Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues:
amiskwacîwâskahikan
When ancestors pass away
Northern lights dance in the sky
Knowing it’s not really goodbye,
They’ve just passed over to the other side
The day the eagles die I’ll set my dream catcher aside
But until this day arrives,
I’ll stand with you side by side
- Taran Kootenhayoo, Standing Sunrise
One with Creator & Forever in our hearts
Sâkihitowak, I love you
Taran Forever, Neghanighita
From my heart to yours.
I am thankful.
It’s a true honour to get to work with Edna Elias, Carol Powder & Cikwes, Lauren Crazybull, Maria-Margaretta, Taran Kootenhayoo, jaye simpson, and Wanahae.
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan is a celebration of the ancestral languages of Treaty 6. It is beautiful to witness, stand beside, care for the incredible public [gifts of art]. Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan includes seven traditional indigenous languages of Treaty 6: Inuktun (Inuvialakun and Inuktitut), nêhiyawêwin, Nitsiipowahsiin, Michif, Denesųłiné, Nahkawiwin and Nakota. These ancestral languages are embedded across the downtown core in amiskwacîwâskahikan. Visibility is powerful and to have the living languages which come from this land be seen in the midst of an urban environment speaks to the resilience and the survival of our people and languages. This makes our hearts soar.
ᑌᐸᑯᐦᑊ Gifts of Art
Inuk joy, love, and kindness, dancing in the northern lights
Singing with the Nehiyaw ancestors, Kisemanitow brings hope
Lands of Sikohkotoki, Honour Nitsiipowahsiin
Beads radiate Michif love and light, as long as the sun shines
Magic found in one another, translated into denesųłiné
Loss of language, transcendent Nahkawiwin
Ancestral Nakota knowledge and tradition, honouring Two Spirit youth
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan is [care]rated by Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑭᒥᐘᐣ. Nanâskomitin to the elder Karen Mackenzie and Miss Betty for your guidance and prayers. I am deeply grateful to Latitude 53, Michelle Schultz, Raneece Buddan for the love and support. I am very honoured that this concept was shared with me from Missy LeBlanc.
[Care]rated: Caring for the artist, and the artworks and doing so humbly, in the Nehiyaw way. Someone who “cares for the artists and their gifts of art.”
[Gift of art]: Inspired by the phrase “works of art.” Each “work of art” in this show feels like a beautiful gift and each artist is extremely gifted. I look at these works as gifts of art that are to be shared with earth and the people of the earth. These gifts of art are to be honoured and cherished.
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues was originally conceived by Missy LeBlanc for TRUCK Contemporary Art in Mohkínstsis/Kootsisáwa/Wincheesh-pah/Calgary and presented in concert with Taskoch pipon kona kah nipa muskoseya, nepin pesim eti pimachihew. The amiskwacîwâskahikan/Beaver Hills House/Edmonton iteration, Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan, is curated by Cheyenne Rain LeGrande for Latitude 53 and supported by TRUCK Contemporary Art.