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Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre

Ociciwan is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that supports contemporary art, experimental creative practices, and innovative research.

About us

Ociciwan strives to remain fluid and flexible, just like the river the contemporary art collective is named after. This fluidity translates to many aspects of their organization, and they strive to transform into the needs of their surrounding communities. Ociciwan started through a series of conversations around a kitchen table, with like-minded and arts-focused people who saw a lack of Indigenous representation in Amiskwaciy Waskahikan (Edmonton). Through these first conversations, Ociciwan led, curated, and facilitated exhibitions around the city, partnering with  organizations  like the Art Gallery of Alberta, Latitude 53, Western Canada Fashion Week, City of Edmonton’s City Hall, and  Edmonton city parks. 

Ociciwan is an inanimate Plains Cree noun relating to current or river, translated to mean the current comes from there. The name references the North Saskatchewan River that has brought many people to the region over many generations. It conveys an energy of engagement with Indigenous contemporary culture, linking present with the past and the future.

In 2017, Ociciwan realized they needed a space of their own. After many years of meeting with City officials, fund sourcing, renovations, and a global pandemic, Ociciwan officially opened its doors to the public in the Fall of 2020. The space they attained needed to be as fluid as their mandate and vision. When renovating they wanted it to transform into the needs of the community, “whether it was for an installation or art performance or a community feast,” Becca Taylor, Director says of the vision of the building. Ociciwan installs four projects a year with longer exhibition runs of ten weeks. They also provide longer periods of time in between the exhibits.,leaving room for experimentation during installation. Ociciwan recognizes contemporary art as  whatever is being made now by Indigenous peoples. This includes traditional arts and fine arts mediums. 

Ociciwan was built to uphold Indigenous contemporary artists in the city and to create critical dialogue about indigeneity, representation, and access in the communities. Becca adds that “we are starting to see a lot more Indigenous representation with other venues and exhibition spaces.” She says that having a physical place “where marginalized voices can exist the way they need to exist within these spaces really opens up the opportunity for larger conversations.”

Mission + Vision + Values

Based in the region of Amiskwaciy Waskahikan (Edmonton) Ociciwan supports the work of Indigenous contemporary artists and designers and engages in contemporary critical dialogue. We value artistic collaboration and foster the awareness of Indigenous contemporary art practices.

Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre

Structure

Non-profit

Geographic Region

Amiskwaciy Waskahikan (Edmonton)– ancestral lands of Treaty Six Territory and the Métis Nation of Alberta

Keywords

Arts and Culture

How Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre upholds United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Article 11
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.

There are 46 Articles within the Declaration and they are all interrelated. The above list is not exhaustive but makes direct links between UNDRIP and this organization.

similar organizations

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ territories (with cross-canada reach)
Coast Salish Territories
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ territories (with cross-canada reach)

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Organization Name:
Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre