Who
We are a group of individuals who have come together to revitalize relationships and collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists in the Wendat land of Onyionwentsïo, where the Quebec City region is located. We work primarily in the visual arts but are connected to various artistic disciplines. Our Alliance was first formed between two organizations, VU and Ahkwayaonhkeh, which coordinate its activities. The six-member Kwatriho’tat committee oversees their smooth running. New allies join us through meetings or various collaborations, as well as organizations such as Cinéma Beaumont, Méduse, and La Charpente des fauves. Our group is ad hoc, without legal status, and relies on the presence and commitment of the people who participate in the various activities, whether directly or indirectly.
Where
We encourage activities that take place in different locations throughout Onyionwentsïo, taking care to observe the significance of these places. Most public activities take place in venues where the arts are produced and disseminated in Quebec City (particularly in Méduse organizations), to reach out to the city's artistic community and share various issues that connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The Akiawenrahk River remains a guide for us, a link between our two communities. We felt it was essential to travel back and forth between Quebec City and Wendake, and then between the city and the land, to listen to Onyionwentsïo itself and invite it to take part in our reflections and exchanges.
What
The Alliance is therefore an attitude to adopt and nurture, because it is an ongoing process of focusing on the vitality of our relationships. This is reflected in the activities we present in this digital publication, but also in our everyday thoughts and actions. It is a question of presence, exchange, responsibility, and commitment.
Why
We believe in the importance of this Alliance to create friendships and relationships that, over time, teach us to better know and recognize each other. It is by creating opportunities to meet, collaborate, and learn from our mistakes along the way, that we will strive together toward a decolonization of our beings and our practices.
How
The Alliance was made possible thanks to funding from the Canada Council for the Arts' Strategic Innovation Fund – Cultivate component (2023–2025). This grant funded part of Ahkwayaonhkeh's initial activities, the first year of workshops, discussions, and screenings (2023-2024), as well as this digital publication. Since then, several other projects funded by various programs have been created to continue the Alliance's efforts. We have thus attempted, through various methodologies, to create lasting links between our communities.
When
While the relationships that led to the Alliance were forged over different periods, the first steps toward collaboration were taken in 2019 during the Yahndawa' project, and the Alliance began to take shape in 2023.