SAAG: Blackfoot Naming Cermony

Press Release

A Blackfoot Naming Ceremony was held at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) on Friday, October 23, 2020. The ceremony was led by Elder Bruce Wolf Child and First Nations Education, Language & Cultural Consultant and Elder Mary Fox, and the SAAG was greatly honoured to receive the Blackfoot name Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin.

The SAAG Board of Directors and Staff were extremely grateful that the gallery was gifted with a Blackfoot name by local Kainai Elders, and we are committed to our journey of living into this name. We are honoured to share the Blackfoot name and its meaning with our community.

Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin: the new making of images, related to the telling of our Blackfoot peoples’ stories.

Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin describes contemporary art as the new process of making images and writings, related to the telling of ancient stories by Blackfoot people within Blackfoot territory: a continuation across time in the sharing of knowledge, culture, and history across southern Alberta.

Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin connects the Blackfoot language words: maan it is new, siksikaitsitapii (of) our Blackfoot people, tsinikssin relating stories through the process of images and writings.

On occasion of receiving Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin, the Blackfoot name for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, on October 23, 2020, local Kainai artist Bryce Singer was commissioned to create a limited series of commemorative artwork prints.

OPPORTUNITIES

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MISSION

The Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) fosters the work of contemporary artists who challenge boundaries. We encourage broad public engagement and promote awareness and exploration of artistic expression. Our work extends to local, national, and international communities.

ANNUAL REPORTS

For an overview of SAAG exhibitions, programs, events and operations download our Annual Reports
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

SUSTAINABILITY

SAAG received a Sustainable Business Certification from Environment Lethbridge’s Small Business Energy Efficiency Program in 2020. We continue to work and improve sustainability initiatives at the SAAG.

BY-LAWS

Read more about the SAAG’s by-laws here.

A Message from SAAG | The Southern Alberta Art Gallery stands in solidarity with the Black community and Black Lives Matter. SAAG is committed to reflecting, listening and taking action. We are committed to being inclusive and learning, listening, and growing with our community. Read more

STAFF

SAAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS

To contact or join the Board of Directors, please reach contact chair@saag.ca

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