s Indigenous artists, who are shedding light on contemporary urban life through the prisms of their own histories and cultures.

Indigenous and Urban kicks off on June 27 at 5 p.m., when Mohawk DJ BuddaBlaze fills the Museum’s special exhibition space with a danceable hip-hop vibe, while Métis graffiti artist Fred Thomas wields his spray-paint on an immense indoor mural.

Festivities continue all summer long, with live events held every two weeks featuring Shane Belcourt’s film Tkaronto, a dance double bill that brings together Christine Friday O’Leary and Rhonda Doxtator, an interview with writer Cherie Dimaline, Dave Jenniss’ play Wulustek, a conversation with multidisciplinary artist Caroline Monnet, an electric pow-wow with A Tribe Called Red and Saturday craft activities for the whole family.  Between live events, museum-goers are invited to visit the special exhibition space for an installation of visual art and short films by contemporary Indigenous artists who address diverse aspects of urban realities.

“At least half of Canada’s Aboriginal population live in urban centres, and we want to provide a platform for these artists to share their perspectives with other Canadians and visitors to Canada” said Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.

Indigenous and Urban is based upon a research project, initiated in 2004 by Dr. Morgan Baillargeon, Curator, Plains Ethnology at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, in consultation with many individuals and institutions across the country. It begins during National Aboriginal History month, providing an opportunity to honour the heritage, contributions and cultures of Indigenous peoples in Canada, past and present. Indigenous and Urban runs June 27 to September 2, 2013.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is a partner of the National Gallery of Canada’s summer offering Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art. 

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

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