Art shines light on aboriginal-settler ties

Art can provide a unique perspective on the historical relationship between indigenous people and the European settlers.

“Today with so much in the news about racism and prejudice, perhaps we can look at some of the roots,” said Gerald McMaster, professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. “It’s nothing new ... I think there are different ways we can deal with them. Perhaps by looking at some of the relationships in the past we might understand the present.”

On Thursday, he delivered his keynote address, Not Afraid to Look the White Man in the Face for the Barbara Distinguished Lecture.

His presentation was based on his current research.

“It’s basically an art historical approach,” said McMaster. “It’s about how people look at one another.”

He has always had an interest in how indigenous people viewed the settlers after contact was made.

“What we are much more familiar with historically is the European or Euro-Canadian views of indigenous people,” said McMaster. “We see that in early paintings and early forms of art. And then later pop culture begins to take hold and begins to create much more stereotype views. We are quite familiar with what Hollywood has done and comics.”

In order to see art history through indigenous eyes he needed to find and locate early indigenous art, which took him to art galleries in Europe.

“Many will be surprised at how indigenous people basically put up that mirror to Europeans,” said McMaster.

Through his research he identified four key art zones in Canada.

The West Coast depicts primarily the trade that went on between the indigenous people and the Europeans. McMaster said boats are often depicted in those early artworks.

The second area is the North and Arctic, where the Vikings play a role in the art.

The third is Eastern Canada, where the art focuses on the physical appearance of the Europeans.

“But it’s when you get to the Prairies, this area here from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and down south to the United States that you start to see a very different kind of relationship,” said McMaster. “It is one based on a very aggressive relationship because I think that was the history of what this area was all about with the wars, battles and massacres. There was a lot of fighting going on, so the artwork, which is primarily on paper, shows what warriors were doing with their relationship with soldiers.”

He said the relationship between the two cultures has not ended.

“Today it is a very different kind of representation because our lives are so intertwined,” said McMaster. “Often you find artists looking at this kind of mix through ironic eyes. Through irony, through humour, which historically was not necessarily the case.”

He said today’s artists are much more aware of that mix and approach their art much differently than early artists.

“PERHAPS BY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PAST WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE PRESENT.” GERALD MCMASTER