Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan

April — September 2021

[Care]ated by Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑭᒥᐊᐧᐣ

textile artwork made of seal skin. In the centre a white piece of fabric is sewn on with blue text embroidered reading "aarigaa". Above is blue, white and purple fur representing the northern lights and syllabics at the bottom in purple fur — *Edna Elias, Expressions of Elation, 2021⁠⁠. Language: Inuktun (Inuvialuktun and Inuktitut)⁠⁠*

Featuring work from: Edna elias, Cikwes, Chubby Cree, Lauren Crazybull, Taran Kootenhayoo, Maria Margaretta, 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: amiskwacîwâskahikan includes seven traditional indigenous languages of Treaty 6: Inuktun (Inuvialuktun 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.

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.

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