Chalef changeant
Participants include Myrna Adams, Vivian Manasc, Tiffany Shaw
This work was made with support from the Manitoba Arts Council, at Métis Crossing located on Treaty 6 territory — the traditional and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, and Nakota Sioux. I acknowledge that this territory is home to historic Métis Settlements and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Regions 1, 2 and 4 within the Homeland of the Métis Nation. These 2 works were made on River Lot 12 on the Fort Victoria Trail, the furthest point of the Carlton Trail, a historic Red River Cart trail that extends from North of Edmonton to South of Winnipeg. While researching the architecture and landscape in the area, I quickly learned that the Métis builders of the historic log cabins came from Manitoba where the Red River Frame construction motifs were formed. My relatives Andre Nault and Joseph Curé were prominent Red River Frame builders in Manitoba and particularly designed and built many homes, churches, and farm buildings in St. Pierre-Jolys.
The process of this work is centred on place-based knowledge and community. Cyanotypes are a historical art practice from biologist Anna Atkins, where she would place plants onto cyanotype chemical painted onto paper to become the first to document plants from a biological perspective. In Chalef Changeant I document the native plants along the North Saskatchewan River through harvesting clippings with my mother, Myrna Adams, Métis Architect Tiffany Shaw and Founder of Reimagine Architects Vivian Manasc. Tiffany and Vivian have worked with Métis Crossing for over 10 years through different buildings and projects across the entire property with Reimagine Architects.
This work was made alongside research while studying the historic and contemporary Métis architectural motifs in the area and along Red River Cart Trails across Canada. Documenting the plants and working with them with our hands, became a way for me to connect to the land and build relationship through tactility. This work exists alongside the shared conversations, shared meals, teachings from Elders and joyful conversations with community members, family and staff at Métis Crossing.
Maarsii to Elder Lily Rose, for sharing teachings from the land and her memories of placemaking in the home and garden.
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