Guest Exhibit at the museum

About the Artwork

By kanihtâwisimot maskwa onîmihitow

ᐁ ᐱᒥᐦᐋᔦᕁ   ê-pimihâyahk  (we are all flying together) is a relational-based, collaborative project empowering & elevating the students of amiskwaciy Academy.  In the beginning stages of our project, our goal was to provide an Indigenous perspective on pimihâ (to fly).  Almost immediately, we envisioned our winged relatives, piyêsîsak (birds), and their life-long relationship with flight.  In addition, a bird’s life cycle closely aligns with the cycles of tipiskâwi-pîsim (the moon); 28-day cycles that are used by nêhiyawêyahk (the Cree people) to track the passage of time in a natural way. As such, you will notice that every collaborative art piece is inspired by a moon cycle, entitled in nêhiyawêwin (the Cree language).

For us as Indigenous peoples, artistic expressions such as dancing, drumming, beading, painting, and story-telling, have always been our maskihkiy (our medicine). During this difficult time of âhkosiwin (illness, COVID 19) we experienced great unbalance and extreme loss, which resulted in countless collective and individual impacts.  At the best of times, it was by no doubt difficult to remember the many gifts that mâmawi ohtâwîmaw (our kind, compassionate, Creator) has left us to cope with these difficult times. However, okâwîmâw askiy (Mother Earth) has always been our constant, and in this case, she has provided the inspiration for our artistic expression. She exists with us, in a continuous, predictable, and comforting cycle.  For example, during niski pîsim (March’s full moon), niskak (the geese) always return to us to announce the arrival of spring. Shortly afterward, in ayîki-pîsim (April’s full moon), we can hear ayîkisak (the frogs) calling for their brothers, pihêsiwak (the thunderbirds). Our aim was to honour the continuity, comfortability, and the four predictable cycles of regrowth, sustainability, shedding, and resting that we witness okâwîmâw askiy (Mother Earth) experiencing. It is our aim to offer her nanâskomowin (gratitude) for providing us with regularity amidst such unpredictability and ultimately, a sense of wânaskêwin (being at peace with oneself).

We were encouraged tahtow kîsikâw (every day), by messages from our consulting kêhtêyah, Darlene Johnson.  Darlene encourages, “lifting up yourself: your communities, your ideas, your values, your language, kiahchakwak (your spirits).” Reflecting upon the teachings of tapahtêyimisowin (humility), we are comforted in knowing that everyone is equal and no one is ever left alone – inside or outside of a Sacred Circle. At every stage in the collaborative process, this was evident. We embodied the teachings of wâwiyêstêw (the circle shape) and wîcihitowin (helping each other) at all points during artistic collaboration, conversations, and creation. No one was ever left out, or left alone in this process. This is reflected in our circular display, but more importantly, is what kept us connected & continually reconnecting to our teachings and one another. kinanâskomitinâwâw (thank you, I am grateful to all of you) for taking the time to reconnect with us through this atoskêwin (work). 

The Alberta Aviation Museum respectfully acknowledges that the land the museum is situated on is Treaty 6 territory and a traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux and home of the Métis. We also acknowledge our Treaty obligations and are committed to living in accordance, with collaboration and friendship.