April - October 2021
Lauren Crazybull, Edna Elias, Taran Kootenhayoo, Maria-Margaretta, Carol Powder & Cikwes, jaye simpson, and Wanahae
Downtown amiskwacîwâskahikan/Edmonton, AB
Since it’s initial presentation in fall 2019, Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues has beed adapted into a framework for community responsive public programming for the tour of Taskoch pipon kona kah nipa muskoseya, nepin pesim eti pimachihew | Like the winter snow kills the grass, the summer sun revives it across so-called Canada starting in Fall 2021.
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: Dish With One Spoon Territory is the second of four locality specific iterations of the Mamanaw Pekiskwewina project and is presented in tandem with the tour of Taskoch pipon kona kah nipa muskoseya, nepin pesim eti pimachihew. Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑭᒥᐊᐧᐣ was invited to co-curate the first iteration for Latitude 53. See Latitude 53’s website for the project details.
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan is the first of four locality specific iterations of the Mamanaw Pekiskwewina project and was initially intended to be presented in tandem with the tour of pipon kona, nepin pesim across so-called Canada. The tour was originally planned to start in amiskwacîwâskahikan/Edmonton this spring at Latitude 53, however, with the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, an in person presentation of pipon kona, nepin pesim cannot currently happen. Rather than presenting the exhibition online—which would not reflect the intentions and wishes of the artists involved and would alter the objectives of the exhibition—the amiskwacîwâskahikan presentation of pipon kona, nepin pesim has unfortunately been cancelled.
Although Mamanaw Pekiskwewina: amiskwacîwâskahikan is no longer being presented in concert with pipon kona, nepin pesim, the two projects are inextricably connected. I encourage people to engage and visit with the exhibition materials that have been shared online.
Cheyenne Rain LeGrande ᑭᒥᐊᐧᐣ (Nehiyaw Isko, Bigstone Cree Nation) has been hired by Latitude 53 as a Curatorial Assistant to co-curate the amiskwacîwâskahikan iteration of Mamanaw Pekiskwewina. With support from myself, Cheyenne has researched and consulted with region based Elders and Knowledge Keepers on the language histories of the Treaty 6 region. Utilizing preexisting relationships she has with artists who are from or currently based in the Treaty 6 region, the programming for Mamanaw Pekiskwewina: amiskwacîwâskahikan honours the language traditions not only of this land, but also of her kin.
Locations
- Alex Decoteau Park
- Beaver Hills House Park
- Gibson Block - 9608 Jasper Avenue
- Great West Saddlery Building - 10137 104th Street
- Latitude 53 - 10242 106 Street
- Tix On the Square - 9930 102 Avenue (two artworks at this location)
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues was originally conceived by Missy LeBlanc for TRUCK Contemporary Art in Mohkínstsis/Calgary and presented in concert with Taskoch pipon kona kah nipa muskoseya, nepin pesim eti pimachihew. The amiskwacîwâskahikan/Edmonton iteration, Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: amiskwacîwâskahikan, is co-curated by Cheyenne Rain LeGrande for Latitude 53 and supported by TRUCK Contemporary Art.
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina: amiskwacîwâskahikan is part of Downtown Spark and supported by the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton with funds from the Western Diversification Program, Canada Council for the Arts, and ATB Financial.