There is a power in seeing yourself represented in public spaces.And it's this representation that Mi'kmaw artist Tracey Metallic aims to create in her entry to the Native Women's Association of Canada project, Change the Bills.The design challenge commissioned 9 artists to reimagine existing bank notes with images of inspirational Indigenous women. For Metallic, her choice of hero was Margaret (Pictou) LaBillois, an accomplished and iconic figure in First Nations history.LaBillois is from the Ugpi'ganjig (Eel River Bar First Nation). During her time with the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII, she mapped the Alaska Highway, a wartime construction project connecting Alaska to the U.S. through Canada. She was also the first woman elected chief in New Brunswick and later a member of the Order of Canada in 1996.""Anybody that had the privilege of meeting her,"" Metallic said, ""she left an impact on that person.""The entry of LaBillois is just one among 9 recognizing ""heroes"" in Indigenous history. First Nations peoples have only been featured on Canadian banknotes just a handful of times. Through this exhibition, the NWAC is honoring the existence of these heroes and showing how much they have given to Canada.While the banknotes exhibition ran until 28 January at The Local Gallery, #InternationalWomensDay offers us the opportunity to remember the inspirational Indigenous women this project is based on. #InternationalWomensDay2023 #WomensDay #Indigenous #FirstNations #IndigenousWomen #IndigenousArt

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There is a power in seeing yourself represented in public spaces.And it's this representation that Mi'kmaw artist Tracey Metallic aims to create in her entry to the Native Women's Association of Canada project, Change the Bills.The design challenge commissioned 9 artists to reimagine existing bank notes with images of inspirational Indigenous women. For Metallic, her choice of hero was Margaret (Pictou) LaBillois, an accomplished and iconic figure in First Nations history.LaBillois is from the Ugpi'ganjig (Eel River Bar First Nation). During her time with the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII, she mapped the Alaska Highway, a wartime construction project connecting Alaska to the U.S. through Canada. She was also the first woman elected chief in New Brunswick and later a member of the Order of Canada in 1996.""Anybody that had the privilege of meeting her,"" Metallic said, ""she left an impact on that person.""The entry of LaBillois is just one among 9 recognizing ""heroes"" in Indigenous history. First Nations peoples have only been featured on Canadian banknotes just a handful of times. Through this exhibition, the NWAC is honoring the existence of these heroes and showing how much they have given to Canada.While the banknotes exhibition ran until 28 January at The Local Gallery, #InternationalWomensDay offers us the opportunity to remember the inspirational Indigenous women this project is based on. #InternationalWomensDay2023 #WomensDay #Indigenous #FirstNations #IndigenousWomen #IndigenousArt