YYC Feature: Colouring It Forward
Diana Frost provides a platform for Indigenous art & storytelling: ‘It’s more than a colouring book’
As an Algonquin Métis, Diana Frost wanted to help share Indigenous spirituality and values through art! She started Colouring it Forward to give people the opportunity to discover Canadian Indigenous artists, and learn about stories and legends of Indigenous peoples. Her colouring books, cards and calendars are filled with gorgeous, authentic Native Canadian art. As an artist herself, Diana believes that through art & storytelling, we can learn to connect and appreciate one another, and that this is one of the first steps towards reconciliation. When you buy a Colouring it Forward product, you’re supporting Indigenous artisans and elders who receive royalties for their work. We also love that Diana also gives back by donating a portion of sale proceeds to grassroots Indigenous projects led by Indigenous people! For example, her red shirts support Stardale Women’s Group, an organization that provides life skills, literacy and advocacy to Indigenous girls living in poverty.
Diana has always been a change-maker. Before starting Colouring It Forward, she worked as an engineer overseas with the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST), where she helped to improve water and sanitation systems for villages in Colombia, Peru, China, and Rwanda. During this time, she became more educated about the poor water quality on some Canadian Indigenous reserves, and started Colouring It Forward to connect to her roots and advocate for change. Diana’s objective was to create ‘a gathering place for people to share their own stories and their art, and to build a community.’ She’s certainly succeeded, and it is, without a doubt, inspiring to learn from someone who adds so much colour to the world.
Congratulations on all your success, you certainly keep busy-- you're an engineer, an artist, a musician and the creator of Colouring it Forward! Some people might think that we're born with either an 'engineers' brain' and an 'artists brain', but clearly you've tapped into both. Does your artist background in any way help you as an engineer and vice versa?
Yes, I believe that being an artist and a musician gives me other perspectives on things than only the engineer's perspective. It also means that I have two more ways that I can connect with people which means that I can communicate better with them. My previous colleagues liked that I had other topics of conversation than just the projects we were working on. It meant that the team was more cohesive.
You are an Algonquin Métis but you mention in a video on your YouTube page that you were not always in touch with your indigenous roots. Was there a specific moment or experience you had that made you realized you wanted to reconnect with them?
From the moment that my mother told me that we had Indigenous heritage I was excited and wanted to learn and reconnect. I took classes in CEGEP on Indigenous culture and history. It wasn't until I arrived in Alberta though that I really started making friends with Indigenous people and to learn Indigenous ways.
In what ways has Colouring it Forward reconnected you to these roots?
Working on the colouring books with 4 elders and 8 artists means that I got to know them a little and over time some of them shared their stories with me. This was more powerful than spending a year studying books and watching videos. Their friendship has meant a great deal to me because I felt accepted by them even though we are of different heritage. It made me live the concept that we are all related. By learning some of the elders teachings, I learned about what their important values are and some ways that those are applied in daily life. I think this is one of the most important things we can learn from Indigenous people - how to live better in community and in harmony with Mother Earth and with ourselves.
“I think when a person creates a piece of artwork, it is something that comes from inside you so it represents your inner being and you feel automatically connected to it. This can create an immediate common link between the Indigenous artist who created the piece and the person who coloured it.”
You have a Facebook page where people can share the art they have created from your books, which is an awesome idea. Why do you think it is that creating and sharing art is so impactful?
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so you are saying a lot about you and your view of the world when you make art. I think when a person creates a piece of artwork, it is something that comes from inside you so it represents your inner being and you feel automatically connected to it. This can create an immediate common link between the Indigenous artist who created the piece and the person who coloured it. The artists love seeing their work in a different colour scheme or light - it is like a collaboration.
Colouring it Forward includes your business Colouring it Forward Inc. but also a non-profit organization called CIF Reconciliation Society! One of called CIF Reconciliation Society's main objectives is to promote healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. If non-Indigenous people want to educate themselves and get involved, what is the best way for them to do so? What would you want them to know?
That is a big question. There are so many ways for non-Indigenous people to educate themselves and get involved that it is difficult to really include all of them here. I would recommend that you visit a webpage that lists 150 Acts of Reconciliation (http://activehistory.ca/2017/08/150-acts-of-reconciliation-for-the-last-150-days-of-canadas-150/) that was compiled by Sara Komarnisky and Crystal Fraser. This list includes a wide diversity of actions you can take to help you learn and foster positive relationships with Indigenous people. It includes recommendations for books, podcasts, events, etc so something for all comfort levels. If they are at the beginning of their learning journey, they can start by watching the CBC's Eighth Fire series or visit a pow wow or join a round dance. Contact your local Native Friendship Centre and participate in some of the activities. I would want them to know that we are glad that they are interested in learning and participating and most people will be glad to help. Apathy is the worst reaction. We need change.
You worked as an engineer overseas to improve water and sanitation systems for villages and small cities. What did this experience teach you about how create lasting social change? Has it guided your advocacy approach for improving poor quality of water on some Canadian Indigenous reserves?
The only enduring change is the one that we make for ourselves and that we care about. All the sustainable change that I have seen comes from social engineering not technical engineering. The best results I had from my work were from sharing information with people and building friendships based on trust so that they would ask questions and have discussions. I have not worked on Indigenous reserves so it is impossible for me to comment on the particular situation there. However I have seen firsthand in many communities overseas that when the family is given the knowledge of how to treat their own water and they know how this will affect their children's health, this leads to much better water quality for that family.
What would you say in the greatest challenge or obstacle that you've had to overcome thus far in your entrepreneurial journey? Do you have a 'favourite failure'?
One of the greatest challenges I had was lack of financial startup funding. When I was laid off from my engineering job, I applied for EI but I was denied it because I was truthful and told them I had started a small business. I also denied access to government funded entrepreneur programming because I needed to first be receiving EI. The other great challenge I had was finding artists and elders. Once I had met one or two of them though they helped me to find more.
What is your hope for Colouring it Forward over the next 5 years?
Over the next 5 years I hope to distribute my books, and other products all over North America and to start an artisan cooperative to help more artists and elders to share their work more widely.
What is a valuable piece of wisdom that has helped get you where you are today?
The most valuable piece of wisdom that has helped me has to become clear on why I am doing this. I am not doing it for the money. For most people that will not be enough to carry you through the tough times. Be focussed on providing some value to others and you will succeed.
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