The Art of Making by Jared Tailfeathers
CBC Books | Posted: August 27, 2024 9:15 PM | Last Updated: August 27
A book exploring Tailfeathers' journey reclaiming his identity as a Blackfoot man
The Art of Making: Rediscovering the Blackfoot Legacy is a captivating entry into Jared Tailfeathers' journey of cultural reclamation. Accompanied by his family and loyal dogs, Tailfeathers delves into his Indigenous heritage through hands-on, land-based exploration. The book traces the evolution of the Blackfoot Confederacy, examining its trade routes, resources, and interactions pre- and post-1800s. It provides intricate details of Blackfoot connections with nature, neighbouring First Nations Peoples, and their rich legacy in tool-making, spiritual knowledge seeking, and artistic expression. Tailfeathers' quest began in 2019, driven by a deep desire to reacquaint himself with his cultural and historical identity as a Blackfoot man navigating a post-colonial world. This book is a journey into the heart of Blackfoot culture, told by a man who walks the ancestral trails with his dogs. (From Durvile Publications/UpRoute)
Jared Tailfeathers is an Indigenous artist whose work explores the art, history and future of the Blackfoot and other Treaty 7 Nations.