Kwakiutl Nation artist Christine Mackenzie figured out an innovative way to bring Indigenous and East Asian cultures together for Lunar New Year. On behalf of the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, she offered young visitors to LunarFest Vancouver an opportunity to colour a snake.
However, this was no ordinary snake because it included traditional Northwest Coast formline. Mackenzie placed these Indigenous shapes inside the slithery reptile on the page. This was her way of celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Snake while providing youngsters with more ways to colour within the lines.
“It’s Indigenous shapes that Indigenous people grew up with,” Mackenzie told Pancouver inside Ocean Artworks on Granville Island, where LunarFest Vancouver takes place on weekends in February.
“U-shapes and S-shapes come together to make up the design,” she added. “I tried to incorporate it in more of a contemporary way.”
She credits Haida Nation artist Anastasia Hendry for teaching her about Northwest Coast formline.
“I try to practise my Nation’s formline, but the Northwest Coast formline is widely shared,” Mackenzie notes.
The Kwakiutl Nation’s traditional territory is on northern Vancouver Island.
With her easygoing manner, upbeat attitude, and public speaking skills, Mackenzie is a natural facilitator. She enjoys helping others learn about Indigenous culture, artwork, and protocols. In addition to working on projects with the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, she has had her own Sneaky Native Art practice for 16 years.
“I bring that Indigenous lens to the Children’s festival, so I have an Indigenous activity every year” she said. “As well, we have an Indigenous scavenger hunt.”
MacKenzie has a varied artistic practice
As a professional artist, Mackenzie designed the Indigenous canoe logo on Transit Police vehicles. She has also designed murals, including one on the Richmond School District office. Furthermore, she has worked with many other school districts, as well as youth and family organizations and nonprofit groups in B.C. and the Yukon.
“I had art at the Vancouver Convention Centre during the holidays,” Mackenzie stated. “Different schools have my artwork up. I’m all over the place.”
In addition, Mackenzie has been an artist in residence at Place des Arts in Coquitlam, where she curated the All My Relations exhibition in 2023. She is also co-curating another exhibition at Place des Arts with Indigenous women, which will be unveiled in September.
It’s been a remarkable journey for Mackenzie, whose mother was adopted outside of her Nation as part of the Sixties Scoop. This term refers to the mass removal of Indigenous children from their families in the 1951 until 1984, with most sent to live in non-Indigenous households.
“My mother is from Bella Coola,” Mackenzie said. “I grew up down on the Coast.”
Since Mackenzie became a young adult, she’s been trying to trace her genealogy.
“After the Sixties Scoop, it is quite difficult to do that,” she conceded. “It takes a bit to locate the different family members and to make sure I do it with the proper respect as well, because it brings out triggering memories.”
Follow Christine Mackenzie on Instagram @sneakynativeart. For more information about LunarFest Vancouver, visit the website. Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia, Bluesky @pancouver.bsky.social, and Instagram @PancouverMedia. Also follow Charlie Smith on Bluesky @charliesmithvcr.bsky.social.
