A new exhibit at Calgary's Inglewood Bird Sanctuary shines a light on the art of Indigenous women.

A new indigenous art exhibit opened Monday at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

works of three indigenous women artists are displayed in the exhibition The Divine Feminine.

This is the latest in a series of year-long rotating art exhibitions celebrating the connection of First Nations artists to the land that call their city home. Earth is motherland.

It is meant to remind Calgarians that Indigenous peoples were the original stewards of the land and many of the lands we now use as parks.

One of the featured artists is Haili Heavy Shield.

“I think artwork is a really good way to bring people together and talk about bird sanctuaries and our environment and raise awareness about the benefits of the city,” Orar Kalkan told CTV News.

The heavy shield has three pieces on display, including one of a buffalo.

“Recently, a buffalo was brought to the blood reserve in the northern suburbs,” he said. “This is where my mother was raised as a child, and I think it's really important to think about how important they are to our ecosystem and how powerful they are and traditionally used in so many ceremonies and rituals. .”

The heavy shield has three pieces on display, including one of a buffalo.

The exhibition is doubly important for Heavyshield.

“It's so important to have indigenous voices in the city. Art has its own language. I'm proud to have my art at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I'm very proud and very honored, especially because my niece, Zoe Buckskin, is also in the exhibit.

“His job is here, so being here and celebrating is really a family event.

“I think the city has made a really big effort to include Indigenous artists around the city in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The exhibition will last 11 weeks. Admission to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is free.