b'INDIGENOUS DESIGNWhat are some commonSo people often think of us in the pastan architect). Theres so much more misconceptions about Indigenoustenseor think of us in headdressesto art than paint on paper. The possi-imagery and design principles thator in tipis.bilities are so endless and exciting. If youve seen during your careers? I could go backI would! I loved art MJ: Just how we Indigenous peopleBut now, as more and moreschool. Id tell them to take a program are stereotyped: dreamcatchers, tipis,Indigenous artists and photographersthat explores different kinds of art: art headdresses, tomahawks, inukshuks,and designers emerge, like Shelleyfundamentals, etc.eagles. I think these alone are justNiro, were able to represent our an idea that people have in theirstory in a way that actually tells theThats a really good starting point for heads about how they stereotypestory from our perspective, whichopening your view into the world of Indigenous people in general. Theholds the spirit of it. This is huge. Itsart. I had an inkling I was going to do remedy is to do research: not justculture-specific, tooyou need back- graphic design, but I wasnt sure yet. the culture or specific group youreground in a community to accuratelyThe program I did was a gateway to looking to design for, but look at therepresent it. Its a big problem, andnarrowing down what I wanted to work of Indigenous designers and seethats why Im grateful to do what Ido. At Sheridan, the illustration and how theyre representing Indigenousdo. Even one generation behind me,animation programs are very popular, peoples through icons and imagery.I wouldnt have had the opportunityespecially for international students. to be respected at that table. WhenThere were a lot of students who A big part of my process is looking atwe walk into a room and tell peopledidnt get in, but who really wanted to Indigenous designers (Vincent Design,that something is important, withbuild their portfolios and skills to get Design de Plume). How theyreour years of education and experi- into those programsthey got into representing data and Indigenousence, we should be respected andart fundamentals, and if that was full, people visually gives a good sense oflistened to.they got into visual and creative arts. whats appropriate and whats not. Also, use your own judgment; if itsYoull be presenting at Soaring,If you want to do something artsy, your own culture, you know whatsIndspires annual youthtake a program that shows you acceptable and whats not. But doempowerment gathering forthe fundamentals and does a little your research and dont just directlyIndigenous high-school students.bit of everything. That was exactly go to the first thing that pops intoWhat would you tell Indigenouswhat I did in my second and third your own mindor up on Google!young people who love art but whoyearI had fun and figured out what There are so many creative and beau- might not be sure about how toI didnt want to do as well as what tiful ways that Indigenous peoplescreate a career out of that love? I did. I think those programs are so can appear in design, and to limit it toMJ: I want to talk about introducingimportant for kids to figure things out. stereotypical imagery is unacceptableIndigenous principles and values intoDont be afraid to fail! Theres never and narrow-minded. Even if its yourdesignlike Reanna McKay (the 2024one path to your goals. There are own culture, do your researchsomeIndspire First Nations Youth Laureate,multiple ways to get to the place you folks might think its acceptable and some folks think its not. Never make assumptions!MM: Theres a huge problem with pan-Indigeneity in design, where so often design is meant to represent Indigenous peoples and is created bySupporting non-Indigenous people who perhapsIndigenous havent consulted with IndigenousCommunitiespeoples, sourced in a romantic idea of what Indigenous peoples are like. It wouldnt happen if you did the work of listening to and consulting with Indigenous peoples. It goes back to the idea of being a custodian. Back through history, we see examples like that of Edward Curtis, who took photos of Indigenous people toYour Construction Solutions Partnerpreserve images of a dying culture,grahambuilds.comand thats how people understood it. 2025indspiration55'