UNCEDED Series

my other photo projects can be viewed in my online portfolio

UNCEDED Series - Background Info:

Three quarters of British Columbia's was never ceded to Canada by any treaty. The municipality of Vancouver itself is on unceded Coast Salish land.

Nonetheless, there's a myth of pristine wilderness 'discovered' by the Europeans. Already pervasive locally despite historical fact, this mythology is frequently restated for reinforcement - including by the municipal government.

UNCEDED juxtaposes archival photographs of Vancouver's original inhabitants with modern images of the city built upon this land, as presented to the outside world (sourced from 'postcard' scenes, Olympic advertising, my own archives, etc).

The aim here is to draw attention to the land's true history; likewise, the systemic denial, marginalization, and discrimination against the First Nations which continues to this day.

The broader implication is encouraging thought, discussion, protest, dissent, and resistance when faced with the status quo.