Ełexiìtǫ

• Main Author: Koyczan, Casey
• Other Authors: Blondeau, Lori (School of Art), McCafferty, Daniel (School of Art), Thorneycroft, Diana (Artist), Adams, KC (Artist)
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: culture; distance education; technology; fine art; sculpture; installation art; Canada; Northwest Territories
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/36286

Art and life are constantly influencing each other, sometimes subconsciously. This thesis and installation are an example of how my journey has led to the physical distance and cultural disconnection to the beliefs and traditions of my people, and then as a reclamation act later on in life when understanding the importance of learning about my indigenous roots in the Northwest Territories. The installation has many components that contribute to its final state for presentation. The work brings together aspects of culture, technology, dene drum infused audio elements, and experimentation to communicate the difficulty and transmission of knowledge through digital sources in order to learn about culture, which is usually a very hands-on process. This work and thesis cover aspects of my early life and upbringing while living all over Western Canada, the thirst for knowledge, interest in technology and sci-fi and how it has influenced my practice, and the representation of my culture in how I perceive it and practice our teachings. February 2022