The Ancestors Are Talking – Paintings by the Indigenous Seven

May 28

Daphne Odjig

The Whyte, Banff, Alberta
May 2 to October 19, 2025

Curated by Indigenous Group of Seven artist, Joseph M. Sanchez, alongside The Whyte’s curators Dawn Saunders Dahl and Christina Cuthbertson

Four works by Daphne Odjig (An Ancient Setting, 1988, Communing with the Elements, c. 1985, Majestic and Proud, c. 1987-1992, and Grandpa Jonas & I, 1981) are on loan to The Whyte for inclusion in the exhibition The Ancestors Are Talking – Paintings by the Indigenous Seven, running from May 2 to October 19, 2025. Curated by acclaimed artist and the last living member of the Indigenous Group of Seven, Joseph M. Sánchez, alongside The Whyte's curators Dawn Saunders Dahl and Christina Cuthbertson, this exhibition celebrates the groundbreaking artwork of the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI), colloquially known as the Indigenous Group of Seven.

This highly anticipated exhibition features iconic works by all members the Indigenous Group of Seven: Daphne Odjig (1919–2016), Alex Janvier (1935–2024), Norval Morrisseau (1932–2007), Carl Ray (1943–1978), Jackson Beardy (1944–1984), Eddy Cobiness (1933–1996), 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.

Notable highlights include:

Paintings that have rarely been seen by the public.

Works that reflect the artists’ collective vision and individual expressions, ranging from abstract interpretations of legends to vivid portrayals of ceremony and the natural world.