A Public Space Exhibition:
Royal Oak Shopping Centre

Art is meant to be free, breathing, and apart of our every day lives. As an artist, I have been heartbroken by the gatekeeping and control that goes into the art sector- especially when it comes to Indigenous art. In collaboration with Haunsbraun Investments, the Royal Oak Shopping Centre is now filled with artwork to inspire and reflect on. As you walk through the space, I encourage you to look for my artwork. Below you will find:

Information about me
Descriptions and audio clips of every art piece in the space
Resources on the local lands

Click Here for Audio Recordings of Each Section/ Art Description

My Story

My name is Lajah Warren (she/her). I am from the lək’ʷəniʔən territory, otherwise known as Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on Vancouver Island.I am a young Indigiqueer woman, of mixed heritage (both Indigenous and settler descent). I have Cree, Ojibwa and Métis heritage on my fathers maternal side and from lək’ʷəniʔən lands on my father's paternal side. On my mother’s side, we are Icelandic and English. My educational background is in Child and Youth Care (with an Indigenous specialization) and most of my professional work has focused on social care, Indigenous sovereignty, land-based relationships, counselling, and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer care. In all of these roles, I have always found ways to bring art into the work. In this, I always found that art drives community, and community drives artwork.

Since I was a child, I watched my dad turn beautiful blocks of wood into carvings. This inspired me to see the spirit in my artwork and see art as a part of my healing journey. I am an interdisciplinary artist, with a focus on acrylic painting that weaves traditional Coast Salish designs with expressive art techniques.

My artwork is a living representation of my healing journey. I create ‘imperfect art’ and create for the healing process instead of the final product. So, my art practice allows me to explore themes of community, storytelling, self-reflection, activism, land-based relations, and allyship. My art is not meant to be an aesthetic, but a dialogue that will create a community of both people who can personally relate with the themes shared in my work, and for the people who have no relations with it at all. My art is a starting point for the Circle I intend to create. It is my form of questioning. It is my way of understanding the world. It is my act of resistance.

While my art is a way of healing, it is also a way for me to cope with the injustices that happen daily for Indigenous peoples. It is my way of sharing our stories of strength and resistance. It carries with it both hope and struggle. I have deep gratitude for all the creative ancestors that have put their lives on the frontlines to keep our practices alive.

Click Here for Audio Recordings of Each Section/ Art Description

Banners

How do we conceptualize allyship and solidarity? In these four banners, I explore this question to understand solidarity in action. In a time of climate change, cultural erasure, and social/political unrest, it is imminent that we not only prioritize these conversations and reflections, but it is dire that we create living memories of these conversations through art. My hope is that anytime you see these artworks as you look up to the sky, you can remember our collective responsibility to care.

I believe that we need to unite. I believe that Indigenous peoples worldwide need to learn from one another and stand with one another. At this point, it is no longer an option. Indigenous solidarity is the key for survival. In my own search for clarity, I have found four key elements that stand out to me in understanding how we can fight for each other: introspection, connections, accountability in intergenerationality, and solidarity.

Weaved into all four of these banners, you will see a flowing, swerving line. For these artworks, I consider this line to be the decolonial timeline. When we research the history of Indigenous resistance (in any part of the world), we must remember that those timelines have often been narrated by colonizers. So in these banners, I want to center Indigenous timelines, stories, and lineages. Our stories have been distorted and misunderstood throughout history. But by using lines in this organic and expansive way, we remember that none of these stories are linear and are constantly being reshaped by those around us. Even the meaning of these banners can shapeshift. So, you will see this theme of the decolonial timeline throughout all of the banners- reminding you all to reflect on your own responses to these artworks. Are you quick to disagree with any of my messages? Does a period of history come up for you? Let this line remind you to ask: ‘where is my knowledge from? Whose version of history am I basing my knowledge on? How do I embody a decolonial timeline?’ Click the images below to learn more about how these banners translate into each component to solidarity.

Click Here for Audio Recordings of Each Section/ Art Description

Introspection

For this banner, we witness introspection as one of the essential pieces in allyship. Assuring we have reflection in ourselves, in our own stories, our own lineages must be the foundation before allyship or solidarity can happen. The base of this piece is flowing lines, bursting out of these lines are the sun and the moon with a small lake. The sun and the moon both represent the dualities of introspection. While many of us see introspection completely isolated from others, I want to challenge that. This art encourages you to see introspection in two ways: the sun and the moon. Introspection with the moon can be fully on your own, in the shadows, with clarity, and intentions. On the other hand, introspection with the sun can be externalized- seeking outside knowledge, listening to stories with others, etc. When it comes to allyship, we need to prioritize introspection, while also recognizing that introspection does not happen only in isolation. As well, you see the lake in this artwork. This lake reminds us of another layer to introspection: mirroring with the land. Always remember that the natural world can speak to us and act as a comrade in learning.

