7th Edition of the Contemporary Native Art Biennial

April 27 – June 23, 2024

Creation Stories: Roots and Revelations: Sierra Barber, Mel Beaulieu, Corey Bulpitt, Lianne Charlie, Hannah Claus, Heather Dickson, Marcy Friesen, Margaret Nazon, Luke Parnell, Jason Sikoak, Sgoagani Wecenisqon, Vance Wright
Curators: Lori Beavis, Emma Hassencahl-Perley, Jake Kimble, Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé

The Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone (BACA), 7th edition
Stewart Hall Art Gallery
Point-Claire, QC

The curators for the 7th edition of the Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA) came together across Nations and territories to create a series of exhibitions with works by more than 60 artists. Our overarching theme of Creation Stories guided us and sub-themes were identified for each participating venue. We felt the sub-theme that best fit Stewart Hall Art Gallery was Roots and Revelations.

As Indigenous Peoples, our roots run deep into the lands and waters around us, intertwining, weaving, and connecting to one another. For many, connections to community, family, and culture have been stretched and strained as a result of colonization, genocide, and an ongoing legacy of displacement. But no matter how far out of reach connections can feel, there is active resurgence, relearning, and reconnection occurring among many different Indigenous communities.

The artworks featured in this exhibition are ones that actively connect to the past to reveal truths about our present day. Each artist featured has a strong and intentional voice about their connections to their cultures and communities. The artworks tell us stories of the artists’cultures, families, and histories. Through a variety of media including sculpture, installation, painting, beading, and sewing, the artists share intimate moments of (re)learning which we admire and uphold in this space.

The Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone (BACA) would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts, the Quebec government (Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Fonds d’investissement pour le rayonnement de la Métropole, Secrétariat des affaires Autochtones), the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, its presentation partners and its media partners.

Launched in 2012, the Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA) is a Montreal-based non-profit organization (registered in 2016) that promotes the work of Indigenous artists. The biennial is held every two years, in multiple venues, with each iteration focusing on a specific theme. The event is aimed at an ever-growing audience—Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike—and features both emerging and established artists. Our mission is to promote Indigenous art and to sensitize and educate the public on the cultural issues of the First Nations.