A local author and Algonquin Nation Metis, is blurring the lines between the general public, and positive education about our First Nations art and culture.

Diana Frost has come up with a way to give back to the First Nations community.  Frost is the author of Colouring-It-Forward, a colouring book for adults that features local Blackfoot Tribe artists, and lessons behind the art from the community elders.  Frost tokens the book as a way to educate people in some of the more positive aspects of the First Nations culture. She says it's all about sharing what she has recently learned.

"It's basically about sharing the beauty of the art work and the beauty of the wisdom, just with the more general public."  

Frost finds that most First Nations stories in the media, while needing to be told, focus on the negative impacts to her community, and it's important to her to bring the positive and beautiful parts of her culture to the forefront of First Nations education.  

Frost says she has always been interested in getting in touch with her First Nations side.  She says she was inspired by her mother's story.

"My mom, she was taken away when she was a child, so I never got a chance to meet my Native family." Frost says " So this is my way of kind of getting back in touch with that. I also always like to give back, and that's why the book is called Colouring It Forward."

This is not the only book that Frost has planned, as she will be continuing the series.  Frost says this first book features the Blackfoot Tribe, but the others will be different.

"This one is my first book, it won't be the last one as this is a series.  The first one is dedicated to the Blackfoot people, but the next ones are Northern Dene and Cree Nations, and I'm also going to be one with Tsuu T'ina, and with the Stoney people from Morely.

Frost is holding a book launch this Sun.  from 1-3 P.M. At the Blue Rock Art Gallery in Black Diamond where the contributing artists Kalum Teke Dan, and Ryan Jason Allan Willert will be in attendance.

You can find more information on the books and order, by clicking here.

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