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Anthony Walsh and Francis Batiste MS-2629, Box 1, Volume 13, BC Archives |
"All I ever wanted to do was draw all the time"Francis Batiste, age 14
Francis Batiste was born on the Inkameep Reserve near Oliver, British Columbia on December 6, 1920. He was the son of the chief and was raised on the family stock farm. As a young man he worked on the 600 acre farm as a stockman or cowhand. This work was so important to him that even his painting would be put aside when round up time came.
He was given the Native name "Sis-Hu-Lk" by his grandfather. This name means "always moving, always on the go" and Francis used this name to sign his artwork.
Francis attended the Inkameep School and was taught by Anthony Walsh who encouraged him in his love of drawing. Years later Francis recalled that "All I ever did was draw, all the time" (BC Archives, MS-2629, Box 1, File 13).
In 1934 when Francis was 14 years old, Anthony Walsh helped the children of the Inkameep school develop a Native Nativity Tale. Francis was chosen to illustrate the book with pen and ink drawings. The printing of the "The Tale of the Nativity" was supported by the Committee for the Revival and Furtherance of B.C. Indian Art. In 1936 Francis Batiste's drawings were exhibited in the children's display of the Royal Drawing Society in London, England. He was awarded the bronze star and two honourable mentions for his work.
Francis studied art at a school in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a year and continued to exhibit his work and win awards across Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Europe. In 1951 the Provincial Archives of British Columbia obtained several Batiste paintings through the B.C. Indian Arts and Welfare Society and were "particularly happy to be able to add these to [the] permanent collection." (Willard Ireland to M. Baird, March 14, 1951, B.C. Archives, Batiste Artist File).
In 1965 Francis Batiste was interviewed by the CBC for the Indian History Film Project. In the interview, Francis recalls that after spending a year at art school in Santa Fe he "started going rodeoing, you know, these stampedes, and never painted until this last year when I started again I think I'll go on. I'll keep painting all the time." (BC Archives, transcript of Tape 1101:1, pp 11-12).
Years later Chief Sam Batiste, Francis' son, along with the Osoyoos Indian Band, decided to reprint the Nativity Tale as they were receiving many requests for copies. In his introduction, written especially for the new printing, Chief Sam Batiste says:
"The artistic abilities stirred in the little schoolhouse have lived on I still recall looking over my father's (Sis-hu-lk) shoulder as a youth and admiring his drawings and paintings, mostly of wildlife in their natural habitat."(BC Archives, MS-2629, Box 1, File 13).
Use the forward button below to view examples of Francis Batiste's work.
