Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day Art Contest

Each year, the City of Edmonton, together with the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations, hosts Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day at City Hall. This year’s event, the fourth annual, will be held on August 19, 2016.

The event includes an exchange of gifts between the Grand Chief and the Mayor, as a symbol of their commitment to collaboration, respectful dialogue and exploring shared opportunities.

The Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations and the City of Edmonton are launching a call for submissions for a fine/decorative art contest.The goal of this contest is to encourage all people of all skills and abilities to express their ideas of reconciliation through fine and decorative art.

Anyone living within Treaty No. 6 territory (in and around Edmonton) is considered a member of Treaty No. 6, and is encouraged to participate in this art contest.

The Confederacy and the City would like this year’s gift exchange to focus on art pieces reflecting the theme “As long as the sun shines, grass grows, and rivers flow.” This theme represents the terms of Treaty No. 6.

If your piece is chosen as the gift, you will receive $500 for the purchase of your artwork. You also get the pleasure of knowing your piece will proudly rest in the office of the Confederacy or at City Hall to symbolize a new dawn in Nation­-to-­Nation relationship ­building.

Contest Guidelines

What is “fine and decorative art”?

Fine and decorative art can include but is not limited to drawings, paintings, photography, small sculpture, print­makings, folk art, and/or traditional handicrafts, or any combination there of. It does not include elements of visual art such as performance art or art installations.

Due to the nature of this art contest, and out of respect for traditional and cultural symbolism, it is suggested that the use of sacred ceremonial items in representation or in physical form be avoided.

Can it be a piece of art I have already completed?

Yes. However, as the original piece must be presented to the Confederacy or City for the gift exchange, it must be readily available for presentation, and ownership rights of the piece itself must be granted to the Confederacy/City in preparation for Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day event. An irrevocable, perpetual license of use of the image of the artwork in promotional materials must also be granted to the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations and the City of Edmonton.

Who can participate?

Indigenous and non-­Indigenous citizens who reside in the Treaty No. 6 Territory of Alberta (within and outside Edmonton city limits) are eligible to submit artworks; if you live within the treaty area, you are a member of Treaty No. 6.

There is no age limit for participants. However, if the artist is not of legal age, the parent or guardian also must sign at the bottom of the submission form.

How do I enter the contest?

The contest takes place from June 21 ​to 11pm on Friday August 5, 2016​.

To enter the contest, you must:

1. Create a new piece of artwork or identify a piece from your existing collection that fits the theme of “As long as the sun shines, grass grows and rivers flow.”
2. Take up to four​(4) photos of the piece from different angles. Make sure details of the piece are clearly visible in the photos. Do not send the artwork at this time. ​We cannot be responsible for artworks delivered/transported in advance of juried evaluation.
3. Fill out the submission form​,​including a 250-­word ‘essay’ or interpretation of how the piece represents the theme “As long as the sun shines, grass grows and rivers flow” at a local level (ie. how does it specifically reflect reconciliation in Edmonton and surrounding region?). Be sure to save the submission form to your desktop or personal computing device after downloading it.
4. Send your photos and submission form by email to: jpaul@treatysix.org by 11pm on Friday August 5.
5. Only one entry per person is permitted.

How is a winner chosen?

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of elders on August 11, 2016, at the Confederacy Offices.

Names of the artists will not be included in the review of the artworks.

The Elders will rank each submission (by reviewing the photos and essay) based on three factors (1) expression of theme (ie. As long as the sun shines, grass grows and rivers flow); (2) creativity (ie. What makes this piece interesting? How does it help express ideas?); (3) visual impact (ie. How will this piece stand out? Does it grab people’s attention?).

Two (2) artworks will be chosen (one that will serve as a gift from the Mayor to the Grand Chief; one that will serve as a gift from the Grand Chief to the Mayor).

The artists will be notified on August 12, 2016. Arrangements for art delivery will be made, as well as prize award, at that time.

Artworks will be presented by the Mayor and Grand Chief to each other during the Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day event on August 19, 2016. If possible, the organizations would like to have the artists themselves attend Treaty No.6 Recognition Day and be a part of the gift exchange.

What do I get if I win?

The two (2) chosen artists will each receive $500 in exchange for their piece of art. They will also be asked to participate in Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day events at City Hall.

In addition, their work will be attributed in all promotional materials used by the Confederacy or the City for future events in which images of the pieces of art may appear.

For More Information

Indigenous Relations Office