I am one with everything
HHL was excited and privileged to host an Indigenous artist as part of a recent teaching grant from the University of Windsor. Working alongside our partners at Walpole Island First Nation, Incubator Lab in the School of Creative Arts, Mariah Alexander/Baashkooniingad Kwe was immersed in the lab’s work for the summer to help produce art works related to Traditional Ecological Knowledge and HHL research. Here is one of those works and her artist statement:
I created this piece “I am one with everything” after reading a poster about primary producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers in the water. I have often seen in scientific contexts that the size and diet of animals place them into hierarchies, so I thought there must be a more accurate representation of my connection to different beings. This piece illustrates how I become a part of creation as I consume; how, eventually, we all give back to one another something that promotes the continuation of the circle of life. I eat the fish, who eats the smaller insects, who eats phytoplankton, and eventually we all go back to the earth and are recycled by the plant beings. The water droplets represent that connection water gives us before, during, and after we consume each other. There is no hierarchy in the image because we are equally powerful and important to each other’s existence. Our interdependence, taking on the life that we take, is a truly beautiful and humbling thing to me.
Miigwech Mariah, we look forward to sharing more of your work in the future!
Along the same vein, throughout the pandemic, members of the Indigenous Allyship gathered virtually to connect as part of a listening and sharing circle. Elders and Knowledge Keepers regularly joined us in this space to connect, share, listen and build community. From this came multiple threads including contributions to the recent IAGLR Lakes Letter: a summary of the TEK IAGLR panel written by Jess Owen, Katrina Keeshig and Catherine Febria, and the public launch Mariah’s incredible work. Miigwech to all of the voices and efforts by those who contributed to this Lakes Letter issue, Miigwech to IAGLR for the opportunity to contribute, and we will continue to work with the newly formed JEDI committee in IAGLR.
Next up! Save the date: Knowledge holders from our Indigenous Allyship Circle and beyond will participate in a special panel on Traditional Ecological Knowledge as part of the #GLIERTRUSTvirtual seminar series on Friday January 29th, 2021. Registration information will be released soon.
