WE ARE STILL HERE
GIIYAABI OMAA NINDAYAAMIN
Artist’s statement
In this portrait series, called WE ARE STILL HERE, I am taking control of the narrative of residential schools through the portraits of Indigenous children. This exhibition speaks about my Indigenous community’s resilience, knowledge and the responsibility of children to bring joy and hope to our people.
I took photographs of children from the ages of 5 to 16 because of the teachings that they represent. In her 2011 book Life Stages and Native Women, Kim Anderson, a Cree/Métis writer and a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Relationships, speaks of Midewiwin’s instructions. (Midewiwin, or Grand Medicine Society, is a spiritual society where the medicinal and spiritual teachings of the Anishinaabe are shared.)
There are seven stages of our life. Anderson explains how children bring truth because their honesty demands it and they remind us of our responsibility to create a safe environment.
Each photograph is composed of seven layers to represent the teachings of the seven generations. My nêhiyaw friend Leona Star shared that our community looks three generations back and three generations forward, and we are the seventh generation in the middle. We are taught that each generation is responsible for the care and well-being of those generations coming after them. The work we do today to heal ourselves will create a healing pathway for the generations to come. Leona reminds me that, “We are the walking prayers of our ancestors. We are who our ancestors had prayed for.” Layered within each photograph are our ancestors’ spirits demonstrated through quill and beading knowledge.
My intent is that our community will acknowledge and recognize the beauty, resistance and strength of our people. The survival of our languages, ceremonies and culture are direct acts of resistance to these acts of genocide. We survive through our love for our children, through the continued prayers for the generations yet to come.
WARNING: These photos may cause uncomfortable triggers to people as the Indigenous children portrayed represent the various ages of those who were removed from their families and communities and forced to attend residential school.
Ekido Omazinichige
Ono waabanda’iwewinan, GIIYAABI OMAA NINDAYAAMIN nindinwaadaamin, niniigaanitaan ji-dibaadodamaan gaa-gii-maajiinindwaa abinoojiiyag. Owe waabanda’iwewin dibaajimoomagad aaniin nindishkonigan ezhi-gashki’ewiziimagak, gaa-naagaji’indwaa abinoojiiyag, ji-bagosendam, ji-minwendamowaad bemaadiziwaad.
Aaniin ji-izhi-gikenjigaadegiban ningii-mazinaakizwaag abinoojiiyag 5 akoo 16 apiitiziwaad. 2011 omazina’iganing Life Stages and Native Women, Kim Anderson, Omashkiigowid/Aabitagoozhaanid odoozhibii’ige, abid imaa Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Relationships gaa-ijigaadenig, odibaadodaan Midewiwin gikino’amaagewinan. (iwe Midewiwin gemaa Grand Medicine Society gaa-ijigaadeg, izhichigewin iwe aandi mashkiki zhigwa Anishinaabeg gikina’amaagewinan wiindamaading.)
Niizhwaachinoon gegoon bemaadizing. Wiindamaage Anderson aaniin abinoojiiyag ezhi-nitaa-debwewaad, gimaamikawigoomin aaniin ji-onatoowang ningoji ji-naniizaanisinog.
Endasing mazinaakiziganan, niizhwaachi babiitoosinoon, niizhwaaching aanikoobijigeng ji-inwaadeg. Niijiiwaagan nêhiyaw dino Leona Star, ogii-inaa’ aaniin nindishkoniganinaan nising aanikoobijigewin enaabiyaan zhigwa niswi niigaan, mii giinawind ani-niizhwaaching naawaya’ii. Gigikino’amaagoomin giinawind ji-naagaji’iweyang ani-niigaan ge-bi-ayaawaad zhigwa ini ge-akaagowaad. Noongom gaa-doodamang giige’idizoyang oga-wiiji’igonaawaa’ ani-niigaan ge-bi-ayaawaad. Nimaamikawimig Leona, “Giinawind anami’aawinin gigeteminaanig onji. Giinawind gigeteminaanig gaa-bagoseniminang.” Endasing biitoosingin mazinaakiziganan, gigeteminaanig odinaadiziwiniwaan inwaadewan gaawayag, zhigwa manidoominensag gikendaasowin.
Ninoojitoon nindishkoniganinaan oga-waabandaanaawaa’ gegoon onizhishing, ezhi-zoongaadiziwaad gidanishinaabeminaanig. Ji-bimaadakin gidinwewininaanan, gidizhitwaawininaanan gaye mii ono aabadakin ji-angwiisiwang. Gibimaaji’igonaanig abinoojiiyag zaagiyangidwaa, anami’etawaayang ogo ge-bi-ayaawaad.
BETAG: Ono mazinaaakiziganan maagizhaa oga-maamikawigon awiya aaniin gaa-ayapiitiziwaapan abinoojiiyag gaa-gii-maamaajiinindwaa ishkoniganing onji bakaan ji-dazhi-gikina’amawindwaaban.