Mauna Kea. Standing Rock. Kanesatake. Wet’suwet’en. These are a few of the many places on Turtle Island (North America) that are respected, honoured and continue to be safeguarded by Land Protectors in the face of extreme opposition. This exhibition pays tribute to the Indigenous artists and peoples who, since time immemorial, have protected something most precious to us all—the land. Works by Carl Beam, Rebecca Belmore, Robert Houle, Roy Kakegamic, Jane Ash Poitras, and other artists from Agnes’s collection, bring awareness to the consequences that arise if we over-exploit what Mother Earth provides.

This exhibition is supported by the City of Kingston Arts Fund, Kingston Arts Council and Celebrating Agnes Fund, Queen’s University. Paige Van Tassel is the recipient of the second Research Studentship in Indigenous Art at Agnes. The Studentship, created by a generous gift from Margaret McGowan (Artsci’78), offers an opportunity to further studies in Indigenous art and culture within a professional museum environment.

Hero image: Roy Kakegamic, Survivor, 1982, acrylic on paper. Gift of David Clare, 2019