By Jesse Ferraras, The Huffington Post B.C.
Artists have become a vibrant part of Idle No More, illustrating the movement in bold colours as it sweeps across Canada.
The work of Emily Carr student and Kwakwaka’wakw member Lou-Ann Neel has gotten the most exposure.
Her work “Our Home on Native Land” altered the Canadian flag by replacing the maple leaf with a traditional raven design and by attaching mountains and trees to the red borders. She later added the “Idle No More” slogan and the design was printed on bags, hats and T-shirts.
Neel’s design got a big platform when it appeared on a T-shirt worn by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado. She tweeted a picture of herself with the message, “‘Canada- Our Home On Native Land’.. I couldn’t agree more.”
Winnipeg-based Dwayne Bird designed posters known as the “Indigenous Rights Revolution” series.
The posters generally show a hand holding an object in a rousing gesture. The object is a feather in a few photos, while in others it’s a sign or a smartphone.
Bird’s designs inspired the work of Comox, B.C.-based artist Andy Everson, who is known for his indigenous take on Star Wars’ characters.
Everson’s Idle No More designs show hands holding feathers against various backgrounds such as an eagle rising or a medicine wheel.