On June 21st, EVOQ celebrates the richness of Indigenous cultures!
Across the country, the festive atmosphere is in full swing: in the media, parks, museums and cultural institutions, activities are organized to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day. We are proud to be part of this celebration and invite you to join us in paying tribute to Indigenous cultures, true pillars of our collective identity.
This year, we highlight the Indigenous artists with whom we have had the privilege of collaborating with recently on various projects aimed at integrating Indigenous art into architecture.
1. As part of the renovation project for McGill University's New Chancellor Day Hall, Mohawk artist Skarahkotà:ne Deom collaborated in creating an artistic work that will be integrated in the floor patterns of a classroom and hall. Her work, representing the Tree of Peace, embodies the values of balance, harmony and connection with nature, while anchoring the architectural space to a meaningful Indigenous cultural perspective.
2. In the Inuit community of Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, artist Matthew Kilabuk created works illustrating scenes from local marine life. His drawings have been integrated into the main dining hall’s interior glazing at the new research centre for the Centre for Northern Studies (CEN) at Université Laval. This space hosts research teams dedicated to studying aquatic ecosystems and the impacts of climate change on their fragile environments. Matthew Kilabuk's art thus enriches the research environment with a cultural and local dimension, while evoking the beauty and richness of the marine Arctic.
3. The Eshikatiut Tshukuminu Innu-Natukuna Pavilion, located in the Innu community of Ekuanitshit, is a place dedicated to transmitting ancestral and traditional pharmacy knowledge from elders to younger generations. As part of a competition, community members were invited to submit works showcasing the richness of their Innu culture, thus contributing to the collective ownership of the Pavilion.
• Included in the pavilion’s art program are the works of Claudia Collard and Louise Washaulno, illustrating plants from the territory, that have been integrated into flooring.
• Additionally, the work of Manuella Pokue, representing three portraits of inspiring women from the community, has been incorporated into the interior glazing of the craft workshop.
• And finally, a creation by artist and illustrator Lydia Mestokosho-Paradis has been transformed into majestic stained glass windows and installed in the glass walls at the main entrance of the Pavilion.
4. At the new youth center in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, a playful work by local artist Tivi Etok will be showcased on the building's facade. Drawing inspiration from comic book aesthetics, an illustration of a caribou addresses young people and invites them to enter. White perforated metal panels, evoking comic book dialogue bubbles, will protect the windows while diffusing soft light inside. The perforations, in the shape of caribou hoof prints, add a narrative and poetic touch to this composition that links art, culture and youth.
Discover the complete programming of June 21st events on the Indigenous Tourism Quebec website. Come experience this day of recognition, sharing and pride!
Montreal:
https://popmontreal.com/fr/evenements/journee-nationale-des-peuples-autochtones-5
https://calendrier.espacepourlavie.ca/journee-nationale-des-peuples-autochtones
Joliette: https://www.caalanaudiere.ca/waskapitan/
