The Ancestors Are Talking: Paintings by the Indigenous Seven
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, AB - May 3 – Oct 19
This landmark exhibition is curated by Joseph M. Sánchez, the last living member of the “Indigenous Group of Seven,” and Whyte curators Dawn Saunders Dahl and Christina Cuthbertson.
The collective, officially known as the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI), was founded in Winnipeg in 1973 and played a crucial role in shaping contemporary Indigenous art in Canada. Their work blended activism, cultural identity and artistic innovation, paving the way for Indigenous artists in the mainstream art world. Through their bold use of colour, abstraction and spiritual themes, the members of this trailblazing collective broke barriers, resisted systemic exclusion and redefined Indigenous artistic expression.
Daphne Odjig excelled in her use of colour and narrative and was a key mentor. Alex Janvier’s delicate lines and extraordinary sense of form set his work apart. Norval Morrisseau, known for his vivid depictions of nature and shamanic wisdom, left a profound impact. Carl Ray’s spiritual interrogation of legends, Jackson Beardy’s unique abstractions, Eddy Cobiness’s sensitive portrayals of nature, and Joseph Sánchez’s surreal, dreamlike works have all contributed to the collective’s artistic impact.
Showcasing each member’s artistic evolution through the decades, the exhibition includes iconic works and rarely shown paintings. It highlights the group’s collective and individual visions and reveals how their pivotal contributions, kinship and activism reshaped Canadian art history. By tracing key milestones ranging from early sketches to masterworks and public art commissions, the show celebrates PNIAI’s groundbreaking use of colour, style and storytelling, which continue to inspire Indigenous artists.
Like a braid of sweetgrass, the legacies of these artists are deeply symbolic and intertwined. Rooted in early conversations about art, colour, culture and spirituality, their work evolved to awaken the colonial landscape and remains deeply relevant to the history of Canadian art.
