Alan Syliboy

Early Life

Alan Syliboy was born and raised on Millbrook First Nation, a Mi'kmaw community within the town of Truro, Nova Scotia. (See also First Nations in Nova Scotia.) He found school unsatisfying and sought refuge and acceptance among the other children through drawing. Around 1970, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) artist and activist Shirley Bear was travelling among Indigenous communities, seeking young people with artistic talent. She was directed to Syliboy. Bear became his mentor, and he completed a three-month art program with her and other aspiring artists in Salem, New Hampshire.

Beyond art technique, Syliboy learned more about his Mi'kmaw culture. He became fascinated with the ancient rock etchings of Mi'kmaw petroglyphs. Syliboy was a regular visitor to the petroglyphs at the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, a two-hour drive from Truro. He studied the over 500 engravings and learned of the similarities and differences between Mi’kmaw petroglyphs and those of other Indigenous nations. This made him more aware of the diversity in art and cultural traditions within and between them. Syliboy’s growing knowledge of Indigenous cultures and flourishing ability as a painter increased his self-confidence.

Bear encouraged Syliboy to further develop his talent, and so he enrolled in the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University in Halifax. He studied there for a year and a half. Beyond classes, he interviewed students from countries around the world and sought to understand their cultural traditions.

Visual Art

Alan Syliboy’s art brought the designs that were at the heart of Mi’kmaw culture to the mainstream. The simplicity of the lines, vibrance of the colours, and the themes they addressed all reinforced the fact that Indigenous art is not generic, as Syliboy had once thought. His paintings demonstrated that there is something to be expressed and celebrated in the diversity of Indigenous cultures.

Further, as he learned with his mentor, Shirley Bear, Syliboy saw art as a vehicle through which he could traverse his personal journey. He said, “Most of my subjects deal with family, searching, struggle, and strength. All these things are part of my art, and my art gives me strength for my continuing spiritual quest." His work Grandfather and Grandmother represents Syliboy’s melding of Mi’kmaw culture and his search for family. This series of colourful serigraph prints depicts constellation-filled night skies.

His art has been enjoyed in galleries throughout Canada. However, Syliboy wanted to reach those Mi’kmaw people who did not have access to national museums and galleries. He tried to find other ways to use his art to bring Mi’kmaw designs and culture to others. One of those ways was the creation of T-shirts, which he began selling in his community and, eventually, across the country. His mural, 3D Butterfly (2013) was another attempt to bring Mi’kmaw culture to the public. This mural, measuring 4.5 m wide by 4.5 m high can be seen in the main lobby of the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

In 1999, Syliboy was commissioned to create the image for the Royal Canadian Mint’s butterfly gold coin. It was a limited-edition piece and quickly sold out. He has travelled extensively, taking his art to Germany and several times to France. As part of a Canadian External Affairs trade mission, he took his art to Japan. In 2002, Syliboy was presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. In 2010, he was afforded the honour of presenting Queen Elizabeth II with a portrait of Grand Chief Membertou, as part of her visit to Halifax.

Books and Film

Alan Syliboy was asked to be the featured artist and Indigenous consultant for the 2003 CBC Television production of Drum! His art was also featured in the CBC-TV animated special entitled Muiniskw. In 2007, Syliboy provided original ink drawings for The Stone Canoe: Two Lost Mi’kmaq Texts. The book contains two stories by Mi'kmaw storytellers from the 19th century. Poet and essayist Peter Sanger provides commentary on the stories. The book led to the 2009 creation of the animated short for the National Film Board entitled Vistas: Little Thunder, in which Syliboy’s art was prominently featured.

In 2018, Syliboy presented a mixed-media exhibit inspired by the Mi’kmaw legend of Thunder teaching his son, Little Thunder, that he must accept his responsibilities. Expanding on the exhibit, he illustrated and wrote the book The Thundermaker, in both English and Mi'kmaq. The bestselling book was shortlisted for First Nations Reads. It was followed the next year by Wolverine and Little Thunder, which Syliboy also wrote and illustrated. It tells of the adventures of two friends with a giant river eel.

Syliboy wrote and illustrated a delightful board book entitled Mi'kmaw Waisisk/M'kmaw Animals in 2018. Colourful pictures are matched with the English and the Mi'kmaq words for moose, whale, caribou and more. He followed that success in 2020 with Mi'kmaw Daily Drum: Mi'kmaw Culture for Every Day of the Week. It is another board book, with each page showing one of seven of the colourful drums that were part of a larger and popular series of paintings.

In 2023, Syliboy released a children’s book entitled When the Owl Calls Your Name. The book originated as a spoken word song Syliboy has performed with his band called The Owl Song. When the Owl Calls Your Name shares a Mi’kmaw understanding of death that considers it a part of nature. Syliboy has stated he believes seeing death as a natural process can reduce fear people may feel towards it. The book was released in both English and Mi’kmaw.

Music

Alan Syliboy is the percussionist in Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers. The group has performed at a number of festivals. Their show includes spoken word stories and poems, and a multimedia art film along with the live performance of new and traditional songs. Syliboy sees his music as an art project and part of his exploration and celebration of Mi’kmaw culture. In 2021, his music was afforded a wide audience in a concert series called the Fusion Sessions, involving various artists and put on by Symphony Nova Scotia.