Ursula Johnson: The Urban Aboriginal Guide to Halifax, NS

When looking through the catalogue for Defiant Beauty: William Hind in the Labrador Peninsula, Ursula Johnson, a Mi'kmaq artist from Eskasoni in Cape Breton, was fascinated with the depictions of the Innu guides on the Hind expedition. She empathized with them as path-finding guides who helped the Europeans to ‘discover’ the Innu’s ancestral land for their own colonizing purposes. Aware of what transpired for Aboriginal peoples after the Europeans arrived, Johnson none-the-less recognized the psychological circumstances facing the Hind expedition: they were strangers in a strange land, relying on the good will and skill sets of their Innu compatriots. Johnson vividly recalls her first few days in Halifax after moving to the city from her rural home in Cape Breton. Adjusting to urban life was truly akin to moving to a new country and learning alternative modes of survival and communication. Johnson’s interests in her Mi’kmaw heritage, urban migration, and the social dynamics between ethnicities have led her to take on the role of a pathfinder for other Aboriginal peoples like herself who have ventured to a strange new territory, much like the Hind brothers did in 1861. Guiding the ever-growing population of urban Aboriginal migrants and answering their questions became her priority. Where could they sleep over night? Where could they find fresh food? Where are the spiritual places to rest and reflect? Fully sensitive of her recent transition to Euro-centric urban life, Johnson has produced a path-finding map of Halifax targeted for future First Nations visitors. The large wall map (5 feet by 9 feet), installed in the gallery space, will be accompanied by a limited edition book titled ‘The Urban Aboriginal Guide to Halifax, NS’. Visitors can view or purchase the book to comprehend the perspective of the city from Johnson’s culturally specialized point of view. Johnson’s pathfinding guide, though, is not merely a tourist convenience; it is fully intended to be a relevant resource for First Nations peoples who need highly specialized advice and tips for urban living.