My Bandolier Bag for Steve Powely


Title: My Bandolier Bag for Steve Powely
Creator: Gabriel Dumont Institute, Christi Belcourt
Subject: Gabriel Dumont Institute, Great Métis of My Time, Christi Belcourt, Steve Powely, Bandolier Bag
Description: Gabriel Dumont Institute has acquired Great Métis of My Time, a series of paintings by Métis artist Christi Belcourt. This powerful evocative series of artwork will be housed at the Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Institute is very honoured to be able to add this series to the Institute’s permanent collection. The paintings include five portraits of famous Métis: Steve Powley, Harry Daniels, Maria Campbell, Tony Belcourt, and Jean Teillet. In addition, the collection also includes four complementary pieces including a “coat” for Harry Daniels, a “bandolier bag” for Steve Powley, as well as two other pieces which celebrate the Métis’ beading, and embroidery tradition. As the artist writes about the series:

“The Great Métis of My Time project is a series of nine paintings that through exhibition are intended to bring awareness of Métis history, Métis traditional art and Métis contemporary issues to a public audience. The paintings, produced in acrylic on canvas, portray the stories and the lives of five prominent Métis individuals whose determination to seek justice for Métis rights have changed the course of history for the Métis Nation in modern times.”

For further background information about these paintings, please visit the artist’s website at www.christibelcourt.com.

My Bandolier Bag for Steve Powley, 2006
24” x 48”
Acrylic on canvas

This painting is a bandolier bag common to the “Great Lakes” style. Bandolier bags often took the artisan a year to make, and were traditionally given to men as gifts of honour. This bag was painted in recognition to Steve Powley for his contributions to the Métis Nation.
Publisher: Gabriel Dumont Institute
Type: Image
Date of Copyright: April 16, 2009
GDI Media Filename: My Bandolier Bag [1024x768].jpg

Related Categories

Category Belcourt, Christi