The Program
Artist Statement
Nêhiyaw love letters to otôskwanihk (Calgary)
Inspired by moments of connection, love and serenity, Nehiyaw love letters to otôskwanihk features a series of moments and memories where I personally have felt held and loved by the lands in Calgary. This theme also aims to present the experience of urban Indigenous peoples finding home within contemporary settings.
The six banners are artistic representations of my lived experiences. Watching the sky paint colours as the sun sets over the Crescent Heights ridge with the mountains in the distance, seeing the northern lights dance over the city skyline, learning the traditional stories of the bison that once roamed these lands, watching the Indian Relay races at the Calgary Stampede with pride, enjoying summer grass, Saskatoons and wild roses, and finding the crocuses blooming each spring on Nose Hill. Each piece is a thank you letter to my home.
I wanted to use bright colours, inspired by the vibrancy of regalia and my Cree culture. The imagery brings together memories and symbols connected to Calgary and the land.
Eagle flying over mountains
One of the best things about Calgary is being able to see our mountain relatives in the distance, even from downtown. This banner gives thanks to the beautiful mountain spirits that sent chinooks our way. An eagle appears in the design, symbolizing love. The beautiful Bow River also flows through this piece.
Features Cree syllabics for ᓯᐱᐩ “sipiy” (river) and ᐊᓯᓃᐘᒋᐩ “asinîwaciy” (Rocky Mountains).
Northern Lights over otôskwanihk
One of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in Calgary was seeing the northern lights dancing over the city skyline from the Crescent Heights ridge. Northern lights, to the Nêhiyawak, represent our ancestors dancing in the sky. The beautiful Bow River runs through this piece as well.
Features Cree syllabics for ᓯᐱᐩ “sipiy” (river).
Indian Relay
The Indian Relay races are one of the most exciting events at the Calgary Stampede. Inspired by the incredible display of athleticism by the athletes and horses, this banner reflects the connection of horses to urban Indigenous communities.
One of the horses has a red handprint on it, to give honour to our missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit kin.
Features Cree syllabics for ᒥᐢᑕ ᐊᑎᒷᐠ “mista atimwak” (horses).
Roaming Bisons
Bison once roamed these lands in the millions and hold deep cultural meaning for many Plains Nations. This banner honours these magnificent creatures of the past, present and future.
Features Cree syllabics for ᐸᐢᒁᐏᒧᐢᑐᐢ ᐦpaskwâwimostos” (bison).
Nipin
This banner design features beautiful summer medicines from the land, including wild rose, rough fescue and Saskatoon berries.
The wild rose and rose hips represent reciprocity for me. The plant was use to help European settlers suffering from scurvy due to a lack of vitamin C, showing an early exchange of knowledge between settlers and Indigenous medicine knowledge holders, while also demonstrating the abundance of medicine that Mother Earth has for us.
Rough fescue, Alberta’s provincial grass, is an important food source for our animal relatives. Saskatoon berries have long been gathered by Indigenous communities and continue to be enjoyed by many people in Calgary today.
Sikwan
This banner is an ode to spring medicines. This piece features the beautiful crocus, the first flower to bloom in the spring. In the Cree creation story, the Creator gave the crocus its fur coat to keep it warm, its purple colour to represent the mountains surrounding this territory, and its yellow middle to represent the return of the sun.
Roots appear in the design to represent how many spring plants store energy underground before pushing through the soil. Pussy willow is also included, a plant used as a medicine to help treat pain, inflammation and fevers.
The stars above and below represent how the Cree people believe Star Woman brought many of these medicines from the Star World to plant on Mother Earth to protect and look after humans.
About the Artist
Mackenzie Brown is a First Nations Cree woman from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, currently residing in Mohkinsstsis (Calgary). A dynamic and award-winning performer, drummer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate, Mackenzie has dedicated her life to creating meaningful connections through her art, culture and community work. She is the co-founding member of Warrior Women, a performance duo with her mother that drums and teaches internationally, sharing their knowledge with schools, festivals, organizations and communities across the globe.
In addition to performing, Mackenzie is a prolific multidisciplinary artist known for her vibrant acrylic paintings, beadwork, leatherwork and large-scale murals. Her art reflects her Cree heritage, with a focus on the relationship between the land, animals and Indigenous identity in a contemporary context. Mackenzie’s work has been featured in several galleries, including the Werklund Centre, ATB Arts Branch, cSpace, Pump House Gallery, Edson Gallery Museum and Gray Gallery at Grant MacEwan University. Her murals can be found across Canada, including Edmonton, Calgary, Guelph and Jasper National Park.
She was a featured artist at MASA, one of Africa’s largest performing arts festival, where she represented Indigenous art in collaboration with the Ministry of Global Affairs Canada. She has also worked with organizations such as Starbucks, Co-operators Insurance, New Horizon Coop Grocery, Sysco and Parks Canada.
Over the years, Mackenzie has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the arts and Indigenous communities. These include the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Award (2017), the Esquao Award for Children’s Future (2019), Indigenous Woman of the Year from the Alberta Assembly of First Nations (2019), Top 30 under 30 from the Alberta Corporation for Global Cooperation (2020) and the Distinguished Alumni Award from MacEwan University (2022). In 2024, she received the Calgary Mayor’s Arts Award for Indigenous Artists and was named to Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.
Mackenzie’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in her cultural teachings and the guidance of âtayôhkan (spirit guides). Her paintings, often characterized by movement and vibrant colours, evoke a sense of connection to Mother Earth and the spirit of the land. She draws inspiration from the landscapes around her, reflecting her beliefs in the healing power of art and its ability to bring forgotten stories and languages back to life. Through her work, Mackenzie aims to inspire emotion, remembrance and a deeper understanding of the relationship between all living beings and the land.
The Centre City Banner Program:
The Centre City Banner Program engages local artists to create artwork for banners displayed on light poles and bridges leading into the city’s core, acting as gateways to Calgary’s downtown and cultural district.
Learn more about the program here.