BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – Over the last two years, the mainstream adoption of NFTs has opened the door for previously segregated types of art to gain exposure in the digital world. It has also made it easier for truly impactful projects to access innovative opportunities for raising funds to get off the ground.
One such project is Turtle Island NFT, a collection comprising 10,000 unique pieces designed by Coast Salish Indigenous artists Margaret August and Ovila Mailhot. It aims to showcase genuine indigenous art on a broader, digital scale, while also educating its community on indigenous culture, and incentivizing them to reach out and get involved.
“I want the world to know that our culture, language, and art can adapt and thrive in Web3. We have some of the edgiest, most captivating, and beautiful art in the world, and we hope it makes people want to learn more about our values, views, and respect them”, commented Kass O’Rourke, one of the project’s curators who also has Indigenous ancestry.
These illustrations feature 12 creatures from Turtle Island (the name of North America by some Indigenous peoples in Canada and the US), including orcas, eagles, sasquatchs, bears, among others. The Turtle Island NFT collection will be minted on June 30th, 2022 at 23:45 UTC within the Solana Blockchain to commemorate the end of the National Indigenous History Month.
Another goal for the project is to stir up the spirit for adventure of the Turtle Island NFT community. This is done through Tortoise Tasks, a set of outdoor, public service, and environmentally-friendly challenges to get participants familiar with indigenous culture, its rich history and heritage.
The self-paced experience, akin to a scavenger hunt, aims to motivate members to make a difference and compete for a grand prize: an all-expenses paid vacation for 4 people to Tigh Na Mara Resort in British Columbia to enjoy therapeutic massages next to the ocean, eat endless tapas, and relax while bathing in the Grotto Spa’s mineral pool.
There are a total of 215 Tortoise Tasks ranging from cleaning public parks and beaches, participating in smudging ceremonies, and visiting totem poles. The number was chosen to honor the children whose remains were discovered in unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia last year.
“Many non-indigenous people approached me after the news broke. They wanted to know what they could do. That uncovered tragedy woke up Canadians about the truth behind our history, which is why I made 215 tasks to honor those children and further educate others”, O’Rourke added.
Other Tortoise Tasks include attending indigenous-run events, such as visiting Friendship Centers, taking Indigenous elders out for lunch, and supporting indigenous-owned businesses.
“I didn’t want people trying out the usual things and just posting to social media. That’s why the tasks require that participants discuss protocol with an Indigenous person before completing them. The fascinating thing about doing it on the internet is that we can include people from all over the world”, O’Rourke further elaborated.
50% of the proceeds from the Turtle Island NFT sale will be donated to 3 charities: Indspire, Water First, and the Indian Residential School Survivor Society. These stand for clean drinking water on reserves, assistance with Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), opportunities for Indigenous youth, and assisting people traumatized by residential schools.
“How can I get the resources to educate others on indigenous culture and make a difference? How can I change ignorance into potential action? This is how the ideas behind Turtle Island NFT were born. There’s no better space than Web3 to do it at this time”, concluded O’Rourke.
The Turtle Island NFT team is active on Discord and has plans to make the collection available on NFT marketplace Magic Eden. There is $50K worth of SOL hidden within Thunder Totems inside their Discord available for people to earn!
Media Contact
Company Name: Turtle Island NFT
Contact Person: Kass O’Rourke
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 604-404-7055
Address:PO BOX 83069 KINGSWAY PO
City: Burnaby
State: British Columbia
Country: Canada
Website: linktr.ee/turtleislandnft