Adrian has been our First Nations Educator for the past year but his history with Glenbow goes all the way back to his time as a volunteer docent in 1989. His background as a History Major as well as service with the military and a strong link to arts organizations means he is the perfect fit for sharing stories in almost every area of Glenbow! His work as an educator in the Niitsitapiisini Gallery is layered with family connections. His mother, grandmother, and aunts are all pictured in the gallery as well as objects and plants that he has used throughout his life. For Adrian, this makes the space more like “home” than a gallery in a museum.
Adrian’s favourite part of the job of Museum Educator is sharing his interests and making the stories relevant and fun for students. As a volunteer he learned sign language so that he could share stories with hearing impaired visitors. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of movies and popular culture and he weaves this into his programs, using video game rules and rewards for learning about how different cultures meet their needs.
One of Adrian’s favourite objects is a shirt with the tadpole symbol on it. The tadpole design speaks to overcoming adversity and accepting change.
- Shirt Kainai, early 1900′s elk hide, porcupine quills, natural dyes, weasel pelts Owned by Owns Different Horses
What would Adrian add to the Glenbow if he curated an exhibit? The answer to this shows the overlap between Adrian’s many interests. He would include, as an extension of the Warriors exhibit on 4th floor, a gallery exhibition of photographs depicting Cemeteries from wars Canadians participated in and where thousands of Canadians remain. This would be an ideal exhibition for Glenbow, honouring Military, History, First Nations and Art.