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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
An exhibition that is in its final weeks in Fort Simpson explores a local artist's views on the relationship between people and the land.

Fort Simpson artist Tonya Makletzoff stands beside one of her paintings that is part of her solo exhibition titled Connections with the Land. The exhibition will be on display at the Visitor Information Centre in Fort Simpson until Sept. 10. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Connections with the Land is Tonya Makletzoff's first solo exhibition with the OSC Gallery.

Twelve original acrylic on canvas paintings and one limited edition print by Makletzoff have been on display at the Fort Simpson Visitor Information Centre since early July. The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 10.

The paintings in the exhibition were all created within the last 10 years. Adorning the walls of what is normally the Village of Fort Simpson's council chamber, the paintings are a mix of landscapes, many from the Nahanni National Park Reserve, and depictions of Dene people engaging in traditional activities.

All of the paintings relate to how people interact with the land. Makletzoff said she is trying to promote the concept that humans are part of the natural world.

More than half of the paintings in the exhibition were inspired by an artists' trip Makletzoff took in 2005 on the Nahanni River, which was designed to raise awareness of the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve.

Makletzoff took pictures during the trip and used them as references, particularly for colour.

Addressing the human interaction with the landscape, one of the paintings shows a campfire while another portrays people scouting for a campsite for the night.

Makletzoff said her painting style is time consuming.

"It's layer after layer, brushstroke after brushstroke," she said.

Makletzoff's view that people and nature should co-exist is evident in her paintings of traditional Dene activities. The newest painting in the exhibit, Elsie's Moosehide, which Makletzoff finished last summer, shows Elsie Marcellais of Nahanni Butte tanning a moosehide. Other paintings show ducks being plucked and caribou hide being cut into babiche.

The Dene culture is tied to the land, said Makletzoff. The Dene use aspects of the land to meet their human needs, but in a way that is respectful and responsible, she said.

"People knew what to use and when to use it and where to go (to get it)," said Makletzoff.

The Dene can show us a way to live in the sub-Arctic that needs to be promoted, she said.

The idea for the exhibition began to take shape last September. Makletzoff, who works as an interpretive officer co-ordinator for Parks Canada, said she realized people want to see images of the Nahanni once they return from the park and want to have the opportunity to take something home with them.

Makletzoff had art cards and prints made of some of her paintings. Displaying them along with the originals in an exhibit was a good way to draw attention to them, she said.

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