Janice Iniskim-Aki Tanton
Janice Tanton is an interdisciplinary artist, working for over 24 years to create works that resonate widely. An Alumna of Distinction (Creative Arts & Design) from Durham College, also studying at the University of Windsor BFA (Acting), Janice continued her interest in the arts, working professionally in theatre, film, music, vocal performance and graphic design, culminating in the launch of her own art, publishing and design company in 1989.
She quickly developed a wide network for her art throughout North America, securing major corporate accounts and licensing opportunities while operating two commercial galleries and a design/fine art studio. Her entrepreneurial success led to an invitation as a delegate to the first Businesswomen’s Summit between Canada and the U.S. as well as a nomination for the Rotman Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Janice’s work resides in numerous corporate and private collections across the globe.
In 2005, Janice moved with her family to Treaty 7 Territory (Canmore, Alberta) where she accepted a position to serve as Program Manager for Aboriginal Leadership at The Banff Centre. Setting aside a successful art career to devote time to her young family and her new role, Janice discovered artistic inspiration and support through close relationships with faculty and participants from Aboriginal communities from across Canada and Australia. She is greatly honoured to have been adopted as the daughter of Elder Tom Crane Bear of the Siksika Nation (NAAF Culture and Spirituality Award Recipient), initiated into the pow wow dance circle, is a tipi owner, has been given the Blackfoot name Iniskim-Aki (Buffalo Stone Woman). Curious as to how to reconcile the wide spectrum of diversity within her communities and families, Janice began to work in a new vein of artistic exploration. Focusing upon these cross-cultural relationships through painting, film and a melding of performance arts practices, she launched the Community Fusion Project with the support of a grant award from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Janice retired from her role in Aboriginal Leadership at The Banff Centre at the end of 2010 to devote her time solely to her art studio and project work. She continues her strong relationships with aboriginal communities and leaders across Canada with the focus of her work centered upon artfully discovering the colourful contemporary threads of commonality woven within the remarkable diversity of our species. Janice’s breaks new ground by exploring the intersection of collaborative cross-cultural arts practices to strengthen relationships through practice in the arts.
