Call for Artists: Remember Comics Project with the Homalco First Nation
Tchadas Leo (Homalco), Education Without Borders, Dr. Biz Nijdam, UBC Comics Studies Cluster
We invite the application of Indigenous cartoonists from across Turtle Island, with preference given to Indigenous cartoonists from British Columbia, to submit applications for three positions.
This project seeks three Indigenous cartoonists to create three short (8-12 page) comics based on 3 collections of recordings of Elders from the Homalco First Nation featured in the “Remember” Podcast. Produced in collaboration between Education without Borders (EwB), the Homalco First Nation in Campbell River, and 100.7 The Raven, the “Remember” podcast plays clips of archival recordings of Elders from the Homalco First Nation. Each clip explores life in Bute Inlet in decades past, with elders recalling their childhood, the history of the Bute Inlet, traditional customs and storytelling traditions of the Homalco First Nation, and important people in the community. The podcast hosts then discuss the recordings, providing definitions and a modern perspective for listeners.This project will use comic art to visually re-present three selections of the podcast’s recordings to produce graphic materials that engage with the podcast’s themes. The short 8-12-page comics will complement the podcast’s conversation around its collection of recordings to produce supplementary material that would be ideal for inclusion in K-12 education. The Remember Comics Project will thus add to the body of work produced by the “Remember” Podcast, seeking to continue to give voice to First Nations Elders from Vancouver Island and the surrounding areas but this time through comic art.
The selected themes and their relevant podcast episodes/clips include the following:
Clam Digging:
Daisy Hill episode 4, 2:00
Adeline Billows episode 4, 15:55
Hunting:
Adeline Billows, episode 2, 3:00
Bill Blaney, episode 4, 12:02
Bill Blaney, episode 5, 4:25
Food Preservation:
Adeline Billows, episode 3, 2:15
Adeline Billows, episode 4, 18:10
Everson Waters, episode 5 2:35
Canoe building/travelling:
Daisy Hill episode 3, 9:50
Everson Waters episode 6, 13:45
Ceremonies/Coming of Age Stories:
Adeline Billows, episode 2, 3:50; episode 3, 6:14; episode 2, 9:05; episode 6, 8:50
Story Guidelines: Artists will have the freedom to design their stories in relation to the recordings of Elders they are working with, but the project organizers are interested in incorporating the following three elements:
- a Trickster character, such as the “Trickster Raven,” as a guide and narrator to the scenes within the story
- a plot that presents a challenge to the character that connects with the challenge articulated in the recording of the Elder
- dialogue and narrative that are in English but that also contains Indigenous language elements.
These general guidelines are suggestions to help inspire artists to meet the goals of this project. The project organizers understand that each artist has their own artistic style and will bring their own authorial voice to these graphic narratives.Compensation:
Each artist will receive ~$2500 for their contribution to this project, which includes participation in one site visit, ongoing conversations with Elders and project organizers, and one 8-12-page comic.
Timeline:
- July 31: Deadline for applications.
- August 31: Artists will be notified of their selection.
- September 1: Artists will receive the selected recordings and additional research material.
- Early to mid-Fall (Date TBD): Artists will participate in an all-expenses-paid two-day visit to Bute Inlet to visit the site, connect with the Homalco First Nation, and speak with Elders about their selected stories.
- October 1: Thumbnails for graphic narratives will be due.
- November 31: Drafts of graphic narratives will be due.
- December 31: Editorial comments and requested revisions will be provided.
- February 15, 2024: Final versions of the graphic narratives are due.
Application Instructions:Application materials should be submitted here and include the following in one PDF document:
- Letter of Interest (maximum 1 page)
- 3 examples of comic art (maximum 10 pages)
- OPTIONAL Creative Statement or Thumbnails (for one theme)
Please direct all inquiries to Tchadas Leo at tchadasleoassistant@gmail.com and Dr. Biz Nijdam at biz.nijdam@ubc.ca.