Calgary-based Colouring It Forward is releasing its unique 2018 Indigenous Art Calendar replete with indigenous art, wisdom and culture. The goal of the artistic project is to foster more understanding and appreciation between Canada’s indigenous and non-indigenous peoples as a pathway towards reconciliation.
CALGARY, Canada (Sept. 6, 2017) — Social enterprise Colouring It Forward Inc. recently published its 2018 Indigenous Art Calendar. The full, 16-month calendar promotes beautifully-detailed native art, rich culture and deeply-rooted spirituality.
This is the calendar’s first year of production. With this new endeavor, project founder Diana Frost describes it as a step towards bridging the gap between two groups of people. “In Canada, there is a strong call for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples,” Frost said. “The Indigenous Art Calendar can help those who purchase it to participate in meaningful change. Reconciliation requires everyone’s participation.”
Initially, Frost—who is an accomplished artist/musician, engineer and Algonquin Métis—started the project with the goal of connecting with her roots and giving back to her community. She devised the idea to publish a series of coloring books about different nations in order to build a community where people can share their ideas, stories and hopes for a better future. Then the inspiration came to bring unity in one colorful location, and the art calendar was conceived from that vision. Original artwork from Métis, First Nations and Inuit artists from all over Canada are included in this body of work. The contributing artists are from groups of people who are underrepresented in native products. Twelve aboriginal nations are represented for each month of the year in this unique project, including the Blackfoot, Cree, Chipewyan, Gwich’in, Stoney, Nakoda, Mohawk, Métis, Mi’gmaq, Algonquin, Inuit and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) nations.
What sets this calendar apart is the inclusion of educational pieces on serious current issues that impact indigenous people. Different topics are presented for every month of the year. These issues focus on bringing reconciliation and improving education and water systems on reserve. Other topics presented in the calendar include land recognition, child welfare, and missing/murdered indigenous women and children. Each month also features wisdom and quotes from highly regarded elders, which are translated into indigenous languages.
Calendar purchases will help support Indspire, a charitable organization that works diligently to close the education gap for indigenous peoples. For each calendar sold, $1 will be donated to Indspire toward its K-12 programs, scholarship and awards programs. Incidentally, the calendar will be launched at the INSPIRED Secular Homeschooling Conference at Fort Calgary in Calgary, Alberta on Saturday, September 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to support indigenous artists and charity and also learn more about indigenous culture, art and current issues,” Frost said. “The calendar also includes suggested actions they can take to contribute to positive change in the community.”
In addition to producing the inspirational Indigenous Art Calendar, Colouring It Forward creates artwork, postcards and colouring books for all ages. This social enterprise strives to stimulate meaningful conversation and foster relationships between natives and non-natives. A portion of the proceeds from all product sales go to the contributing artists and elders and to First Nations projects. For more information about Colouring It Forward, its new calendar and other product offerings, visit www.colouringitforward.com.
