June 18, 2024 (Victoria, BC) – Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC) Artist in Residence, Indigenous Programming, Dean Heron, continues to channel his lifelong passion of First Nation art into his work with CFBC’s Indigenous programming. Now in his fifth year with the organization, his involvement with several Indigenous-specific programs and workshops has never been higher.
Heron is of Kaska/Tlingit ancestry and a member of the Wolf Clan. Adopted by a Canadian father and Scottish mother, his ancestral heritage was introduced to him through trips to the museum and First Nations galleries in lieu of trips to beaches and parks.
Over time, a passion for art resulted in the development of relationships and rubbing of shoulders with a number of renowned First Nation artists. These relationships would eventually pave the way to the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art and Heron’s introduction, attendance, and eventual employment at the school.
“It wasn’t really until 2005 when I met Dempsey Bob that I decided that I would like to carve,” recalled Heron. “When I met him, he said: ‘You know, we’re opening up a school in Northern BC, and if you want to learn how to carve and make tools, do a proper design and painting, you should come north.’”
Heron has gone on to be mentored by Roy H. Vickers, and assisted Roy in the carving of a totem pole for the community of Owekeeno. Today, his serigraphs, paintings, regalia design work and carvings are featured at the High Commission of Canada in Australia, the University of British Columbia’s Aboriginal Fisheries Centre, the Norwegian Royal Family’s estate, and galleries throughout Canada, the United States, Germany and China. His work was also featured at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and housefronts at the community of Kitselas.
Heron has transferred his past experiences and skill set into his role with CFBC through Indigenous workshops and programs that span across BC, combining both traditional and contemporary approaches to assist and support youth entering the skilled trades.
“Most of my work is actually bringing tools, knowledge and art to—up until now—mainly youth,” added Heron. “Working with different schools around the Peninsula and bringing these aspects into the school—really just celebrating Indigenous knowledge as a whole.”
Heron and the CFBC team are now witnessing first-hand the positive results that can occur with youth and participants of the workshops and programs.
“It’s amazing to have somebody that saw something different in themselves [because of the activities and discussions we had with them],” said Heron. Providing them with the resources that allowed them to actually go out and attain a goal like making money or doing a job in the community, what more can you ask for?”
For more information on National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, please click HERE.
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For more information on the work being done by the Construction Foundation of BC and to donate, please visit cfbc.ca.
