Grand Theft Terra Firma

After over a decade of dedicated research and creative work artists Sandra Shields and David Campion have transformed an idea into an award-winning art exhibition, a touring project, and now, a website to share the important message of Grand Theft Terra Firma. Join us for the launch of this groundbreaking site that combines local history, art, and archives in a unique and educational format.

In Grand Theft Terra Firma, the artists present a strategy guide to an imaginary video game, and reframe the settlement of British Columbia as a complex heist masterminded by criminals in London and played out on the ground by a gang of greedy thieves. 

Large-scale, fictionalized portraits that describe the colonial “players” in the heist, complex photographic vignettes, achieved in collaboration with Stó:lō community members and actors of settler heritage mimic “screen shots” that recreate key moments in local history. Taken together links to primary historical resources, and “Twitch-like” video commentary provided by media artist/actor/musician Ronnie Dean Harris, the website pushes the local conversation around reconciliation by using satire and humor as entry points into difficult knowledge. 

The new site is accompanied by an Educator’s Guide in the hopes that it will be adopted as a learning tool locally, and beyond. 

Fittingly, the launch will take place in partnership with the Abbotsford School District Department of Indigenous Education on April 26 to coincide with a professional development day for educators.

The sessions are an introduction to the project, the website, the educator’s guide, the artists, and the many contributors.

Sessions run from 8:30-10:00am and 1:00- 2:00pm. Both are open to everyone and admission is by donation.