Na' Tsa' mant Canada's Unity Wall

June 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Aboriginal Arts and Culture takes on the stage at the Land and Sea Mural being unveiled tomorrow June 4 at Ogden Point at the Victoria Harbour. The project is sponsored by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority ( GVHA) and the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations in whose traditional territory the harbour and the mural are located.
The significance of this event goes beyond its initial appearance, specially at a time when Canada is working to bring about reconciliation with the First People of this land. For the first time Lekwuangen the original language of Victoria is being used in public art. This was made possible when Esquimalt First Nations artist Darlene Gait, well known internationally for her paintings asked permission from her nation as well as the elders and the GVHA to have a blessing translated to Lekwuangen and placed on top of the second phase of the mural which will be unveiled through a Blessing ceremony on  at 1 pm on June 4, 2011.

This event and mural can be considered a cultural landmark of historical proportions not only for its beauty, but also because it is the fruit of a collaborative effort between the First People, the GVHA, the youth who were commissioned to reproduce the art on panels which are now placed on the walls of the breakwater and the residents of Victoria who will see for the first time that the old language used by the First people in Victoria is recognized and as confirmed by the GVHA will be maintained in perpetuity on this location, a favourite for all residents and the first sight for all visitors arriving though cruise ships to the harbour.

The overall design of the mural was done by Darlene Gait in collaboration with Songhees wood carver Butch Dick and the mural was reproduced by a team of youth who worked in the summers of 2009 and 2010. For more information about  the art of Darlene Gait,  for interviews, images and film on the project, please contact Mark Granfar.

You can see a profile of the artist at her website: www.onemoon.ca or through Facebook and Vimeo at the links below. See also some recent articles published by local media.

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About One Moon Gallery and artist Darlene Gait: Darlene Gait is a contemporary Coast Salish First Nation's artist. Her art is collected and exhibited internationally, as well as in a permanent display at her One Moon Art Gallery on the Esquimalt Nation Reserve. Darlene's paintings are known as inspiring and spiritual as she focuses and shares the beauty of the North West Coast landscape, its wild life and the indigenous art of the Native Canadian people whose heritage she embraces in her paintings and poetry.

Canada's Unity Wall | Monday Magazine
http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/canadas-unity-wall/

Victoria News - Traditional language comes alive on breakwater
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victori...


Part 2 unveiling set for mural
http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/Part+unveiling...

http://on.fb.me/fVaAn7

http://on.fb.me/hyDqPJ

http://vimeo.com/11312659