Eli Hirtle : Mîkisihkahcikewin

Sat. October 21st 2017
@  Ministry of Casual Living 858 Devonshire
1pm - 4pm
Come join us on Saturday afternnon to view Eli's beadwork installed on a canoe in our gallery space. There will also be photos shown of the beadwork out on the water. If the weather cooperates, we will roll the art down to Banfield park to launch it.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Eli Hirtle - Artist Statement - Mîkisihkahcikewin

I am a Nehiyaw (Cree)/British/German filmmaker, storyteller, and visual artist. I was born and still reside on Lekwungen Territory. My art practice involves documenting and making work dedicated to cultural resurgence.

As an artist with both Nehiyaw and European ancestries, I am interested in making work that investigates and explores the tension and relationship between these Indigenous and Settler histories. Where and how do these cultures and worldviews intersect and diverge.

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On my journey to reclaim ancestral knowledge and practices, the two areas of research/study I am most interested in are Nehiyawewin (the Cree language) and beadwork.

In these new works, I am continuing both my language-learning and mîkisihkahcikêwin // ᒦᑭᓯᐦᑲᐦᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ // beadwork.

Beading to heal. Beading to breathe. Beading to live.

This series of works contains messages in Cree syllabics to communicate an ancestral way of living with and relating to people, animals, plants, water, and the land. I decided to convey these messages using beadwork to continue learning and living the ways of my Nehiyaw ancestors.

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Paddlebox is proudly supported by the CRD and the City of Victoria
Presented by: The Ministry of Casual Living
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