Title: Giiwedino-Manidoog / Spirits of the North Size: 77" x 48" Date: June 2022 On my first day in Voyageurs National Park, sailing on the water, I was struck by the richness of the earth and the life, spirit, and power of the water. This piece is to celebrate the beauty of the land, water, and sky and the animal spirits of the land, while also reminding visitors that the park sits on ancestral Anishinaabe and Ojibwe homes. The Ojibwe constellations serve as this reminder: For a millennium, Ojibwe people have looked up at the stars to tell stories. The Ojibwe culture and stories were and continue to be a part of the history of Voyageurs National Park. Weshkad imaa gii-niingaasimoonowaan nigii-maaminonendaan wiin iye epiichi-onizhishing iye aki, epiichi-bazhishigendaagok iye bimaadiziwin, naa ge epiichi-mashkaagamig iye sa nibi. Onjida go naa nigii-shizhoobii'aan owe ji-waabanda'amaan iye epiichi-maamakaadendaagokin iye aki, nibi, giizhik, naa go ge igiyeg aadizookaanag, miziwe bago eyaawaad. Boochi igo ji-mikwenda'indwaa igiyeg biiwideg imaa sa Anishinaabewaking bimi-ayaawag, memindage omaampii jiigibiig. Shke naa ge igiyeg mooshekanag, pane-ko gaa-onjiseg iye bimaadiziwin ogii-kanawaabamigowaan iniyen Anishinaaben.
Mii imaa wezi-aadizookeng. Mii apane ingiyeg anishinaabeg ogii-tibaadodaan iye sa aki, biinish igo omaapii Gichi-onigaming. Title: Obimiwidoon mashkikii a'aw ajijiaak / The Crane Carries Medicine Size: 18" x 24" Date: May 2023 When I lived on the East Coast and found myself with a heavy heart and spirit, I would visit my family in Minnesota and Grand Portage. In coming home and sitting by the shore of Lake Superior, I would give up my worry and stress before returning back east. Recently as I was driving a crane flew alongside my car, and it reminded me of the strength, wisdom, and love of my ancestors that I carry. I painted this piece to remind me of this fact. The crane has returned to the shores of Lake Superior carrying this medicine from the ancestors. The seven pine trees in the background represent the Grandfather Teachings.
After I finished this piece, a bald eagle stopped to visit me. Ishkweyaang, zhiiwitaagani-gichi-gaming gii-tanakiiyaan wendaabang gowak, ingii-ani-gagwaadagi-ayaa gaa-zhi-giiweyaan ji-o-mawadishiweyaan idi Chi-onigamiing. Ingii-oditaan iwe chi-gami imaa sa jiigibiig, gii-onabiyaan imaa, wiin iwe ji-bagadinamaan iwe gaa-pabaamendamaan jibwaa biskaabiiyaan idi zhiiwitaagani-gichi-gaming. Noomag dash wiin, gii-kiiwebizowaan imaa, gii-pimised awe Ajijaak, gaa-zhi-mikwendamoseyaan inake ezhi-zhawendaagoziyaan, mashkawiziiwin, nibwaakaawin, naa ge zhawendiwin bemiwidoowaan isa. Mii gosha naa iwe gaa-pi-zhooshkonimaagoowaan. Wenjitoo go ingii-zhizhoobii'waa awe Ajijaak ani-mikwendamaan owe. Gii-pi-giiwe awe Ajijaak oditang iwe chi-gami bimiwidood iwe noojimowin. Niizhwaachinoon iniwen gagiikimiwewinan, nashke mii gosha naa ingiweg mitigoog gaa-padakizowaad imaa.
Bijiinag dash apii gaa-kiizhitoowaan owe gaa-zhi-naazikaaged awe migizi.