“The Longest Journey” is the journey from the head to the heart (or from head knowledge to heart knowledge), which Dawn Marie took from the teachings of Elder Jo-Ann Saddleback. It can involve confronting false beliefs, and in this installment in particular, beliefs around indigenous issues, such as residential schools and murdered and missing indigenous women. Those who chose to participate could take a ribbon and carry it on their own journey from one of the four directions, something from indigenous teachings, to the sphere shaped structures representing the head and the heart, at the center of the whole- park art installment. Dawn Marie’s paintings were brought to life as part of the installment via projected animation, thanks to the skills of her daughter, Alleah Marchand. Her son, Seth Dubois, was instrumental in the installation of the physical structures, which included tipi pole tripods representing the four directions, and smaller tripods that held the twig-woven spheres. All were bathed in coloured light and adorned in ribbons, whose numbers grew as participants added additional ribbons.
To really understand this exhibit, though, you had to be there. You had follow the beckoning and the opening song to find your truth, your direction and your voice. You had to feel the intergenerational trauma that bled from Tarene Thomas’s poem. You had to feel yourself connecting as Alicia Cardinal performed traditional native dance to the singing and drumming of Quinton “Mukwa” Tootoosis. You had to experience your heart opening as vocalist, Tammy Lamouche, accompanied by guitarist, Vanessa Beaudry, pleaded for understanding in her song, “Just Like You”, while Ayla Modeste portrayed a struggle for freedom, in dance. You had to feel the sense of community in the closing round dance. You had to be there to experience the fusion of musical flavour as contemporary met indigenous, when Mukwa’s native singing and Kyle Hunter’s lead electric guitar weaved depth and fabric throughout the entire musical landscape. You had to be there to see the people who shed tears, and who moved meaningfully forward to tie ribbons of their own.
It was an honour to be part of something so special, and to share it with such an amazing, talented cast and crew. Nuit Blanche Edmonton puts on an excellent free festival, while providing well for its exhibitors. We were blessed to have technical support, Erin Valentine and the fantastic light and sound crew from FMAV, as well as other festival volunteers, who helped make Dawn Marie’s vision possible. If you missed Nuit Blanche this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year. Enjoy the colour and light, and keep an eye out for something really special…
Photos by Rob Aromin