Ask yourself: When I choose to reflect on a given issue, conflict, or culture, what are my ways of learning, reflecting, and understanding? Whose knowledge or histories do I see as fiction and whose do I see as fact?

Connection

This banner, Connection, reminds us that to do solidarity work, we must connect with something within ourselves- our own stories- to build the strength and fire to do solidarity work. One wolf face and one human face expands out of these lines on opposite sides, looking towards each other. Solidarity requires something deeper than just showing up to a march to show support. On an emotional level, it requires deep empathy.

To truly show up, we need to connect with something within ourselves that connects to our story. So, this wolf and this woman stand across from each other, attempting to truly understand one another. I chose a wolf because we know that wolves come in packs and are social creatures- they take care of eachother. I included a woman to honor our lines of matriarchal systems and the role that women play in Indigenous movements.

Ask yourself: what am I afraid of if I weave my story with the story of someone else's? What's stopping me?

Accountability in Intergenerationality

This banner represents the generations before and after us when we do any actions. We must remain grounded in the understanding that any action we do has ripple effects to the generations before us, and the 7 next to come. So, this is an opportunity for healing in all directions. Every act we do, whether that is engaging in activism, or healing intergenerational wounds, is changing the past and future of your lineage. The middle of the design is Grandmother Moon, with a smaller moon on both sides. One moon has a face resembling a child, and on the other side resembles an older person. In each face, the mouth will get progressively more open, showing our responsibility to stand up for the younger generations the older we get.

Ask yourself: How do I honor the ancestors before me in everything I do, and how do I act in a way that paves way for the future generations?

Solidarity

I want this last banner to share a final message about solidarity. Taking inspiration from orcas, which the Lekwungen people have strong connections with, I want this to show the same flowy lines with orca tales extending out of it. This will show that every solidarity action must be grounded in the understanding that we are social beings bonded to one another. When we say liberation for all, we know that it is the only way forward. One person’s liberation is intertwined with the liberation of others. I do not say this in a poetic sense, but I say this, grounded in political reality.

Ask yourself: How can I be free, without the liberation of my global kin? Is it possible for one group of Indigenous peoples to be free, while others still face daily oppression? How do I understand Indigenous liberation?

Click Here for Audio Recording

Large Art Print
Location: Outside the Breezeway Market

This piece speaks to community collaboration and the gifts of each community member. On the left, you see two trees sharing a cup of tea. This reflects the value of relationally in our communities. At the bottom, you see a flowing, alive water system that reminds us of the role of water -both literally and symbolically- as an essential part of our survival. When you look up, you see three circles in the sky: the raven, the eagle, and then the moon. This reminds us that each member in our community holds a perspective and unique viewpoint. The raven sees the lower level, the eagle can fly higher, and the moon gives us a whole new perspective from up above. Each perspective is needed to understand our lands and our people.

So when we do this work, we must remain grounded in knowing that each person has a perspective and a gift for the circle we intend to create.

Extending our of the middle are the same swirly lines that are also seen in the banners. This shows us that everything is connected to one another and our stories cannot be separated. I ask that when you look to this artwork, you reflect on what it means to be in community, what each person has to offer inour communities, and what collective care feels like.

Ask yourself: How do I imagine community care? How do I prioritize some perspectives more than others? How do I limit my understanding of peoples' gifts to community?

Click Here for Audio Recordings of Each Section/ Art Description

Art Prints

Location: Office Spaces throughout the property

Throughout the buildings, you may see numerous art pieces on display. On July 15th, all original artworks are

displayed in Lajah’s Art Studio at 101- 4489 Viewmont Avenue!

Pennbridge Building 4475 Viewmont Ave

Art on Display:

-Since Birth

-River to the Unknown

(-Re) Generation

-Sacred Rage

Viewmont Building 4489 Viewmont Ave

Art on Display:

-Transformation

Oakview Building 4480 West Saanich Rd

Art on Display (Main Floor):

-Blanket of Stars

-Cyber Terrain

-Talking Heads

Art on Display (Second Floor):

-Weaving

-Take Me to My Kin

Main office at Saanich Centre 401b- 4489 Quadra St

Art on Display:

-Puzzled

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Icons

Each design will soon be shown around the property represent a different element of these lands. Coming from the perspective of a lək̓ʷəŋən person, I chose to represent the kin that is seen all of the south end of the island- all holding a deep connection with me.