Art Works from Turtle Island is one of the latest businesses to open its doors in the village this year. Owner Jadeon Rathgeber is a First Nations artist specializing in jewelry and carving. Featuring the works of many of his artist friends who are also First Nations peoples from coast to coast, the space is a shop, a gallery and a studio. Rathgeber creates some of his artwork on site. Aboriginal legend names North America itself ‘Turtle Island’, which was the inspiration for the name.
Having passed through Nakusp one year on his way to the Shambhala Music Festival, Rathgeber has spent a lot of time on the West coast and eleven months in Europe over three separate trips. He found himself in Northern Manitoba but felt it was too behind the times and was ready for change. An aunt encouraged him to look at relocating to Nelson. He said he and his friend, fellow First Nations artist Mark Anthony Jacobson, who moved here in tandem, decided on Nakusp after seriously considering Balfour and Nelson.
Coming through Nakusp again last fall, he decided to make it home after seeing that the village was home to “an organic food store,” referring to Home Grown Market and said, “We saw Brendalee’s place. They were so welcoming and we said ‘hey this is the spot.’”
The opportunity to open the gallery came up after a conversation with Janet Spicer regarding the retail space he occupies. The building has been home to Dance on the Kusp and NaCoMo in recent years.
Rathgeber came with his daughter Desiree who is a student at Nakusp Elementary School. His mother, Pat Bruderer, First Nations artist known also as Half Moon Woman, has moved here to be closer to them. Bruderer’s artistry involves using her own teeth to bite patterns into the bark from birch trees. According to a 2010 Vancouver Sun piece, Bruderer was one of only three people still practicing the sacred art. Pieces she has created are on display at the gallery.
Rathgeber explained, “It was originally used for cultural and historical preservation as well as hunting and fishing maps. It’s been found in archeological digs from Alaska to Labrador. Record keepers in villages used birch bark. For children it acted as a textbook. They would hold it in front of fire or the sun so the kids would have an easier time to remember the oral teachings because of the image to go along with them in their mind.”
Creations of Rathgeber’s own are available to view and purchase. He specializes particularly in the Pacific Northwest coast style, having attended the jewelry arts program at a native education college in Vancouver and apprenticed with the Nuu-Chaha-Nulth. His carving was developed by working with master Nishga’a carver Norman Tait and incorporates many materials from wood to animal horns and metal.
An environmental activist, Rathgeber is extemely proud of one particular carving currently on display at the gallery. It was created for an exhibit at the United Nations in Geneva honouring International Women’s Day. He was tapped to create a piece from the Native perspective representing the exploitation and oppression of the First Nations woman. Using a ram’s horn given to him by Tait, he created a raven image playing on the colour of the horn which turns from black to white.
“Ancient prophecies state that white animals will begin to return to Mother Earth- the white raven, buffalo, and other animals. It’s the signification of the feminine spirit attempting to return to mother earth,” he explained.
He continued by saying that “The corporations are acting like eco-terrorists. The rate that they are extracting resources is destroying the planet. If you don’t allow the women to take over leadership roles- they have the true compassion, the gentleness, the kindness, they are the givers of life. They carry the babies in the water so we call them the water carriers. They are connected to the moon.”
Rathgeber is a personable guy, full of great stories and undeniable artistic talent. The shop, Artworks of Turtle Island is open seven days a week throughout the summer, with carying hours. The website can be viewed at www.artworksfromturtleisland.com.
