Programs

N’we Jinan Integrative Arts

Arts programming through creative studios where Indigenous youth learn from artists and peers, developing transferable skills through art-making that they can apply to their lives in a broader sense.

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We engage artists who are committed to building up the next generation of young Indigenous makers and who are eager to collaborate with local artists and community members to align the projects with culturally-relevant themes and practices. Youth have the opportunity to collaborate, communicate, and connect with their local community and beyond.

Artists in communities
For three-to-five weeks, during N’we Jinan Studios, artists live in communities and facilitate student-driven creative projects, supporting youth as they build skills and explore artistry during school or in an extracurricular capacity. Projects are supported by a Youth Artist Assistant, school support staff, and local creators. At the end of each studio, a gathering is held to celebrate students’ success as they share their work with families and community.

Living pedagogy
Our “living” programs are dynamic and responsive to the particular needs of each school and community, shaped and reshaped according to feedback from youth, teachers, artists, the wider community, and administration. We engage artists who show an interest in building up the next generation of young makers, and who are eager to collaborate with local artists, artisans, community members, and elders, in order to align the projects with culturally relevant themes and practices.

For more details on N’we Jinan programs and initiatives, please visit www.nwejinan.com

Projects

QVTILA / HEALED SCAR Music Project

Kitasoo Community School in Klemtu, British Columbia

QVITLA / HEALED SCAR is a 5 song EP featuring 11 students and community members from the Kitasoo Community High School class in Klemtu, BC. In collaboration with and produced by artist Milan André.

Credits: Milan André, Eliza Mason, Roberta Duncan, Tina Lobbes, Mercedes Robinson-Neasloss, Hayley Wallis, Dominic Robinson, Ernie & Charlie Mason

Art is a way of survival

Kitkatla, BC

Tyra Lewis is a graduate of Lach Klan School from Gitxaala First Nation. In this piece, she expresses her feelings about her artistic practice which is a place that gives healing, safety and an ability to communicate how she feels.

Credits: Tyra Lewis, Chris Robertson

Shadow Puppets

Bella Bella, BC

Shadow Puppets is an activity to encourage expression. The students from this grade 1 class at the Bella Bella Community School made and decorated their puppets after giving them a name and an activity their puppet might like to do. In groups, the students created and performed a short story.

Credits: NIJA Students

We’re Still Here

Kawacatoose, SK

We’re Still Here is a short video by Asiniw Kisik grade 7 students inspired by an in-class lesson by Annie Ewenin, Sage Asapace and the Kawacatoose Elders. In this class, students learned about the intergenerational effects of residential schools in their lives. Inspired by the documentaries they watched, they approached NJIA Artist Steve Haining to create a video about this topic. With Steve’s support, the students wrote the script and shot the video.

Credits: Asiniw Kisik grade 7 N’we Jinan students, Tom Favel, Verna Favel, Sternly Kay, Sage Asapace, Dakota Whiteman, Steve Haining, Treaty 4 Education Alliance. Additional credits in the video.