Wabanaki Modern

Eastern Canada’s most successful 1960s Indigenous art collective was nearly forgotten by the Canadian arts establishment until, half a century later, a major gallery exhibition celebrates its unique visual style and voice. The Micmac Indian Craftsmen (MIC) studio in 1960s New Brunswick forever changed the landscape of modern Indigenous art in the Atlantic provinces. This film is a celebration of the rich history surrounding these unsung artists from Elsipogtog and their era-defining works. Beaverbrook art Gallery co-curators Emma Hassencahl-Perley and John Leroux and First Nation elders and artists including Percy Sacobie, Tara Francis, and Jordan Bennett provide context forming the backbone of Wabanaki Modern. This film explores the art, the key players and how their works impacted the next generation of Indigenous artists, and how their story reflects the challenges of Indigenous life in postwar Canada.