Vancouver 
Events Description
The Ferry Building Gallery is proud to present Tāpis: A Love Letter to Our Dog Kin.
Conceived by Nehiyaw and Michif knowledge keeper, Elder, and multidisciplinary artist Adele ᒪᐢᑿᓱᐤᐃᐢᑵᐤ Arseneau, the exhibition features nine intricately beaded dog blankets, created by Adele ᒪᐢᑿᓱᐤᐃᐢᑵᐤ Arseneau and her students: Dominique Caron, Danielle Courcelles, and Suzan Kostiuk.
This exhibit is a continuation of the journey of reclamation and rebuilding bonds of cultural knowledge. An original reboot of the Tāpis exhibit, it adds three new makers now holding the knowledge of tāpis/tuppies (dog blankets).
When Adele ᒪᐢᑿᓱᐤᐃᐢᑵᐤ asked to be taught this knowledge from her mentor, it was with the intent of restoring important cultural knowledge taken from so many Northern Nations. For this cohort, Adele ᒪᐢᑿᓱᐤᐃᐢᑵᐤ chose makers who exhibited personal and cultural ethics close to her own, along with levels of skill necessary to undertake such a large project. “Each of these blankets takes a minimum of 200 hours (or more) to be brought to completion. It is with great pride to be able to showcase this exhibit. It has been created to show the beauty and celebration of dog regalia as completed by Michif, Dene, and other Nations to celebrate our valued dog kin.”
Originating from the Métis, Northern Cree, and Dene communities, ‘li tāpis’ (small carpet), named by the French Michif and known as ‘tuppies’ by the English and Scottish Michif, are dog blanket regalia created to celebrate dogs. Tāpis are made from wool and embellished with intricate beadwork, silk embroidery, moose or caribou hair tufting, fringed with ribbon or yarn and adorned with bells. Showing respect for sled dogs, tāpis were draped over the backs of dogs.
The blankets served many purposes in the Northern prairies: they were used to keep the dogs warm, to announce the arrival of a dog team into a village, and to identify people at a distance. This highly skilled work was often undertaken by women and was a point of pride. “Dogs are ancestral relatives and integral to our cultural identity. The care for, and kinship with dogs was, and still is, crucial for our survival. They helped us be strong and independent. This sacred relationship was a vital part of how we took care of ourselves and exerted our sovereignty.”
Traditional knowledge about tāpis nearly disappeared over time due to displacement from traditional homelands, the residential school system, and the violence committed against Indigenous dog breeds by the RCMP and Canadian government officials.
Who is it for?
All ages
HOW MUCH
Tickets : Free or by donation
Free or by donation
How to get tickets?
At the door: Free or by donation
WHEN & WHERE
Date: Wednesday September 2, 2026 to Sunday October 4, 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – Sunday, October 4, 2026
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00AM – 5:00PM
Venue & Address
Ferry Building Galery, 1414 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver
Wheelchair accessible
Free Parking
Street Parking
Accessible by Public Transport
