Rivers and Waterways:

Rivers and Waterways:

Description

miskâsown is a Cree word meaning seeking knowledge from within. I came across this word in Margaret Kovach’s Indigenous Methodologies. Kovach states, “The term researcher preparation describes the experiential aspect of the research. It is about process. There were aspects of this research approach that required preparation and choices grounded in the inward knowing that arises from personal experience. In this framework, I refer to personal preparations to include miskâsown, a Cree word that means to go to the centre of yourself to find your own belonging.” (Kovach, 49) I wanted to activate this word through research; I was inspired to start preparing my thesis by viewing my own knowledge as a departure point[1]. I have always been good with my hands. Small gestures such as sewing, embroidery, braiding and weaving have always come naturally to me so I knew I wanted to involve my hands in some intimate form of making. During my undergrad degree I went to Ruth Cuthand’s artist talk at Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery. On display was her work titled Trading Series. The series included thirteen microscopic images of viruses. Twelve of the viruses were introduced to North America by Europeans and the last virus was syphilis, which originated here in North America. The twelve European viruses were beaded in seed beads, a common trading good between Indigenous peoples of North America and Europeans. The depiction of these viruses beaded using trade materials points to the brutal history of Indigenous people within North America since contact, such as: infected blankets, refusal to immunize, and segregated and underfunded hospitals[2]. The virus syphilis was made with quillwork, which was an art practice largely replaced by European imported beads. This series had everything I knew I wanted in my work: a laborious process, research, narrative, and history. The notion of identity is a large part of my practice, always trying to reformulate what the word means to me as a Cree/Métis/European artist. At the beginning stages of Sîpîy I was looking to develop a project that would help me work through notions of visiting, belonging, kinship, allyship and self-determination. bell hooks speaks of theorizing as a healing practice. My theory is that by activating and engaging in miskâsown, by connecting with community members and by seeking knowledge through my body’s actions, I will start to develop a stronger connection to these words. [1] This was furthered by the scholarly work of Kathleen Abolon’s Kaandossiwin where she states, “Indigenous re-search is often guided by the knowledge found within. Aboriginal epistemologies (the ways of knowing our reality) honours our inner being as the place where Spirit lives, our dreams reside and our heart beats.” (Abolon, ) [2] Daschuk, James Williams. _Clearing the Plains._2013