Alan Syliboy

Born and to this day living in Millibrook First Nation in Nova Scotia, Alan Syliboy is a Mi’kmaw artist who’s work has been influential throughout Halifax. 1In his youth, Syliboy describes that he had been unsure of his own identity,2 having grappled with the suppression of his native language Mi’kmaw in school through drawing. In 1972 he met Shirley Bear, a Wolastoqi artist and political activist3, who became his mentor. While studying under Bear, Syliboy became more interested in Mi’kmaw culture, being inspired by the Mi’kmaw petroglyphs of the Kejimkujik National Park. Having studied hundreds of petroglyphs from Mi’kmaw as well as many diverse Indigenous cultures, his style continues to be inspired by the timeless rock etchings of the Mi’kmaq.

Portrait of Grand Chief Henri Membertou

This piece depicts Henri Membertou, a Grand Chief of the Mi’kmaq during the 16th century who was known for his efforts to preserve and protect M’ikmaw traditions and how he established long-lasting relationships with the early French settlers.4 Syliboy displays the strong figure of the Grand Chief, the necklace with the cross on his neck a symbol of how Membertou had been baptised to show his respect for the French settlers. In 2010, Syliboy showcased this painting to Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Halifax. The painting remains in the Government House of Nova Scotia as a permanent display. 5

Hand-Painted Drums

This drum is one of many that Syliboy has been painting by hand, The Daily Drum being a project wherein he paints a unique image on a drum nearly every day for the past ten years. 6 The subjects of his paintings and the messages they tell differ, from depictions of mythological figures to bringing awareness to the murdered and missing Indigenous women and much more. This drum depicts the eel, a major element of Mi’kmaw foods and a symbol of respect and status. 7

“The Journey So Far” Exhibition

In May of 2014, the Dalhousie Art Gallery held an exhibition dedicated to Alan Syliboy’s art and his development as an artist over the past 50 years. 8 The exhibit, “The Journey So Far,” showcased the wide range of his work, including drums, paintings, prints, mixed media, videos, and music, as well as letters and correspondence he had with collectors such as Marcia Hennessy. The mural in the exhibit was created by Syliboy, being the largest single project he has created.

Personal Reflection

I found Syliboy’s work and quickly fell in love with the style, and I found his shifting perspective of Indigenous art to be extremely interesting. Syliboy often says that he once saw all Indigenous art to be one uniform style that was boring and uninspired, until he met Indigenous artists and studied Indigenous art. His art style, with the bold lines, intense colours and unique depictions of human figures is very striking and memorable. It truly does highlight how Indigenous cultures are varying and that there is not a singular art form or way of creating Indigenous art. Alan Syliboy really highlights the unique style of the Mi’kmaq and integrates the traditional styles of Mi’kmaw petroglyphs into his art.

  1. Cronin, Ray. “Alan Syliboy.” Halifax Art & Artists. https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/halifax-art-and-artists/key-artists/alan-syliboy/. Accessed 18 April 2025. ↩︎
  2. “About Alan Syliboy.” Alan Syliboy. https://alansyliboy.ca/about/. Accessed 18 April 2025. ↩︎
  3. Sweet, Jennifer. “Artist, Activist Shirley Bear Mourned, Remembered as Indigenous Trailblazer.” CBC, 24 November 2022. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/shirley-bear-activist-obituary-1.6661807. Accessed 19 April 2025. ↩︎
  4. “Membertou, Grand Chief Henri.” Nova Scotia Obituaries, 17 July 2024. https://www.novascotiaobits.com/post/membertou-chief-henri. Accessed 19 April 2025. ↩︎
  5. Boyko, John. “Alan Syliboy.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 23 November 2023, Historica Canada. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alan-syliboy. Accessed 20 April 2025. ↩︎
  6. “Rhythm of Tradition: Alan Syliboy’s Artistry in Drum Painting.” Nova Scotia Nature Trust, 1 April 2025. https://nsnt.ca/blog/rhythms-of-tradition-alan-syliboys-artistry-in-drum-painting/. Accessed 20 April 2025. ↩︎
  7. Syliboy, Alan. “The Daily Drum
    Today’s drum once again features ‘The Eel’.” Instagram, 2 September 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_aKP58R05e/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== ↩︎
  8. King, Mandy. “Alan Syliboy Exhibition Offers 50-Year Retrospective on One of the Region’s Defining Artists.” Dalhousie University, 17 May 2024.https://www.dal.ca/news/2024/05/17/alan-syliboy-dal-art-gallery.html. Accessed 20 April 2025. ↩︎