Speplól Tanya Zilinski
Speplól Tanya Zilinski
Speplól Tanya Zilinski
Anishinaabe, Manitoba
Speplól TANYA ZILINSKI BIOGRAPHY
Tanya is a person, who is a visual artist, Halq'eméylem teacher and matriarch of their family. They are a member of The Red River Nation in Manitoba with maternal family and ancestral ties to Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Huron-Wendat Nations throughout Turtle Island's Plains and Great Lakes Regions and is Ukrainian Paternally. Maternal family names are, Chartrand (double), Lagimodière (double) and Cadotte. One of their traditional names is Speplól, which means Little Crow and was a name given to them at the age of fourteen.
They were born on and grew up on the stolen lands of the Chowethel People, Ts'qó:ls, which is the Halq'eméylem name for what is known to settlers today as “Hope, B.C”. Their medium is traditional Indigenous loom beadwork and the retelling of oral stories and teachings through patterns laid out on beadwork tapestries. They were taught to loom bead at 15 years old by a Stó:lō Elder in their community at Chawathil First Nation. Speplól has developed methods and techniques through experimentation for creating large loom beaded tapestries made from tiny glass seed beads.
Artist Statement
Exploration of cultural identity. This is how my voyage with loom beading tapestries emerged. Colour, materials and textures are guided by spirit; my hands flow with direction of that which cannot be seen but is there in celestial essence and in my reality.
I use traditional loom beadwork for the purpose of passing on cultural knowledge, language, oral stories, for a spiritual connection to my Ancestors and as a daily tincture to cure the body and mind. I have developed my own methods and techniques through experimentation for creating large loom beaded tapestries that unite two cultures, complimenting one another, for the next seven generations and beyond of community and family. I am at oneness while I am creating, and this process has gifted me a new perspective on life.
It is with great gratitude I acknowledge this canoe journey has guided me to a good place and the Ancestors will continue paddling alongside me to help me navigate through the waters.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
- S'íwes te Tém:éxw (Teachings of the Earth) upcoming Manitoba Arts Network Touring exhibition Sept. 2026 – Dec. 2027
- Transcendence upcoming Canadian Pacific Gallery Port Moody BC Sept 10 – Oct 5, 2026
- A Fusion of Traditions upcoming at Prairie Fusion Gallery, Manitoba Aug 4, 2026 – Sept 10, 2026
- Transcendence upcoming at The Gallery of ST. Albert Alberta June 4, 2026 – July 18, 2026
- Transcendence upcoming at Gallert@501, Strathcona County, Alberta March 10, 2026 – April 25, 2026
- Evolution of Beadwork at Odlum Brown Gallery Chilliwack, BC December 10, 2025 – Jan 17, 2026
- Transcendence at Ranger Station Gallery Harrison Hot Springs, BC Oct 4 – Oct 26, 2025
- A Fusion of Traditions at Dal Schindell Gallery Vancouver Sept 17, 2025 – Oct 29, 2025
- Transcendence at The Gallery at Queens Park New West, BC Sept 3, 2025 – Sept 27, 2025
- Spirit Maps at VIVA Alliance Vancouver, BC July 18 – August 5, 2025
- Transcendence at The Alternator Center of Contemporary Art Kelowna, BC May 30, 2025 –July 11, 2025
- A Fusion of Traditions at the Art Gallery of St. Albert, Alberta April 29, 2025 - July 26, 2025
- A Fusion of Traditions at Massy Art Gallery Vancouver June 5, 2024 – Aug 8, 2024
- O:xwest kw’e Shxweli la ye Mestiyexw, The Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, BC Sept 2022 to January 2023.
- S’iwes te Siyelyolexwalh, The Ranger Station Gallery, Harrison Hot Springs, BC From April 2022 to May 2022
Group exhibitions
- CICA Vancouver International Emerging to Mid-career Art Awards Sept 11 – Oct 4, 2025
- On Origin Stories VIVA Alliance at Roundhouse Gallery Vancouver, BC Sept 3 – Sept 10, 2026
- A Celebration of Indigenous Artistry, Amelia Douglas Gallery, New West Sept 17, 2024 - Nov 1, 2024
- A Canoe is an Island, Gachet Gallery Vancouver Feb 2, 2024 - March 22, 2024
- Our Home on Native Land, CityScape Gallery, North Van from Sept 2023 to Nov 2023
- Bead by Bead at Meteque Atelier D’Art, Montreal, Quebec from November 2020 to Jan 2021
Grants Awarded and recognition
- CICA Vancouver Emerging to Mid-career artist awards shortlisted artist November 2025
- Canada Council for the Arts, Research and Creation grant for loom beaded tapestries November 2025
- Canada Council for the Arts, Research and Creation grant for loom beaded Hustka/Kookum scarves June 2025
- Canada Council for the Arts, Research and Creation grant for “Transcendence” series February 2025
- Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Across Canada Touring and Circulation for, “A Fusion of Traditions” October 2024
Public Art-
- Commission for seven loom beaded tapestry artworks. Seabird Island Band cultural center. November 2022
- Commission for loom beaded tapestry. Ground Wood Books, My Name is Seepeetza 30th Anniversary Edition book cover. December 2021
Singing performances-
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at UFV incoming President’s Installation ceremony Oct. 24, 2025
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at Chilliwack Cultural Centre Truth and Reconciliation event Sept 29, 2025
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at Controlled Chaos Music Festival Chilliwack, BC July 5, 2025
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at Coquihalla Elementary, BC June 20, 2025
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) SD33 Indigenous Education awards, BC May 17, 2025
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) Skwa First Nation, BC March 18, 2025
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) Step in the Right Direction production Nov. 29, 2024
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at GW Graham Secondary, BC Sept. 25, 2024
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at Maple Ridge, BC GETIFest on Sept. 21, 2024
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at Kent Elementary School Agassiz, BC June 18, 2024
- Artist Response Team, Ey St’elmexw St’elt’ilem (Good Medicine Songs) at Abbotsford, BC June 15 and 16, 2024.
Teaching experience
- Halq’emeylem language teacher for School District 78 Fraser Cascade 2022-present
- Indigenous Education Cultural worker for School District 78 Fraser Cascade 2018-present
Artist Talks
- VIVA Alliance Medias Res Gallery July 2025
Commissions...
- Commission for seven loom beaded tapestry artworks. Seabird Island Band cultural center. November 2022
- Commission for loom beaded tapestry. Ground Wood Books, My Name is Seepeetza 30th Anniversary Edition book cover. December 2021
Buy their work...
Please visit Little Crow Beading and Dreamcatchers on IndigenARTSY to purchase Tanya's work, or contact them for any inquiries.
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