On view until Sunday, January 31, 2021

Acts of Resistance, showcases the artwork of seven indigenous artist activists from the Pacific Northwest, whose designs flew from the Iron Workers Memorial bridge on July 3, 2018 to protest the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline project. Swaysən, Will George, a Tsleil-Waututh grassroots leader not only designed one of the featured banners, but also rappelled from the Second Narrows bridge as part of the seven-person aerial blockade to prevent an oil tanker from leaving terminal. In this exhibition, Will George will share his firsthand experience as a member of the aerial blockade in a video created in collaboration with multi-media artist Ronnie Dean Harris, whose artwork also flew in the path of tanker traffic.

Acts of Resistance features all seven of the 40-foot-long streamers created for the aerial blockade. Featured artists include: Brandon Gabriel, Will George, Ronnie Dean Harris, Ocean Hyland, Jackie Fawn Mendez, Marissa Nahanee, and Ed Archie Noisecat. Six of the banners have been donated to MOV, while the seventh is on loan from Swaysən, Will George, who continues to use his banner for public outreach. All of the banners underwent several conservation treatments to make them ready for exhibition, as the wrinkles from their time in police custody have proven difficult to remove.   

Take a virtual tour of Acts of Resistance!

Indigenous Artist Activists

Watch

Will George shares his firsthand experience as a member of the aerial blockade. The video created in collaboration with multi-media artist Ronnie Dean Harris, whose artwork also flew in the path of tanker traffic.

Listen

Listen to Episode 346 of Talking Radical Radio! Scott Neigh interviews Sharon Fortney, Curator of Indigenous Collections and Engagement at the Museum of Vancouver, about the complicated colonial history of museums and about the Acts of Resistance exhibit.

Will George is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Their territory, located in and around what is now called "Vancouver," will be directly impacted by the Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline expansion project. Scott Neigh interviews George about the project and about his ongoing grassroots work to oppose it.