One of the most important stories for indigenous peoples on the west coast of BC has been commemorated in a new key to King Charles to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the House of Canada in London.
It was created by the artist of TS’MSyen Morgan Aseoyuf, who took the opportunity to raise an important story of his origin territory in Prince Rupert, BC
“To be able to create this piece that is uploading so high, politically … it was something I had to think a lot,” said Asooyuf, citing the complex relationship that indigenous peoples have with both Canada and the royal family.
And she says that there is an important message about power and who serves in the story that represents the key, Raven steals the light.
Often, attributed to the oral culture of Haida and shared by the nations throughout what is now BC and Alaska, Raven steals the light tells the story of how Raven, a central figure in many stories of origin, brought light to the people who had previously been living in the dark.
Asooyuf He told the story in an interview with CBC News.
A cheater figure, Raven disguises himself as a child to access a box containing the light, which is carefully protected by an old man.
Raven leaves with the box in its beak but, getting tired, begins to throw pieces of light into the sky, first creating the stars, then the moon and finally the sun, sharing it with all the people of the coast.
“How do we take and subvert these great political powers and bring it back?” It is a question that Asouyef says he was in his mind while creating the piece. He also asked himself “What is our light here?” While reflecting on indigenous pieces of art and culture that were taken and placed in museums around the world and that many nations are now working to have returned.
On the coast7:56The artist of Tsimshian Morgan Aseoyuf designs the new Cacanadá Hosue ceremonial key to King Charles
This month, King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the house of Canada in London to celebrate the centenary of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom. We talked to Prince Rupert, an artist Tsimshian, based in North Vancouver, Morgan Aseoyuf, who designed the new ceremonial key of Canada House.
A multidisciplinary artist, Asouyef works mainly in goldsmiths, jewelry, gem jewels and engraving. She says that the key she made was based on the skeleton keys of the Victorian era, and made of precious silver, bronze and garnet stones.
The key was presented to King Charles on Tuesday, before his planned visit to Canada next week.
It is ceremonially a key to Canada’s house in the Trafalgar Square in London, which often acts as a showcase of the Canadian culture for the world.
King Charles and Queen Camilla marked 100 years since the dedication of Canada House, the home of the High Commission of Canada in London, by King Jorge V. The Royals saw a map the size of a floor of Canada and they were presented with a ceremonial key for the building.
Asouyef was also surprised by the fact that Canada has long raised the indigenous works of art on the west coast when they presented internationally, even when their family members were taken to residential schools.
She has never shyped to talk about these problems and has previously explored in a series entitled Real portraitin which he designed crowns and jewels adorned to be used by activists and indigenous matriarchs involved in the defense of the earth and speak on behalf of the MMIWGS2+people.
“Our matriarchs are really at the same level as any other monarch in the world,” he said about the series. “We are here as sovereign nations.”
