With his brush, Nelson White captures modern Indigenous life

If you have a picture in your mind of what an Indigenous person looks like, then there's a new show at The Rooms you should see.

It's by Nelson White, a Mi'kmaw painter and member of the Flat Bay First Nation Band. Tukien (Awaken)boldly depicts the variety and vibrancy of Indigenous people in today's society. The colourful portraits are of real people,including White's friends and family, and other Indigenous creators such as artistJordan Bennett and hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids.

"Indigenous people tend to be seen in one light, and I paint people from my life who are cool, interesting, funky Indigenous people." said White. "People tend to come with preconceived notions about what Indigenous people are. Either that we're a people of the past, or a people of poverty, or a people who are only in regalia, feathers and those sort of things."

White's portraits show Indigenous people taking selfies, piloting helicopters, working as doctors and police officersand simply existing as modern human beings, holding a child or a pet, or taking a nap. The subject's Indigenous identity is often conveyed subtly but proudly, through details like arevealed tattoo or beaded necklace.

See the "cool, interesting, funky, Indigenous people" that inspire painter Nelson White

2 years ago

Duration 2:34

Mi'kmaq painter Nelson White says the people in his portraits show us the variety and vibrancy of modern Indigenous life, and stand in contrast to stereotypes about "a people of the past".

Tukien (Awaken)is open to the public at The Rooms.Nelson White will also be giving an artist's talk on Wednesday, Jan.25, and a gallery tour on Feb. 17. He hopes people will take in the show, and thesimple but powerful message behind it: "That Indigenous people are cool. That we are interesting, that we come from a variety of walks of life." White said.

Click the video above to see White's portraits for yourself.

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