Nêhiyaw love letters to otôskwanihk (Calgary)

Inspired by moments of connection, love and serenity, Nehiyaw love letters to otôskwanihk features a series of moments and memories where I personally have felt held and loved by the lands in Calgary. This theme also aims to present the experience of urban Indigenous peoples finding home within contemporary settings.

The six banners are artistic representations of my lived experiences. Watching the sky paint colours as the sun sets over the Crescent Heights ridge with the mountains in the distance, seeing the northern lights dance over the city skyline, learning the traditional stories of the bison that once roamed these lands, watching the Indian Relay races at the Calgary Stampede with pride, enjoying summer grass, Saskatoons and wild roses, and finding the crocuses blooming each spring on Nose Hill. Each piece is a thank you letter to my home.

I wanted to use bright colours, inspired by the vibrancy of regalia and my Cree culture. The imagery brings together memories and symbols connected to Calgary and the land.

Inspired by moments of connection, love and serenity, Nehiyaw love letters to otôskwanihk features a series of moments and memories where I personally have felt held and loved by the lands in Calgary. This theme also aims to present the experience of urban Indigenous peoples finding home within contemporary settings.

The six banners are artistic representations of my lived experiences. Watching the sky paint colours as the sun sets over the Crescent Heights ridge with the mountains in the distance, seeing the northern lights dance over the city skyline, learning the traditional stories of the bison that once roamed these lands, watching the Indian Relay races at the Calgary Stampede with pride, enjoying summer grass, Saskatoons and wild roses, and finding the crocuses blooming each spring on Nose Hill. Each piece is a thank you letter to my home.

I wanted to use bright colours, inspired by the vibrancy of regalia and my Cree culture. The imagery brings together memories and symbols connected to Calgary and the land.