Honouring Our Elders Portrait Legacy Project

Started in 2005, the Honouring Our Elders Portrait Legacy Project is a biennial project that uses art to make connections across generations and cultures within the Smithers community. Every cycle, two influential elders are chosen (one first nations elder and one non-indigenous elder) to have a 4’x4’ portrait painted of them by two visual arts students from Smithers Secondary School. When the pieces are finished, they are unveiled in a ceremony attended by family members, close friends, and other students.
In 2017, I had the privilege of painting Rosemary Fox. Rosemary was a well traveled and accomplished environmentalist who worked passionately to protect BC’s wilderness. The portrait now hangs on the outside wall of the Smithers Secondary School building.

- You can read more about this project from the teacher who runs the program Here.

- And you can learn more about the inspiring life of Rosemary Fox in this article Here.