Contemporary First Nations artist Terrance Houle speaks with Erin Morton about his practice and influence. Houle's work is constantly balanced between humour and tragedy, a place where he situates himself and his experiences as an Aboriginal and an army brat. Having the experience of both has allowed Houle to grow up witnessing others assumptions about his culture while being an active participant in it. This has formulated something of a confrontational, punk-rock aesthetic to his performative and installation based works, as demonstrated in Portage, where two Metis carry a canoe through downtown Vancouver dressed in moccasins and "traditional" Metis clothing. This blend of absurdity and tragedy culminates with an intention to "unlearn colonialist narratives by subverting them," a process which Houle negotiates by dismissing neither of the cultures in which he grew up in, choosing instead to question them both.