The Feb/Mar 2017 issue of Canada’s History is scheduled to hit newsstands on January 23rd, 2017.

Art Director James Gillespie delivered a stunning cover, featuring an iconic portrait of Sitting Bull, presented with a twist.

The warm gold backdrop provides a great contrast for the black and white photograph.  The vibrant turquoise color choice for the main sell line adds some pop to the bold type treatment.

Editor Mark Reid says:  “In this issue, we feature a story on one of the most famous — and most photographed — Indigenous leaders of the nine-teenth century: Sitting Bull.

The Lakota Sioux war chief famously defeated American Lieutenant-Colonel George Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. The conflict was a seminal moment in American history — but it was a crucial moment in Canadian history, too.

After the fight, Sitting Bull and his followers sought refuge in Canada, igniting an intense debate between Canada and the United States over border sovereignty and transborder Indigenous rights.

In selecting our cover image, as well as the interior feature photos, we needed to consider the troubling legacy of nineteenth century photography of Indigenous peoples. Since the photos were taken by non-Indigenous photographers, the images sometimes do not reflect the reality of the Indigenous experience during the late-nineteenth century.

For Canada’s History, these primary source materials offer valuable insights into the history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations. But they need to be treated with sensitivity, and presented in the context of the era in which they were taken.

Hopefully, this cover image, and this story, will encourage further dialogue about Indigenous rights and foster greater understanding among all Canadians.”