The Sense of Art: A First Nations View

Abstract

This article explores the role of the arts in whole and healthy development for Aboriginal people. It presents a concept, "the sense of art," as an important aspect of our experience, a sense that can help us to survive and thrive. It proposes that our sense of art is experienced and expressed in “qualities" in our daily life, as well as in our art forms, which give us a feeling of coherence and beauty. An example of the application of these concepts is presented through a description of a pedagogical approach in the Professional Development Teacher Education Program at Simon Fraser University's Kamloops, British Columbia, community-based site.