Episode 120. Nahanni McKay on Banff, Art, Tourism, Influencer Culture and the Changing Identity of the Bow Valley

Our guest this week is Nahanni McKay, a third generation Banff local, Métis multidisciplinary artist, photographer, skier, and one of the most outspoken creative voices in the Bow Valley.

In this episode we dive into the changing identity of Banff and the broader Bow Valley through the lens of someone who has grown up here her entire life. We talk about influencer culture, tourism, commercialization, conservation, mountain culture, colonial narratives, Parks Canada, the history of the Banff Sanatorium, and the tension between protecting a place and packaging it to be sold.

Nahanni also shares how growing up in Banff shaped her work, her perspective on art in mountain towns, and how she uses photography and mixed media to challenge the way landscapes like Banff are viewed and consumed.

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See you next Tuesday!!