BC First Nations Artists Celebrated With Creative Achievement Awards

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov. 15, 2016) - Hon. John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation presented the 2016 BC Creative Achievement Awards for First Nations Art to six recipients Tuesday.

Among them is Susan Point, a Coast Salish artist from Musqueam, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for profound contribution to First Nations culture.

The awards, sponsored by Polygon Homes Ltd., are presented by the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

"First Nations artistic traditions in BC are not only sustained but are profoundly enhanced by the work of this year's award recipients," said Foundation Chair Keith Mitchell. "These awards highlight the cultural stories each recipient pursues in their artistic practice. They join 62 First Nations artists the Foundation has had the privilege of recognizing over the past decade."

The annual BC Creative Achievement Awards for First Nations Art celebrate artistic excellence in traditional, contemporary or media art. The 2016 recipients honoured are:

Corrine Hunt - Kwakiutl / Komoyue
Maxine Matilpi - Ma'mtagila / Tlowitsis
Corey W. Moraes - Lax Kw'alaams
Luke Parnell - Nisga'a / Haida
Xwalacktun - Coast Salish / Squamish/ Kwakwaka'wakw

The recipients were selected by the following jury members:
Stan Bevan, world renowned carver and teacher; Tania Willard, celebrated curator and artist; Brenda Crabtree, Aboriginal Program Director at Emily Carr University; and Bill McLennan, UBC Museum of Anthropology's Curator Emeritus.

At the 10^th annual celebration of the awards, the BC Achievement Foundation announced the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist Award which will be offered in 2017 in recognition of the contributions of Brenda Crabtree and Bill McLennan.

The BC Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of BC in 2003 to celebrate community service, arts, humanities and enterprise.

Detailed information about the awards and a list of past winners is posted on the foundation's website at www.bcachievement.com.