Looking Forward Looking Back Project Seeking Aboriginal Artists
Vancouver BC – November 14, 2008
The Looking Forward, Looking Back project is a Canadian Culture Online funded project created to increase the amount of cultural content on the Internet. The goal of the project is to take a look at life in Vancouver’s Eastside through the eyes of Aboriginal artists, storytellers, performers and designers – both traditional and contemporary.
Mike Dangeli, Nisga’a Nation, one of the artistic leaders of the project was quoted as saying, “Vancouver’s downtown eastside has been described as the poorest postal code in Canada. Everyone knows the ‘bad’ or ‘down side’ of the downtown eastside. What they don’t know is that there is another side to the story. That story needs to be told.”
“This project..,” he continued, “..will take a look at a vibrant and rich community through the eyes of Aboriginal artists who live, work and survive in such a difficult and often impossible landscape. Although there are many disturbing and, in fact, terrifying realities that make up the day to-day life of the residents of the Eastside there is also an abundance of hope, courage, fortitude and strength that can be seen in the care, attention and mutual concern that we see on the Eastside.”
Jerry Whitehead, a Cree artist, another one of the project leaders invites artists from all artistic disciplines to submit their story ideas and samples of their work to the project team. He said, “We want all Eastside Weavers, Storytellers, Carvers, Dancers, Filmmakers, Singers, Musicians, Actors, Comedians, Jewelers living/working on the Eastside to share stories about how culture plays a role in their artistic expression”
The logo for ‘Looking Forward Looking Back’ was created by Eric Parnell, a Haida artist and the third artistic leader of the project, to express the idea of a cultural continuity that the website (LookingForwardLookingBack.com) will capture. The Raven is a powerful being in Aboriginal culture and storytelling.
Aboriginal artists can submit story ideas and samples of their work:
Via email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or to Vancouver Native Housing Society, 1726 East Hastings - Attention LFLB Project.
