Colouring it Forward - Discover Blackfoot Nation Art and Wisdom: An Aboriginal Colouring Book - Softcover

Frost, Diana

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0995285209 ISBN 13: 9780995285200

Publisher: Colouring it Forward, 2016

Synopsis

Colouring It Forward -- Discover Blackfoot Nation Art and Wisdom is more than just a colouring book. It contains authentic artwork from Blackfoot artists and teachings from the Blackfoot culture by a Blackfoot elder. It is the first in a series of books which will each be focused on a different First Nation and its art and teachings. For this first book in the series, I’ve had the privilege of working with Blackfoot Elder Camille Pablo Russell to gather traditional wisdom and with the incredibly talented Blackfoot artists Kalum Teke Dan and Ryan Jason Allen Willert, all of whom have been very generous and giving of their time. Inside this colouring book, you will find the Elder’s teachings and the stunning images created by Kalum and Ryan, which have been recreated for you to add your own artistic touch. With each image is a place for you to journal as you colour. I would thrilled If you would like to share your art, your stories or ideas for new books or projects on my Facebook and Instagram pages. To honour the gifts I have received through this project, a portion of the proceeds of sales will go to the contributing artists and to any elders sharing their wisdom. A further portion of the proceeds will be invested in projects for First Nations people. These projects need to create opportunities for employment, improve small businesses or lead to higher education. Please contact me on Facebook if you have an idea for new projects or a proposal for funding.

About this title

About the Author:

I am an Algonquin Métis, engineer by day, and artist, musician and author by night. My mother was Algonquin from the Weskarini tribe, who settled near Trois-Rivières, in Quebec. She was excommunicated from her aboriginal family for marrying my father, an Englishman, who also committed the crime of not being Catholic. As a result, I have never met my First Nations family, but have always wanted to connect with them. Along the way, I’ve travelled extensively and for several years both volunteered and working as an engineer overseas on projects to improve water and sanitation systems for small cities and mountain villages. As someone who has always been interested in other cultures, I’ve been lucky enough to work on projects in Colombia, Peru, China, and Rwanda. During my time working on water projects overseas, I became aware of the poor quality of water on some First Nations reserves. I was unable to do anything about it though because of the political situation and a lack of connections. From that knowledge and desire to help, plus the yearning to learn more about my roots, the idea for this project was born. And so, out of all of this, the Colouring It Forward project began to grow. Along with my appreciation and love for the artists’ work and the wisdom I have always found in native spirituality and culture, the colouring book series has given me a chance to learn more about First Nations people, culture and wisdom. I also have the opportunity to ‘colour it forward’ with these books by giving a percentage of the proceeds from the books to the artists and selected projects to create jobs or support small businesses for First Nations.

About this edition

• Publisher: Colouring it Forward
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0995285209
• ISBN 13: 9780995285200
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 104
• Editor: Summers Denise
• Illustrator: Dan Kalum Teke, Willert Ryan Jason Allen, Humphrey Cecilia