BANFF.- The Whyte is proud to present The Ancestors Are Talking: Paintings by the Indigenous Seven, a landmark exhibition currently on view through October 19, 2025. The exhibition celebrates the groundbreaking artwork of the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI), colloquially known as the Indigenous Group of Seven. Members included Jackson Beardy (1944–1984), Eddy Cobiness (1933–1996), Alex Janvier (1935–2024), Norval Morrisseau (1932–2007), Daphne Odjig (1919–2016), Carl Ray (1943– 1978), and Joseph M. Sánchez (b. 1948). These visionary artists broke barriers in Canadian art history, resisting systemic exclusion and redefining Indigenous art within Canada and beyond. The exhibition emphasizes the revolutionary vision, style, and colour palette that continue to inspire generations of contemporary Indigenous artists.
The presentation features 77 works including paintings, watercolors, drawings, and works on paper and is curated by acclaimed artist and the last living member of the Indigenous Group of Seven, Joseph M. Sánchez, alongside The Whyte's Curator of Indigenous Initiatives, Dawn Saunders Dahl and Christina Cuthbertson, Director of Curatorial Initiatives. “The Ancestors Are Talking highlights the artistic progression of each member, exploring key developments in their careers, from early sketches to masterworks and public art commissions,” explains Sánchez. An exhibition publication will be published by fall 2026.
The exhibition offers a journey through decades of the artists’ creative evolution, featuring pieces inspired by the mountains of Jasper, the Boreal Forest, and images of strength, family, resistance, nature, and ceremony. Imagination and abstraction are shared ideas in the practices of the artists who changed the canon of art in Canada. Art colour, culture, and spirituality filled the group’s early conversations followed by decades of artmaking and activism. They created art to “awaken a troubled world” said Sánchez and built a foundation for those who followed in their footsteps. “The Whyte is honoured to collaborate with Joseph on this powerful exhibition, showcasing the incredible talents of these artists and preserving their legacies to inspire future generations of Indigenous creators,” said Saunders Dahl.
Norval Morrisseau, Woman and Child Looking at the Mountains, 1985, acrylic on canvas, 122 cm x 91 cm. Photo copyright EA Studios (Jasper), Ltd, 2025.
The exhibition showcases paintings by the artists that have rarely been seen by the public. The exhibition also pays tribute to the pivotal contributions of PNIAI, its nurturing of kinship, and activism. As Sánchez eloquently stated, “This art is revolutionary and remains deeply relevant to the history of Canadian art. These works not only reflect the past but continue to resonate with the present and inspire future art practices.”
Indigenous Mentorship Program
The exhibition also lays the groundwork for The Whyte’s Indigenous Mentorship Program, led by Joseph Sánchez and curator Dawn Saunders Dahl. Seventeen local Indigenous artists have been invited to create new works inspired by The Ancestors Are Talking. In this program, artists have an unprecedented opportunity to work directly with Sánchez to further develop their practices. The artists are encouraged to research historic works and material culture in The Whyte’s collection while exploring personal narrative, traditional storytelling, and various artistic mediums and styles. This program honours the original intention of the Indigenous Group of Seven—to amplify the voices of Indigenous artists. Artworks created through this program will be exhibited at The Whyte in 2026.
Daphne Odjig, An Ancient Setting, 1988, acrylic on canvas, H 71 cm x W 91.5 cm Collection of the Kamloops Art Gallery, gift of Stan Somerville. Photo: Cory Hope.
Continued Commitment to Reconciliation
The Whyte is uniquely positioned to host this exhibition, with its commitment to preserving art and heritage in the Canadian Rockies. The Museum holds the largest art collection dedicated to the region, encompassing over 10,000 pieces from the early 1800s to the present day. The Ancestors Are Talking is one of many reconciliation efforts developed and implemented by The Whyte. Museum founders Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte deeply valued their relationships with Indigenous communities, recognizing the importance of preserving and sharing their cultural knowledge and heritage. This exhibition is a continued effort to share and preserve the rich cultural history of Indigenous art and identity, and to strengthen cross-cultural relationships. The Whyte is proud to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Indigenous Group of Seven—a collective whose artistry, advocacy, and innovations continue to shape the cultural and artistic landscapes of Canada and the world.
Support for the exhibition, programs, and publication have been provided by The Norval Morrisseau Estate, The Rimrock Banff, and EA Studios (Jasper) Ltd.
The Whyte is a cultural hub in the heart of the Canadian Rockies established in 1968 by local artists and philanthropists Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte. The Whytes envisioned a dynamic gathering place for visitors to engage with the evolving history, peoples, cultures, the natural environment, and ideas of mountain cultures and experience new ways to look at the world and to consider their place in it.
The Whyte is committed to representing and respecting the traditional values of Indigenous peoples; providing opportunities to connect to nature through history, art, and meaningful conversations and serving as a collaborative leader in its diverse community. Through its exhibitions, programming, publications, Digital Library, and expansive Archives and Special Collections, the Whyte Museum seeks to make the human and natural history of the Canadian Rocky Mountains accessible to and resonate with a multiplicity of audiences.
We acknowledge that we are on territory known as Treaty 7, which is a treaty signed on behalf of Queen Victoria in 1877, with the the Iyârhe (Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney), Blackfoot Confederacy (Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika), and Tsuut'ina Nations.
Programming is made possible through generous support from the Museum’s members, donors, and sponsors.
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