Gallery 120, found in the domestic departures area of Terminal 1, has become home to two hundred and thirty-eight beavers; that is, model Beaver aircrafts. Opened in early June, passengers can find this new art exhibition across from Gate 120 until December 4.

Ottawa artist Frank Shebageget, a member of the Ojibway nation and originally from northern Ontario, has created numerous installations of these basswood models of the deHavilland Beaver float plane at galleries across Canada. Curtain of Beavers was created specifically for Terminal 1.

The Beaver was put into production in 1947, and is still one of Canada’s most successful and long-lived designs. For Shebageget, the plane is both a highly recognizable piece of Canadiana, and also a vital part of Native culture. They continue to provide transportation to and from remote Aboriginal communities, and they symbolize changes in Aboriginal social structure and economics brought on by this connection with outside communities. The installation takes the shape of a curtain, spanning west to east, and symbolizing exploration into the Canadian north.

Frank Shebageget explains that the conceptual background on this installation is a combination of references to Canada’s aviation history, the colonial policies on northern Aboriginal development, and the personal and community narratives from Native communities. This conceptual frameworks speaks to both the historical and contemporary relevance of these planes to both Native and non-Native identity in Canada.

This exhibition is organized by the GTAA, as part of the Planet IndigenUs Festival at Harbourfront Centre. For complete program details, go to:

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/planetindigenus/