Corwin “Corky” Clairmont St. Ignatius, Montana Tic Tack Toe, 2016 Mixed media This piece is a commentary on the tar sand mining operation taking place near Fort McMurray, Canada, whichcovers more than 50 square miles. The photo images seen in this installation were taken while visiting this site. Tic-Tac-Toe is a familiar game played on a grid by lining up three circles or Xs to win. There are few winners in the current exploitationand production of tar sands oil. The losses are many, as it greatly contributes to greenhouse gas and global warming. This tar sand mining and processing is polluting the largest inland delta on the continent, and this site is one of the beginning points for the highly controversial Keystone Pipeline. The loss of animal habitat, aquifers, the destruction of hundreds of thousands of acres of boreal forests, and the displacement of aboriginal tribal people is a high price to pay for this tar sand oil. Abnormal cancers and tumors show up in higher levels at or near the tar sands processing sites in tribal people, fisheries, birds, and animals. The aboriginal tribal people can no longer eat or gather their traditional foods, medicines, and other cultural items that were gathered for thousands of years. The Canadian and United States governments, along with oil production companies, are playing a dangerous game with our earth, lives, and our future generations. The use of the X can be seen as a metaphor for marking a particular spot and discounting or eliminating something. Our Chiefs used an X as a signature when they signed important documents, such as our treaties with the United States government and other legal forms that dramatically impacted our tribes. The nickel image represents the high price our indigenous Indian people have paid culturally, and in the loss and exploitation of our lands and natural resources. This ever-pervasive,careless attack on our homelands comes at a great price impacting our future generations and our people today. Bio Corwin “Corky” Clairmont is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, a college professor and administrator,and professional artist. While living in Los Angeles, Clairmont pursued a careeras an artistas well as a teacher, then becoming the head of the Printmaking Department at the Otis/Parsons Art Institute located in Los Angeles. Upon his return to Montana in 1984, he began administrative work at Salish Kootenai College (SKC) located in Pablo, Montana, on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Reservation. He developed the SKC Fine Arts Department and Art degree program. Through work as a printmaker and installation artist, his images discuss and explore situations or issues that impact tribal people, such as sovereignty and colonization, while also giving a cultural and historical perspective. His artwork has been exhibited throughout the United States and in several other countries, including China, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, France, and at the U.S. Embassy located in Kinshasa, Republic of Congo. He currently serves on the State Board of the Montana Arts Council. Back to Artists