Between 2005 and 2006, Wilson created a powerful, untitled series of 51 “history robes,” which recount specific episodes of Haida history in stunning detail—from a Haida perspective.

Wilson’s history robes carry richly painted and appliquéd compositions that document pivotal histories—stretching back to a “pre-contact” period depicting stories of Haida ancestors, to the first contact with European explorers, to Wilson’s childhood experiences, gathering and harvesting on the Haida Gwaii landscape. Twenty years after its creation, this body of work continues to resonate, particularly in depicting a Canadian colonial history whose legacies Indigenous peoples and settlers alike have inherited. Also threaded throughout the series is the persistence of the Haida peoples, their ways of knowing, and their deep and ongoing connection to their territory. 

Defying easy categorization, Wilson’s history robes draw on the distinctive form and techniques of traditional “button blankets” of the Northwest Coast—robes typically adorned with an individual’s family or clan crests—while pushing into the realm of history painting and folk art. More than mere wall hangings, the robes exemplify the highly innovative ways in which Haida and Indigenous artists expand on traditional forms to speak to a changing world.

I Use My Haida Eyes marks the first time that nearly the entire body of work, most of which have never been displayed publicly, is shown together. This exhibition brings Wilson’s full vision for her landmark series to life.

MOA Curator: ɬəkʷəlqinəm–Jordan Wilson