Dr. Dorothy Grant, C.M., Honoured with National Canadian Arts & Fashio

Posted on May 30 2026

Dr. Dorothy Grant, C.M., Honoured with National Canadian Arts & Fashion

Award (CAFA)

FEATURED POSTS

British Columbia artist recognized for Indigenous leadership, cultural partnerships, and her

influence on Canadian fashion

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VANCOUVER, BC — March 21, 2026

Renowned Haida designer and artist Dorothy Grant is being honoured by the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) as the inaugural recipient of the Indigenous Fashion Award, marking a significant milestone for Indigenous design leadership in Canada.

Photo Credit: Walter Lamar / @Reluctant Elder Photography

Caption: Dorothy Grant, 2026

The award will be presented at the 12th Annual CAFA Gala on April 23, 2026, in Montréal. This recognition celebrates Grant’s remarkable career and her lasting influence on both Canadian and international fashion.

A trailblazer in Indigenous fashion, Grant has spent 40 years developing a practice rooted in British Columbia and the Northwest Coast. Haida art, storytelling, and ancestral knowledge form the foundation of her contemporary designs. Her career highlights the power of Indigenous-led collaboration, cultural integrity, mentorship, and community partnership.

“This honour belongs to the communities, artists, and knowledge keepers who have walked alongside me,” said Dorothy Grant. “Indigenous fashion is not a trend — it is a living cultural expression grounded in responsibility, relationship, and place. Haida art and culture have shaped my work profoundly, and I am proud to see Indigenous leadership from the West Coast recognized on a national stage.”

The Indigenous Fashion Award was created to celebrate leaders whose work advances Indigenous representation nationally and internationally while remaining rooted in community, tradition, and ethical collaboration. Grant was chosen for redefining the landscape of Canadian fashion by centring Indigenous excellence, mentorship, and partnership.

CAFA Co-Founder and President Vicky Milner emphasized that Grant’s influence extends well beyond design, noting her long-standing dedication to mentorship, cultural education, and advocacy. Grant has opened doors for Indigenous designers, artisans, and creatives across Canada and internationally, including in the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Grant’s work is deeply informed by her Haida heritage and her ancestral homeland of Haida Gwaii. Her recognition by CAFA reflects the expanding presence of Indigenous fashion in Canada and the importance of cultural partnerships in shaping the country’s creative future.

Often described as “Canada’s most fashionable night,” the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards bring together leading designers, artists, and cultural figures from across the country and around the world to celebrate innovation and excellence in fashion and the arts.

About Dorothy Grant

Dorothy Grant is a Haida designer and artist whose work bridges ancestral knowledge with contemporary fashion. For decades, she has been a leading figure in Indigenous fashion in Canada, known for her commitment to cultural integrity, mentorship, and collaborative practice. Her work has been exhibited and collected nationally and internationally, inspiring new generations of Indigenous creatives. She is often referred to as the OG of Native fashion.

Since 1988, Grant’s garments have been acquired by 20 museums and public institutions worldwide. Her recent milestone achievement includes the acquisition of her Shark Robe and Fur Felt Transformation Hat by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Her retrospective exhibition, Raven Comes Full Circle: Forty Years of Haida Fashion, opens May 1, 2026, at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau. Originally curated by the Haida Gwaii Museum in Skidegate, the exhibition will travel to major museums across North America.

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Media Contact

ZOÏ Agency – CAFA Press Oﬃce (Toronto & Montréal)

Media inquiries coordinated via CAFA Communications