Say it with pictures: cartoonist tackled controversy

By Jennifer Myers

His satire is legendary. He was a master at seeing into the heart of any political issue, social injustice or current event. Combined with his natural talent for wit, humour and artistry, Everett Soop employed his skills in cartooning to become one of Canada’s most accomplished satirists and notable activists.

Joining the Kainai News in 1969, a paper that would become one of Canada’s most successful aboriginal newspapers, Soop had a way of presenting the most controversial subjects of the day as cartoons which almost always stirred up conflicting emotions of anger or laughter in his readers.

“The depictions of natives in mainstream media at the time were created by non-natives and were often hostile to aboriginal culture,” says Dr. Heather Devine, professor in the U of C’s Faculty of Communication and Culture and co-curator of the Everett Soop Exhibition at The Nickle Arts Museum. “Kainai News was an outlet for native people to interpret their own reality and report on what they considered to be the truth, which they were not getting elsewhere.”

When Soop began drawing cartoons for Kainai News, the Canadian government had released a memorable white paper proposing major changes to the Indian Act, which would have seen reserves abolished and the Indian Act dismantled. But there was no provision for continued protection of aboriginal lands or delivery of programs and services promised to native people under treaty. Soop was inspired by the national debate and motivated by the lack of aboriginal perspectives on the issues.

“It was native newspapers like the Kainai News, and organizations like the Indian Association of Alberta and the National Indian Brotherhood (now known as the Assembly of First Nations) that led the charge against the white paper,” says Devine.

Soop quickly became notorious for his satirical cartoons, which he used to make bold social and political statements. His depictions of the issues and the people involved inspired controversy and even threats against his life.

“He didn’t play favourites in who he directed his criticism towards—native and non-native leaders alike—he made no distinctions,” says Louis Soop, older brother to Everett, who died in 2001.

“He had a brilliant mind and made native communities aware of the misfortunes of abuse, discrimination and problems like unemployment and poor housing. Some people even came to enjoy him because they were being told off by the famous aboriginal cartoonist.”

Soop’s work is now being honoured in an exhibit at The Nickle Arts Museum running through to September 29. All are welcome. Visit www.ucalgary.ca/~nickle for more information.