art archive: DISH DANCES (2021) a Talking Treaties Project, collaboration with Jumblies Theatre and Centre for Indigenous Theatre filmed on the Credit River
@ndnartober Day 18: Language
Language is at the heart of my mural work, especially in revitalizing the Gayogo̱ho:nǫˀ language. This year, I had the honor of working with another deeply meaningful language—Wendat—which is currently being revived after extinction.
For this mural located at the Bellamy underpass at Hague Park, I collaborated with Wendat language learners from Wendake. They chose the word <Yahndawa’>, meaning “River.” The arrows on the side are pointing down towards the River that has been renamed Highland Creek. You might recognize the name Wendat from Toronto land acknowledgments. Yet, the Wendat people have been displaced from the GTA and now reside in Quebec. Because of this, they’re often left out of Indigenous initiatives in the region.
This mural marks one of the first projects to reconnect Wendat community, culture and language with the land here—and hopefully, it’s the beginning of many more. It was deeply healing to hear the language spoken again and to build relationships with a sister Nation.
Wendat people are <Ǫgwehǫ:weh>, meaning “original peoples,” another language (Cayuga) word I included in the mural as a reminder of our shared roots and continued presence.
Nya:węh <thank you> to the amazing community and artists who made this possible:
✨ Supporting artists: @jedskiplease & Mark McIsaac
✨ Wendake community members: Manon Sioui, Louis-Karl, Andrée Levesque-Sioui, and Vincent Sioui
✨ Organization: @start_streetartoronto
✨ Curator: @_aloft_
✨ Assistants: @moises.be.nice / @ps.loveishere / @just.jetr / @misskmanga / @artbyesky / @waterdragongem
✨ Volunteers: @sapienhomos / @takwaahson
The traditional Wendat community in Wendake is currently in need of a new Longhouse (their ceremonial space) and they are accepting donations to help rebuild.
To support: send an e-transfer to: [email protected] with “Wendat” in the note section.
#IndigenousArt #IndigenousLanguages #LanguageRevitalization #Wendat #Cayuga #MuralsWithMeaning #IndigenousMurals #GraffitiArt #IndigenousHistory #Wendake #NativeArt #IndigenousVoices #ArtHeals #CulturalRevival #OriginalPeoples #IndigenousArt #Decolonize #CommunityHealing #NDNartober #HumanMade
Ange Loft (@_aloft_ ) has built an incredible new tool and consulting service as an artist-researcher, with help from colleagues @artisticintelligencelab . We’re so proud of how useful the CYCLES planning process is proving to be. Some City staff are already working her recommendations into their strategic plans. Go Ange! Thank you to the @cityofto Interdivisional Placekeeping Team for hosting this process. We’re looking forward to sharing the final report and recommendations with you.
#IndigenousResearch #MunicipalPlanning #collaboration #ArtistsSupportingArtists #DecolonizingInstitutions #ArtisticIntelligence #OtherWaysOfKnowing
Going through my mom's things has fully convinced me that she's the coolest lady I ever will meet. We did her feast and giveaway today. She wasn't a social media lady and lived a good and clean life, just the way she liked. Nice and drama free is the way to be. Tomorrow morning she'll be off to Karonhià:ke.
Come to my talk tomorrow at MOCA
February 22, 7pm
Floor 1, free
Ange Loft will speak about her practice and specifically the thinking behind and making of A foreign source of extraordinary power.
Also, Alaska B, did the audio tech and sequencing. Show is up for quite a while.
