About the Artist – Christine Mackenzie
My name is Christine Mackenzie, and I am from the Kwakiutl Nation. I am a First Nation Artist, Facilitator, and Keynote Speaker. I was born in Kelowna, BC, on the unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. My mother, a member of the Eagle Clan, was born in Bella Coola, BC, and was part of the Sixties Scoop. Because of this, much of my early life was spent searching for cultural identity and reconnection. I grew up in Richmond, BC, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam and Coast Salish peoples.
My art is inspired by the natural world and by the connections I build with people who are open to learning and sharing cultural knowledge. I work in both traditional and contemporary styles across multiple mediums. While I have been creating art my entire life, I have been a professional artist and facilitator since 2009, mentored by Anastasia Hendry of the Haida Nation, who brought over 30 years of experience as an artist and facilitator.
Today, I dedicate my work to helping others in their own journeys of self-identity, and to educating about Indigenous culture, art, and protocols. I speak from my lived experience and teachings to encourage empathy and understanding when engaging with Indigenous history and culture.
I have collaborated with school districts, non-profits, and youth and family organizations across British Columbia, the Yukon, and northern communities, including Chilliwack, Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Boston Bar, Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek, and Atlin. My work has been featured in five art shows, and I have co-written and illustrated three books. I have also created many commissioned pieces for individuals and organizations.
Some notable projects include:
- Transit Police: Indigenous logo, orange patch, murals, challenge coin, and contributions to their Truth and Reconciliation strategic plan.
- “My Child”: A Truth and Reconciliation artwork on long-term loan with a non-profit.
- Vancouver Convention Centre: Over 20 custom wood-burnt pallet trees (4–7 ft) as part of holiday installations.
- Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site: Custom
- Vancouver International Children’s Arts Festival: Installation honouring women.
- School of Hope / Paper Birds (UK): Empathy-based arts workshop leading to a short film and documentary.
- TCCAT: Logo and mural project bringing awareness to the overdose crisis.
- Custom Artworks: Glow-in-the-dark drums, carvings, murals, sensory paths, button blankets, and more.
Alongside creating, I provide consultation to individuals and organizations to ensure their initiatives reflect meaningful commitments to Truth and Reconciliation and uphold Indigenous protocols.
Logos
Each logo is uniquely designed to reflect the vision and needs of the organization, non-profit, or business. I work collaboratively through step-by-step consultation, and when incorporating traditional or contemporary formline design, I ensure that proper cultural protocols are followed.
Workshops
I offer workshops for all ages—from preschool to adults—that combine dialogue and art to meet the needs of each group. Every workshop is customized to share Indigenous culture, art, techniques, and protocols in an accessible way. Depending on time and focus, participants may create individual or collaborative art pieces inspired by Northwest Coast formline design, both traditional and contemporary.
Themes and offerings include:
- Indigenous culture, history, and protocols
- Truth and Reconciliation, empathy, and allyship
- Exploring self-identity through art
- Team building and emotional growth
- Residential school history and generational impacts
- Traditional and contemporary art practices: drum making, leatherwork, button blankets, storytelling, graffiti art, installations, sculptures, and more
- Artistic techniques: shading, color blending, perspective, 3D design, comic layout, and texture
Workshops are adaptable to school curriculum and can connect to storytelling, science, social studies, art, and math. Programs are available for K–12, post-secondary, and professional development sessions. All workshops are quote-based, with materials included depending on the chosen activities.
Artist’s Statement
Art and culture speak where words cannot. As an Indigenous artist and facilitator, I use my work to create spaces where dialogue and creativity meet, and where empathy and understanding can grow. My practice is not only about artmaking—it is about Truth and Reconciliation, decolonization, and building bridges of respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Truth and Reconciliation is more than an acknowledgment; it is active work. Through art and facilitated dialogue, I provide opportunities for people to reflect on history and its ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities. By exploring difficult truths together, we create room for healing and understanding.
Decolonization, for me, is about reclaiming Indigenous knowledge, practices, and voices while also inviting others to reflect on the systems and assumptions they carry. In my workshops and art projects, I create culturally safe spaces where participants can learn respectfully, challenge their perspectives, and honour Indigenous teachings without appropriation.
Safe spaces are at the heart of my work. Safety comes not only from respect, but also from knowledge—understanding cultural protocols, practicing empathy, and recognizing the importance of equity over equality. Equality offers everyone the same resources, but equity recognizes that people start from different places and may need different supports in order to thrive. This perspective is vital when working with Indigenous communities, where generational trauma and systemic barriers continue to shape experiences.
My goal is to empower participants with tools to better understand Indigenous culture and history, while also applying these lessons to their own lives and communities. By blending traditional and contemporary art practices, I help people connect to their own self-identity, while also learning how to be allies and advocates for change.
Art can transform. It can carry truths, hold grief, inspire joy, and spark reconciliation. My work seeks to honour the resilience of Indigenous peoples, uplift voices that were silenced, and create pathways for all people to walk together in respect, responsibility, and shared humanity.
Acknowledgement
As a Kwakiutl artist working outside of my Nation’s territory, I acknowledge with respect that I live and work on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qiqéyt (Key-Kayt), Coast Salish, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking Musqueam peoples. My family comes from Bella Coola, and I raise my paddle in respect for the territories I visit.
I encourage everyone to learn about the Nations whose lands they live on, as each Nation has its own unique history, teachings, and protocols. Honouring Truth and Reconciliation is a responsibility we all share. It is a privilege to live, work, and learn on these ancestral lands, and as Indigenous people, it is our role to protect them and carry our teachings forward.
Final Remarks
I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with schools, organizations, and individuals in creating workshops or artworks that reflect your unique needs and goals. Each workshop and piece of art is customized to honour cultural protocols, foster safe spaces, and inspire learning through the lens of Truth and Reconciliation.
Please feel free to reach out to discuss a custom workshop, consultation, or commissioned artwork that supports your vision while building knowledge, empathy, and meaningful connection.
