The Royal Portrait exhibition explores contemporary interpretations of Ts’msyen power structures, and draws upon the traditional process of creating law and legitimizing spiritual and political levels through artworks.
Indigenous resistance movements are the direct result of the labour of matriarchs spanning generations of frontline action carried first and foremost by Indigenous women and two-spirit people. “Violence against the land is violence against women.” Our women and 2SLGBTQQIA take the brunt of abuse, murder, and lack of protection, while simultaneously shouldering the majority of active work to protect our land and people. 
This is something that needs to be addressed in law, Canadian society, and with our own people. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women recently released its final report in June 2019 and describes the reasons behind the epidemic of extreme violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada, both historically and today. It concluded that the systemic racial and gendered human rights violations and abuses in Canada is genocide.
The creation of new regalia, including crowns and royal jewelry, visually highlights
matriarchal power within the Northwest Coast system
as a legitimization of Indigenous sovereignty.
A matriarch is a powerful woman and a leader for her people. In Ts’msyen culture, the matriarchs hold a special high ranking position that can be both compared and contrasted to the western concept of royalty. For the Ts’msyen, “royalty” or “high rank” is passed down matrilineally and signifies a responsibility to care for your land and those in your clan.
It is about how well we can take care of our people.

R O Y A L  P O R T R A I T ~ items available for purchase

Bentwood Box Crown

CA$0.00

Bentwood Box Crown, 2019

oxidized silver, peridot, bear claws

Collection of the Artist


This design is a collaboration with my father Henry Green, with each silver panel in the style of a traditional Ts’msyen bentwood box. The panels represent the three realms of the Ts’msyen world: sea, land and sky. These are indicated by the eagle and killer whale designs and the bear claws. Bear claws were often used on powerful headdresses worn by shamans.
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Land Protection Mantle of Responsibility, 2019

CA$0.00

MORGAN ASOYUF 


Land Protection Mantle of Responsibility, 2019  


Amaniidza da Laxyuub adat ‘Yets’isk


authentic Russian blue trade beads from the 1800s, silver salmon vertebrae, engraved silver, blue sapphire, bear tooth

Collection of the Artist

This mantle honours all the women standing up for the health and sovereignty of our lands and all the animals who live there. It features engraved designs of Eagles, Mousewoman and a bear tooth, combined with authentic Russian blue trade beads, prized by the trade-loving Ts’msyen people. 
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