As part of St. John’s designation as a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2006, the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre held an Aboriginal Youth Arts Gathering at the Fairmont Newfoundland on the weekend of August 3rd to August 5th.  The Gathering featured 56 original works of art including drawings, paintings, photography, carvings, and crafts from youth aged 13 to 27.

Opening celebrations were held in the Fort William Room at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 3rd.  The Friendship Centre arranged for the artists featured in this exhibit to be flown in from the communities of Nain, Hopedale, Natuashish, Rigolet, Makkovik, Happy-Valley Goose Bay, Sheshatshiu, North West River, St. Lewis, Forteau, Gander Bay, Conne River and Stephenville for this event.  While in St. John’s, the youth alternated between attending the exhibit to answer questions from the public, and attending artist workshops provided to them by the Friendship Centre.  The workshops were hosted by noted Aboriginal artists Dinah Andersen, Angela Andrew, Sheilagh O’Leary, Shirley Moorhouse, and others. 

Workshops were also held at the St. John’s Annual Folk Festival in Bannerman Park, to provide traditional craft making demonstrations for the general public.

This Gathering was intended to help Newfoundlanders, Labradorians, and visitors to the province recognize the distinct cultural contribution the Inuit, Innu, Métis, and Mi’kmaq people have made to this province’s heritage. It also provided an opportunity for youth to promote and market their artwork, and to develop the confidence and skills required in the competitive world of the art business. 

“Artistic expression, in a variety of forms, has always been an important aspect of the lives of all Aboriginal peoples,” says Myrtle Banfield, Executive Director of the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre and a proud supporter of Aboriginal artists. “Our future is in the hands of our youth, and a good sign that our outlook is positive lies in how our young people view the world and themselves. With this gathering, we hope to share this view with the general public and, in the process, empower our youth to achieve great things.”

The St. John’s Native Friendship Centre is a non-profit, Community-based agency that serves the Aboriginal people of the province. Through our Friendship Centre in downtown St. John's, we promote the social, cultural and economic development of Aboriginal people through a wide range of self-determined programs and services.

Contact Chris Dwyer or Lori LeDrew by telephone at (709) 726-5902, by fax at (709) 726-3557, or by email at cdwyer@friendshipcentre.nf.net.

This event is made possible by: