I had the pleasure of attending my first Campagnolo Lecture a few Thursdays ago. This lecture series, put on by the Community Justice Centre, is intent on educating the public on restorative justice by bringing in speakers on the topics of First Nations, equity, and the environment. It was here that I heard Terri-Lynn Williams Davidson speak. Ms. Williams Davidson is difficult to introduce. She is a visual artist, lawyer, musician, and activist, to name a few of her accolades. Born and raised in Haida Gwaii, she was in the Comox Valley to exhibit her work visual art in the show entitled “The Hope of the Supernatural Beings” at CVAG which runs from September 29-December 31.
Ms. Williams Davidson focused her lecture on introducing Haida Gwaiian supernatural beings that are ubiquitous in that culture’s folklore. The artist described how in her culture there is Tidepool Woman, for example, who represents the ecology of that geographical feature. Tidepool Woman is a sister/ family member of the Haida people. Ms. Davidson recreated these supernatural beings in a series of evocative tableaux captured on film. The figure each photograph is adorned in the supernatural being’s imagined garb and is depicted in their natural ecosystem, such as the one pictured above and currently on display at the Comox Valley Art Gallery.
What was striking about Williams Davidson’s discourse throughout her lecture was her emphasis on the fact that the natural world in which she grew up in is very much part of herself and her people. She often referred to the Cedar tree as her brother and emphasized the significance this tree had on the establishment and sustenance of Haida communities. Interestingly, Ms. Williams Davidson participated in the Supreme Court ruling that led to the protection of old growth forests and set the precedent of First Nations being consulted before any resource development takes place. Williams Davidson spoke of the importance of recognizing Indigenous law and how traditions, customs, and practices of Indigenous people need to be recognized within the Canadian legal framework.
Terri-Lynn Williams Davidson’s hope is that through her photographs of Haida supernatural beings, viewers will get a stronger sense of the Haida worldview and come to understand the interconnectedness of people and their natural surroundings.
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