The cancellation of a Toronto artist’s exhibition has sparked a dialogue about what indigenous art is and who can create it.

Toronto artist Amanda PL, 29, says her work is inspired by the Woodland school of art and acknowledges that it’s “very similar” to Anishnaabe artist Norval Morrisseau’s work, which features bright colours separated by black lines and abstract figures.

But after Amanda PL’s planned exhibition at Visions Gallery in Leslieville was announced she discovered many people were “troubled” by her work.

“From my point of view, authentic indigenous art comes from a place of our experiences, our personal narratives,” said Chief Lady Bird (Nancy King) an Anishnaabe artist based in Toronto.

“The thing about the type of work that she’s creating is it’s heavily rooted in traditional ideals and different teachings and it’s considered sacred, so it wasn’t always even considered artwork in the way that we think about art now,” she said.

Tony Magee, a co-owner of Visions Gallery, where Amanda PL’s work was set to be exhibited later this month, said following the announcement the gallery was “immediately criticized” and within 24 hours the event was cancelled.

“While we accept that (Amanda PL) did not intend to offend anyone by her art, we explained that we would not be able to show the work she had planned to show,” said Magee. Since Amanda PL did not have any other work available, her exhibition was cancelled.

The decision was “primarily because of our belief in the importance of being respectful toward indigenous people and specifically toward indigenous artists,” he said.

“Artists are free to create works of their choice. However, with freedom comes responsibility,” he said. “Not intending to offend is not enough when we believe that those who were offended had valid reasons for being offended.”

Amanda PL said she was hurt by the backlash she received.

“I’m not doing the art to hurt the community, I appreciate the community, I try as much as possible to learn as much as I can, read their stories, their myths,” she said.

But despite concerns over what some are calling cultural appropriation, Amanda PL isn’t planning on changing the way she paints.

“I’m still developing as an artist, I’m still developing the style of my art, but at this point, this is my style, this is how I choose to express myself and continue to paint,” she said.

“I don’t understand why I can’t develop a style that I’m influenced by,” she added.

Toronto sculptor and installations artist Aylan Couchie, who is from Nipissing First Nation, said the controversy surrounding Amanda PL is part of a much larger problem of non-indigenous artists appropriating indigenous art.

“We’ve had a real issue in Canada where indigenous art has been commoditized as part of Canada’s identity,” she said. “You walk into any souvenir shop and you see dream catchers you see Inuit sculptures, that’s what people bring home to say ‘I was in Canada.’”

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Indigenous artists are also underrepresented in art galleries, added Couchie.

“We don’t want to see that work being devalued by just anybody being able to pick up a paint brush and deciding to make their art in this way and taking up space in galleries.”

The art that Amanda PL has been creating isn’t as simple as a stylistic choice, said Chief Lady Bird.

“It was considered language and it was our way to tell stories when we weren’t allowed to tell those stories,” said Chief Lady Bird. “It was our language when we weren’t allowed to speak Anishnaabemowin. …so for it to just be deemed a stylistic quality of an artwork doesn’t make sense to me.”

Chief Lady Bird also said she was concerned about Amanda’s cultural sensitivity because of a racially offensive video in which Amanda PL appears, that is posted on YouTube.

Asked about the video, Amanda PL said the video was taken about six months ago.

“The only way I can explain this video is that it was meant for entertainment… purpose only,” she said. “The video does not reflect any relation to my artwork or who I am or the values I hold and express in my art.”

Chief Lady Bird said the video really bothered her. “We have teachings about respecting and loving everyone and to me that was so disrespectful and so not from a loving place and for me that video ignores fundamental truths within indigenous worldviews.”

Chief Lady Bird said since the controversy over Amanda PL’s exhibition erupted last week, there has been no communication or consultation with the indigenous community.

“I felt really troubled by that. There’s ways for artists who want to connect with our communities to do so, but it involves being involved in the community and it involves that learning process,” she said.

She says she wishes Amanda PL well and “would want nothing more than for her to have a successful career, but I just think her career shouldn’t be off the backs of indigenous people who are on the ground working so hard to have our voices heard and make change in the country.”