CREATIVE STORYTELLING IGNITES COMMUNITIES
ANIMATING LEGACIES
Artists Rendering Tales Collective Inc. is a community-focused arts organization committed to creating meaningful and collaborative works of art. We work with a variety of artists and members of the community to create immersive experiences that bring people together. Our past collaborators include First Nations Elders from various communities, as well as artists from all walks of life.
Mary Jane Joe is from the Joeyaska Indian Reserve #2.
Her nation is Ntle'kepmx (Interior Salish) and her name is Nk'xetko. She is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band from Merritt, B.C.
She attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School for twelve years in Kamloops, B.C. This was a traumatic and devastating experience, and she has spent her life reconnecting with her family, culture, and traditions. Healing has mainly come through a connection with the Creator as taught by her grandmother.
After getting married she lived in the Yukon for fifteen years, where she raised her two children and learned many wonderful arts and crafts from the Elders. Becoming a quilter and making crafts opened doors for her so she could teach the arts in classrooms throughout Vancouver. Sharing her cultural teachings and lessons to students of all ages helps bridge gaps between all nations.
Nk'xetko completed a B.Ed and M.A. at UBC where she worked with NITEP for seven years. Then she taught at Langara College in the Aboriginal Studies Program, where she also serves as Mentor, tutor and Elder in Residence for the Indigenous students.
Through the program “Music Champions” she works with teachers to include the drum beat, music and storytelling in their curriculum.
She is married and living in Musqueam.
Nk'xetko- Mary Jane Joe;
Elder, Educator
Candice Halls Howcroft:
Candice Halls
Media Artist, Educator
Candice Halls is a proud member of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation) and grew up in North Vancouver. She is the grand-daughter of the late Chief Simon Baker(Khot-La- Cha)Candice is a weaver, storyteller, poet and educator. Candice is grateful to her Elders and cultural teachers who have guided her on her artist/educator journey. She is a lead artist for the Royal Conservatory's Learning Through The Arts program and teaches essential skills at the Native Education College.
She is one of the creators for the Walk The Circle program, an exciting new online program being offered by the Royal Conservatory for teachers on integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and being into their practice.
Cheyanne Halls Howcroft
Media Artist, Educator
Cheyanne Halls Howcroft is a proud member of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw( Squamish Nation) who weaves, drums, and loves working with young people and sharing her media arts skills.
She is a the YouthBeat coordinator for BC as well as one of the youth mentors for the Royal Conservatory's Learning Through The Arts program. One of the highlights for Cheyanne is that she gets to lead workshops with her mom Candice and grandmother Yeltsilewet , sharing her Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw culture.
Karen J Myskiw
Visual Artist, Educator, Landscape Designer
Karen June Myskiw is an enthusiastic creative who practices as an artist, designer and educator. As an award winning landscape designer she has worked with non-profit organizations and has created outdoor classrooms modeling sustainable food justice. As an Artist in Residence, she leads art programs with young people in grades K to 12 exploring a wide range of media and formats including large-scale murals, film photography, painting and Manga.
An international published researcher on art practices she has co-authored a paper with Dr. Daren Garside on art as a medium for finding voice, hope and expression titled, Community of Inquiry and Underserved Youth Engagement: A Reflective Account of Philosophy and Method. As an art practitioner and teacher, she is involved with an international project with Bath Spa University and Autonomous University of Barcelona, using the multiple medias of music, singing, sculpture, and art as a means of empowerment for community building with new immigrant children. She sits on the IMAPON/LocoMotoArt Collective Board of Directors.
In her personal artistic practice she explores water-colour, acrylics, mixed media and film photography. Karen’s local and international medium format film based photography documents genus loci of landscape and memory. Her art finds greatest expression in working collaboratively on community based public arts projects.
