Nature at the heart of new exhibits at SAAG

By Lethbridge Herald on August 9, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two new interactive exhibits at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) are bound to unleash your inner voyager and take you on a journey through forests and rivers of both southern Alberta and British Columbia.

“Forest Documents” by Leila Sujir is a multimedia exhibit that combines both her research elements and video in both 2D and 3D, which creates an immersive experience in exploring the effects of colonialism and other environmental issues to the Walbran Forest on Vancouver Island.

Sujir says the video was done over a nine-year period and she wants people to experience being in the forest while being able to explore research and learn about the forest.

“It’s like stepping into an old growth forest and having that experience of it and then the reading room allows you to explore research of it.”

Some of the works include works from an Indigenous elder and how sacred the land is to their culture.

Sujir adds that even while on the Prairies far away from the forest, deforestation effects everyone.

“Deforestation has a severe impact on climate change and I think climate change all over the world is becoming acknowledged as a huge, huge danger.”

The second exhibit, titled “Something Given,” reflects on Namaakii Bear Hat’s experiences growing up and life lessons she was taught.

Part of the Siksika and Bear River First Nations, she was taught from an early age how important connection to the land is for Indigenous people.

“As a kid, my dad would always take us to the river, we were always out on land and that was the way that he taught our culture was that connection and how important that connection was.”

While Siksika is part of Blackfoot Territory, Bear Hat explains that it’s a different part to the Kainai Nation and to pay respect to that all of the materials used in her exhibit are from here in Sikoohlotoki. In previous displays her work reflected materials found in those Nations as well.

She says being able to share experiences on the land is what true reconciliation is about.

“Our traditions and our culture can be simply experienced by being out on the land, being out by the river.”

Both exhibits will open today with tours from the artists beginning at 2 p.m. and an opening reception beginning at 7 p.m. along with programing happening throughout the duration of the exhibits. Both exhibits will be on display until Oct. 18.