Fort William First Nation artists work on display at Thunder Bay Art Gallery

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — The artwork of Fort William artists Helen Pelletier and Christian Chapman were celebrated on June 23 during the opening of their exhibitions, which run until Sept. 17, at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. The Helen Pelletier: Wiigwas Manidoog Descendants exhibition features a range of birch bark works, including etched baskets, objects, garments and accessories, and the Christian Chapman: Ziibaaska’iganagoodayan – The Jingle Dress exhibition features 11 Jingle Dress paintings of friends, family, and fellow artists.

“There’s baskets, there’s skirts, there’s a canoe, there’s different items, mostly [made from] a lot of winter birch bark,” Pelletier says. “Winter birch bark has a cambium left on it which allows me to etch a design on the baskets or whatever item I’m making.”

Pelletier says she began creating the birch bark pieces in September 2022.

“For me, a lot of time is preparing and making the baskets,” Pelletier says. “My goal was to have them ready for the gallery at the beginning of June.”

Pelletier says she has always been interested in working with birch bark, noting that she learned about birch bark while working at Fort William Historical Park in 1998.

“Ann Magiskan is my first teacher of birch bark and she showed me the value of wiigwas (birch bark), and from there I fell in love and just continued learning about it,” Pelletier says. “About five years ago, I decided to work with winter birch bark and start making baskets, and I really took it serious, so I’ve been creating consistently, almost daily, for the last five years.”

Pelletier says she often works with the birch bark early in the morning and in the afternoon or evening.

“I’ll usually work until midnight or two or three in the morning,” Pelletier says. “I definitely love my night-times and early mornings for wiigwas.”

Chapman and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery were also presented with the 2022 York Wilson Endowment Award, which is administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, during the opening ceremony.

“Part of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s mandate and vision is to feature art that reflects local artists’ realities and accomplishments and to connect them to Canada and the world,” says Jennifer Cherniack, program officer, prizes at the Canada Council for the Arts. “Not only is the artist Christian Chapman from Fort William First Nation, the 11 paintings acquired, Ziibaaska’iganagooday – The Jingle Dress, feature his friends, family members, and fellow artists and each piece is titled with the dancer’s name.”

Chapman says he was grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery for the award.

“It’s something I never thought would happen, but it did and it’s a cool [award],” Chapman says, noting that the Canada Council for the Arts and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery have been huge supporters of his work and have helped him to keep doing what he has always loved to do. “It’s just really colourful pictures of strong Anishinabek women — they’re all family members, community members.”

Fort William Chief Michele Solomon says she couldn’t be more proud of the two artists.

“Just walking in here and seeing all the beautiful pieces that Christian made, and these are women from our community and if not from our community of Fort William First Nation, from people that are connected to the community of Fort William First Nation,” Solomon says. “I’ve sat in Helen’s home and watched her do this amazing work with birch bark, and it is so much to be proud of for both of them.”

Solomon says Chapman’s recognition with the 2022 York Wilson Endowment Award demonstrates what an exceptional artist he is.

“A lot of it really speaks to decolonizing,” Solomon says. “He’s a wonderful artist and we’re so fortunate to have him represent Fort William First Nation.”