September 19, 1996 For Immediate Release

In the same way that petroglyphs on rock have become symbols in many cultures, Gyetim Gans (the Gitxsan name for faces carved in trees) are symbols of northern BC First Nations. A University of Northem British Columbia masters student will be presenting a thesis project titled Gyetim Gan: Faces in the Forest this weekend (September 22).

Michael Blackstock's research examines tree carvings and paintings as markers of local First Nations history and culture. "Tree art is a mystery to most people, even though it has existed for centuries," says Mr Blackstock, who is Gitxsan and is an accomplished northern BC artist. "Explorers, ethnographers, archaeologists, and forestry professionals have traversed a landscape where tree art was unimagined, and consequently it remains unseen. On the other hand, some First Nations elders are keenly aware of tree art and its meaning."

In the thesis project, Mr Blackstock calls upon Gitxsan, Tsimshian, and Carrier elders to provide cultural and historical context. "Something stirred in me the moment I saw my first Gyetim Gan," says Mr Blackstock, who has a bachelors degree in Forestry from The University of British Columbia. "I learned that the aesthetic beauty and spiritual power of tree art is greatly enhanced by the forest context."

Michael Blackstock will be defending his thesis for a masters degree in First Nations Studies in Kispiox on Sunday, September 22nd. The presentation is open to the public and is scheduled to begin at 11:OO AM in the Kispiox Community Hall.

Kiwako Okuma recently became the first student to obtain a masters degree in UNBC's First Nations Studies program. Her research project on the Nisga'a education system was presented in New Aiyansh.