New Telus Spark immersive experience showcases Indigenous superheroes
Telus Spark's latest digital immersive experience features a new kind of superhero – the Indigenous kind.
Sacred Defenders of the Universe follows four superheroes – Aqueous, Embers, Aireus and Terra – who fight to restore elemental balance to the planet.
The exhibition takes place inside the Spark Digital Immersion gallery, a 278 square meter, (3,000 square-foot) space that gets transformed into a kind of living graphic novel for Sacred Defenders of the Universe. Visitors discover Indigenous science through the Circle of Life, the four sacred elements and directions, and key words in Indigenous languages.
Guests can also interact with the digital story elements on their own, create waves and wind, grow plants and mycelium, and ignite their senses with sparks and fire.
The project was co-created by Justin Jack Bear and Earl Benallie, with animation provided by a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, all of it produced by Supply and Demand.
Benallie is impressed at how the gallery turned out.
"I'm overwhelmed actually," he said. "Every time I go in there, I see something new, because it's a new technology, it's fully immersive, you have to really go three or four times to really experience the whole thing, it's that incredible."
Benallie has a rain water harvesting background and says he's worked a shovel for the past 23 years. He grew up listening to his elders and their sacred teachings and knew one day his life stories were going to be important to tell.
"During the pandemic when we all got sent home to our rooms to sit I think a lot of people went creative," said Benallie. "(Things like) canning food, drawing, painting, I went to the Sacred Defenders of the Universe."
CROWDFUNDING TO CREATE COMIC BOOK
Justin Jack Bear says he and Benallie were looking to start the story in a comic book.
"When we started to create the series, we were actually crowdfunding to get enough money to create a comic book," he said. "We did that for a couple of years and word started to travel and someone at Spark found out and before we could make a comic book, it became an immersive comic book where you can actually be a part of this story."
Jack Bear says the story is a struggle between ego and humility and so if people can understand what that is, they can understand what it means to be a part of nature. He'd still like to make a comic book series, but maybe one day create something for the big screen similar to other action hero movies.
"I'm really hoping that we can really write out the full story and journey of these characters," he said. "We would just love everybody to support them and come experience it for themselves."
RESONATE AND CONNECT
The creative and production teams worked with local and national Indigenous communities, and Spark's Indigenous Advisory Circle, to create an immersive exhibit that will resonate and connect with the community.
Kori Czuy is the Indigenous engagement manager at Telus Spark and worked with the creators and says the story sends a powerful message.
"I think the next generation need to see the depth of science within the Indigenous stories, within the land," she said. "In a story to reconnect with nature and how can we help rebalance the earth."
Czuy says it's important for Indigenous youth to see people like them portrayed as fictional characters.
"Just telling a superhero story with indigenous characters, that was so inspiring" said Czuy. "I saw so many connections through science that we could tell the depth of science within Indigenous knowledge that we've known for thousands of years and especially with reconcili-action, I think it's very much needed for everyone, not just Indigenous people, for everyone to understand the story."
Sacred Defenders of the Universeis open to the public now until October. Learn more about it here: https://www.sparkscience.ca/whats-on/sacred-defenders-of-the-universe
The gala opening Thursday night will feature local Elders, who will talk about balance in relation to the Equinox, the Circle of Life, the Four Elements and more.
Members of the Calgary Fire Department will also be on hand to share some real-life hero stories. The Sorrel Rider Drum Group from Siksika will perform, and you can meet the show's creators, Justin Jack Bear and Earl Benallie.
Reserve your free tickets here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.