“They Can Hear Each Other”

As an Anishinaabeg, I continually contemplate reconciliation and its personal significance to me. Reconciliation, for me, is a personal journey—a consistent ongoing process of cultivating and sustaining respectful relationships. While I recognize Canada's progression on this path, I've extended my inquiry to include, "Who is reconciling with our four-legged, our swimmers, our flyers, and our crawlers? Who is taking steps to reconcile with them?"

Over the past few years I reflected in wondering what our greater than human relatives could share with me about reconciliation and contemplated how we as a “community” could actively contribute to the process of reconciling with them.

Graciously, Nadia Ross the Artistic Director at STOUnion embraced my idea, allowing me to take the lead. Subsequently, I delved into extensive research, identifying various species at risk or on the endangered list. This exploration culminated in the creation of seven artistic representations of animals that coexist with us in Unceded Unsurrendered Algonquin territory (Ottawa/Gatineau). Each drawing, accompanied by information and storytelling from the Point of view of the animal, as well as our role in reconciliation to safeguard these beautiful beings, will be featured in a series titled "Noondaadiwag – They can hear each other."

Im so happy to finally able to unveil one drawing over each season online (fall, winter, spring & summer) through my social media on STOUnion and my website, along with limited prints will be available at the Wakefield Library and downloadable here. I hope you enjoy learning more about each animal and i can’t wait to see your colouring pages!

Please feel free to post on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #noondaadiwag

Click on the Images below to download & read an animal relations story.