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The Northern Cultural Expressions Society (NCES) is a meeting place of cultures that contribute to the artistic vitality of the territory. The executive director of NCES, Tanya Silverfox, has built up the organization to foster this mood \u2013 one where artists gather as a softer, but forceful, presence in society.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have visions of this place to make it what it could be,\u201d Silverfox says. She wants to open it up to cultures beyond just First Nations, which is what the Society is associated with. \u201cNCES \u2013 it doesn\u2019t have a label just for one form of art.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silverfox says that she works specifically to forge a friendship with team members whether they work in administration or are artists. The strength of the partnership is built on family companionship, collaborative teamwork and strong lines of communication. It goes beyond painting styles and traditions.<\/p>\n
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The Northern Cultural Expressions Society is a cultural hub for Indigenous arts projects in Whitehorse, Yukon. It is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous participation. [Photo \u00a9 Jennifer Liu]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”\u2013 Tanya Silverfox” _builder_version=”3.21″ body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#179e75″]<\/p>\n
\n“I don\u2019t see First Nations instructors really ever just limiting only specific to\u2026one people. It\u2019s so diverse in here that I find, I don\u2019t think we would ever just aim towards one.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Between each artist\u2019s unique form line, style and method of carving, \u201cI think it just combines itself,\u201d Silverfox says. \u201cIt\u2019s a big family \u2013 we don\u2019t put labels on anything\u2026If they bring a really good warm, positive energy with them, then they\u2019re more than welcome to come in here and do their artwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
But NCES\u2019s affairs hadn\u2019t always been this cohesive. Under Silverfox, the NCES was able to balance a program of creative activities while getting their administration in order.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work,\u201d the executive director admits. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t very organized when I first started, so it\u2019s been a really interesting two years, but it\u2019s come a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-583677638-671847306\/a-shortage-of-first-nations-cultural-identity” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_cta title=”NCES funding channels ” button_text=”Click Here” _builder_version=”3.21″]<\/p>\n
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The Northern Cultural Expressions Society is looking to extra funding sources to build upon their existing program offerings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Expansion projects for traditional activities:<\/span><\/p>\n
regalia-making, elder workshops at the Moosehide Gathering cultural celebration, traditional parenting partnership, parka-making<\/p>\n
Community partnerships:<\/span> \u00a0<\/p>\n
-Skookum Jim Friendship Centre for youth employment supports<\/p>\n
-Yukon Government Health and Social Services for further employment and training<\/p>\n
-Yukon Government Community Development Fund<\/p>\n
-Canadian Museums Association for the Young Canada Works program<\/p>\n
-Service Canada\u2019s Horizon for Seniors has paid for elders\u2019 fees at cultural workshops.<\/p>\n
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Silverfox says that NCES\u2019s medium-term plans are backed by ongoing community support. Her plans for the society in the summer of 2019 include bringing in workshops on sewing, beading, and traditional regalia, and having elder craftspeople to lead the workshops. This is all pending funding, which she expects will follow with public interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually really expensive, and sometimes it\u2019s hard to find funding for stuff like that,\u201d<\/p>\n
NCES\u2019s entire operations are funded through Yukon Government Tourism and Culture Branch, with the Society being their second-largest funded program. Silverfox lists NCES\u2019s core operational costs: rent, utilities, staff wages, bookkeeping, equipment, materials and supplies, among other things.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody always could use more money,\u201d Silverfox says. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty amazing, so we are so grateful to have them fund us.\u201d The Society is in the last year of a three-year agreement; in addition, they are in their second year of funding from Yukon Government Department of Education as well, which provides wages for carving educators and community outreach instructors. These channels have funded daw and parka-making workshops in the fall of 2018, and a paddle-making workshop in the spring of 2019. Thanks to these networks, elementary and high-school students learn how to carve, draw and put together art forms for the entire school year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Silverfox had no prior background in arts and culture before stepping into her role. Previously, she was involved in the field of early child development. Now, working in a creative environment has allowed her to evaluate art differently from before. \u201cI still haven\u2019t drawn an ovoid \u2013 but these guys taught me a lot about art,\u201d she says, laughing. <\/span><\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/pee> <\/pee> \u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-583677638-671847306\/a-mutual-introduction-to-first-nations-arts” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.21″] \u00a0<\/pee> <\/pee> \u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.21″] \u00a0<\/pee> <\/pee> \u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.21″] \u00a0<\/pee> <\/pee> \u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#179e75″ header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#179e75″ custom_margin=”||11px” custom_padding=”||0px”]<\/p>\n NCES’s extended engagement<\/h3>\n
Photos by Jennifer Liu<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/04\/Screenshot-2019-04-16-10.43.56.jpg” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#179e75″]<\/p>\n
Ali Khoda (above) is highly engaged in the community: he has painted murals throughout Whitehorse, including to commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (below). He is a realism instructor at NCES and was an exhibiting artist at Ad\u00e4ka Cultural festival last summer.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/05\/39195224_1768021883317779_6536699135112773632_o.jpg” _builder_version=”3.22.5″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/04\/43217973541_9ecc867faa_o-1.jpg” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#179e75″]<\/p>\n
Under the guidance of master carvers, the NCES carvers crafted the totem pole at the end of Main Street (above) as well as the iconic dugout canoe that was used on a pilgrimage to Moosehide Gathering on the Yukon River (below).\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/04\/IMG_0949-1.jpg” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#179e75″]<\/p>\n
Artist and former NCES carver Daniel Benjamin Gribben (below) says that Kevin Barr also played a key role, assisting with spiritual healing by giving counselling services for spiritual and mental well-being, hosting sweat lodges and showing carvers how to build willow huts for this purpose.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/04\/2018-07-07-16.07.03.jpg” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_testimonial portrait_url=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/04\/IMG_1080-1.jpg” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”3.21″ body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#179e75″ custom_margin=”123px||”]<\/p>\n
Tanya Silverfox…<\/h2>\n
On cultural sensitivity<\/strong>: \u201cIt\u2019s the importance of teaching people traditions and art, and stories. [It\u2019s] not the same as if mass-produced from another country\u2026There\u2019s an importance of teaching hands-on.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
On reconciliation<\/strong>: \u201cI find that for true reconciliation, that it maybe not have it labelled either, but just to really work on\u2026on fixing it. I don\u2019t know how you would fix it though.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-583677638-671847306\/a-shortage-of-first-nations-cultural-identity” _builder_version=”3.21″ custom_margin=”146px||”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/art-as-a-bridge\/” button_text=”Previous: Art as a bridge” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.21″][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/mrp\/artsyfn\/the-financials-of-arts-supports\/” button_text=”Next: The financials of arts supports” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”3.21″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Northern Cultural Expressions Society (NCES) is a meeting place of cultures that contribute to the artistic vitality of the territory. The executive director of NCES, Tanya Silverfox, has built up the organization to foster this mood \u2013 one where artists gather as a softer, but forceful, presence in society. \u201cI have visions of this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-161","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n
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