An exhibition at the Wild Bird Trust aims to educate the public on the cultural importance of long hair among Indigenous boys and men.
Boys Who Braid Their Hair features photographs of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) men with their braids, alongside a documentary. The film includes interviews with Elders, men, and boys discussing the spiritual and cultural significance of long hair in Indigenous traditions.
Originally shown for two days at the Polygon Gallery in April, the exhibition has been extended until May 19 at the Wild Bird Trust’s Nature House in North Vancouver’s Maplewood Flats Conservation Area.
Andrea Aleck, the exhibition lead and health and wellness director for Tsleil-Waututh Nation, emphasized the educational goal of the exhibition. “I wanted to provide education through these beautiful images and encourage people to see the beauty of someone else’s culture,” she said.
The exhibition draws inspiration from a movement started by athlete Michael Linklater in 2015. Named Boys with Braids, the campaign was a response to Linklater’s own experiences of being bullied for wearing braids and similar experiences faced by his sons.
In 2022, a hate crime in Saskatoon, where a childcare worker cut the hair of a young Métis boy, further motivated Aleck to share Indigenous teachings and promote change. “That incident shows there is a lot of education needed in institutions and communities. We need to do better across Canada,” Aleck stated.
Aleck highlighted the cultural importance of hair in Indigenous communities, explaining that hair is sacred and typically only cut during mourning. In Tsleil-Waututh Nation culture, children’s first haircuts happen after they turn four.
Long hair also honors ancestors who endured the residential school system, where they were deprived of their culture and identity. “Growing hair long is a way of honoring those ancestors,” Aleck explained.
As the exhibition concludes this weekend, Aleck hopes its message endures. She plans to introduce the project to local schools so children can learn about these important Indigenous teachings early on.
“When people have the chance to learn, there’s less likelihood of bullying or shaming for cultural and spiritual beliefs,” Aleck said. “This is how we empower our young people to connect with their heritage and understand its sacredness.”
