It all started with a dream.
“I always wanted to do something for my people and to tell you the truth, I got the idea in a dream, which is a very native way to be shown your path,” explained Diana Frost, author of Colouring It Forward: Discover Blackfoot Nation art and wisdom.
“This book is about telling the good story and leveling out the bad because there are so many bad stories about missing and murdered aboriginal women and with the residential schools, so with this I am hoping it will be a really great message.”
Frost, an aboriginal-Metis originally from Quebec, launched the book mid-November and was invited to Cochrane to attend an IDEAS group hosted at the King Solomon Lodge Friday.
The newly published author explained one of her friends who lives in Cochrane put her in touch with a member from the group, where she had a “wonderful evening … (sharing) thoughts and sometimes traditions on the theme of light.”
“This feels good. I am an engineer by trade so I am really out of my depth but I love art and love literature so this kind of makes sense,” Frost said.
While this is not the first aboriginal colouring book in Canada – last year in Winnipeg, the Children of the Earth and visual art students created an adult colouring book – this is the first book of its kind to tell stories while giving people the chance to embrace their inner artist.
Frost worked with two Blackfoot Nation artists, Kalum Teke Dan and Ryan Jason Allen Willert, while also collaborating with Elder Camille Pablo Russell to ensure the book’s authenticity.
While the storytelling aspect of the book was important to Frost, she also wanted to use the book for good. She will be giving a portion of the sale proceeds to contributing artists, elders who shared wisdom and to First Nation projects.
“Colouring books are popular right now, so I think the little introduction and tidbits I have in there with Blackfoot culture will make its way into the mainstream. It’ll help people understand native peoples a little bit more,” Frost said.
Since its launch, Colouring It Forward is available in Chapters and bookstores in Cochrane, Canmore, Banff and Red Deer.
“It is exploding,” Frost said with a humble smile.
“They all say it is beautiful which is what I wanted – I wanted something beautiful and something that they could learn something a bit about from the Nation and have a chance to give back.”
Frost said she is already planning her next book and wants to team up with artists from Tsuu T’ina and Stoney Nation, including Morley artist Roland Rollinmud.
Frost will be at the Cochrane Library on Dec. 9 for a book signing starting at 6:30 p.m.
For more information about the book or how to collaborate, go to the website at colouringitforward.com or the official Facebook page at “Colouring It Forward.”
