Ukrainian-Heiltsuk carver Ivan Rosypskye unveiled his monumental art piece on Saturday, March 1, at Powell River Public Library (PRPL).
Alongside Rosypskye, Keith Carlson, who is the principal investigator for the project and a professor of history at University of the Fraser Valley, research coordinator Alexis Klassen and teachers from Brooks Secondary School shared their involvement with the project.
Carving Lost Family History is a collaborative initiative bringing together artists and researchers in an effort to repatriate knowledge to families and empower artists through the sharing of their stories.
Rosypskye's carving was inspired by the coming together of his parents: his dad who is Ukrainian and his mom who is Heiltsuk First Nation; two people from two oppressed and colonized communities.
The carving event that took place last year in the qathet region is part of a larger research project initiated by Rosypskye, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, and University of the Fraser Valley.
Rosypskye's final work displays Heiltsuk crests: the eagle, the raven, the whale and the wolf, and a Ukrainian crest carved into a red cedar slab. He worked on the piece at PRPL and Brooks.
The final work will be on display at PRPL for the next few months.
Join the Peak’s email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
