Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery

Ongoing North by Northwest: an exploration from the Arctic to the Pacific features Indigenous artists from the Canadian Arctic and Pacific Northwest. Inuit peoples were nomadic by nature and travelled great distances for hunting purposes by following the herd and building their igloos wherever necessary. Whereas First Nations groups on British Columbia’s west coast built great cedar longhouses to reside over long periods of time. Combined, they demonstrate a diversity of lifestyles that are apparent in their art forms. They share artistic influences in depicting animals and mythological figures as well as utilizing mediums local to their region. By bringing these two groups together, the collection illustrates how two distinctive communities can share commonalities between their differences and similarities.