The Colours of Pride
An introduction to four Indigenous painters whose work in recent years has stirred interest in Canada and abroad. Despite the artists' differing styles and origins, their canvases reflect their common heritage. The guide in the film is Tom Hill, a Seneca man who knows art and the Indigenous tradition and encourages his subjects to talk about their own origins and objectives. The painters are Norval Morrisseau, Allen Sapp, Alex Janvier, and Daphne Odjig.
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directorHenning Jacobsen
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scriptHelen Wolldridge
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cameraNaohiko Kurita
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editingDave Nicholson
Why was there such a taboo towards visual art as an expression of Indigenous identity and history? What role did Norval Morrisseau play in breaking down this taboo? Discuss how personal experience influences the work of these artists. Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Allen Sapp and Alex Janvier all address the importance of art as a way to document history—why is this especially important to Indigenous cultures? What legacy does the work of these artists represent for Indigenous history?
