jaye simpson

Auntie Told me Mother used to speak the Language too, 2021

Performance, charcoal, vinyl prints 

Gibson Block, 9608 Jasper Avenue

“Auntie Told me Mother used to speak the Language too” 

 i used to think access to the languages my family spoke were stolen generations ago, only to learn my mother could speak the language fluently because her kokum and aunty raised her. There is fresh hurt here: Had i not been apprehended, i would’ve spoken the language also, instead now i hunt for language and home. i explore how sticky the language of colonizers are in the mouth of a stolen child: using the tools i have to try and break free isn’t going to work. To be able to fully liberate myself, i will have to tell my story, in my languages and speak with my mother, witness her in all her levels. 

“Nimaamaayenhs nigii-wiiindamig nimaamaa gii-nitaa-anishinaabemonaaban gaye.”

 Nigii’inendam inwewinan ezhi-gaagiidoowaad indinawemaaganag, gii-gimoodigaadeg gichi-mewinzha. Mii dash nigii-gikendaan noongom nimaamaa gii-nitaa-anishinaabem.  Ookimisan gaye omaamaayensan gii-nitaagi’igod.  Oshki-wiisagendamowin omaa.  Giishpin gaawiin nigii-dakonigosii, mii geniin daa-gii-nitaa-anishinaabemoyaan. Meshkwad dash noongom ni-nandawendaanan inwewin miinawaa wenjibaayaan. Ni-nanaandonamaage aaniish ezhi-bazagwaamagag waapishkiiwew-inwewin biinji-dooning a’aa abinooji gaazhi-gimoojigaazod: giishpin aabajitooyaan iniwe aabajichiganan indayaanan ji-wiikwaji’idizoyaan, gaawiin ge-anokiimagasinoon. Ni-noonde-dibaajim indibaajimowin ji-aabiskobiji’idizoyaan anishinaabemoong gaye zhaaganaashimoong mii gaye ji-gaganoonak nimaamaa, gaye ji-waawaabamak gakina e-doodang.