Aux confluents de l’Akiawenhrahk
Equinox Sharing Day
With members of Ahkwayaonhkeh and VU and Cinéma Beaumont
Alexandre Béland's family sugar shack, Portneuf (Onyionwenhtsïo)
March 26, 2024
Present: Alexandre Béland et son père, Julia Caron Guillemette, Ariane Caron Lachance, Jacynthe Carrier, Vincent Dion, Vincent Drouin, Véronique Isabelle, Géraldine Martin, Anne-Marie Proulx, Andrée Levesque Sioui, Teharihulen Michel Savard, Manon Sioui, Guy Sioui Durand, Olivier Thibeault, Sarah Toung ondo, Kristel Tremblay
On the occasion of the spring equinox, we wanted to take stock and see how far we had come since the exchange day held nine months earlier. The goal was to better understand where we stand and to envision together the paths we want to take for the future. The Kwatriho’tat committee therefore invited people involved in the activities of Ahkwayaonhkeh and VU. And since we had begun a relationship through the programming of screenings, we also invited Ariane from Cinéma Beaumont.
While Teharihulen had welcomed us into his home on the last day of sharing, this time the VU team wanted to return the favor. During our meetings, it was mainly the Wendat who shared their rituals and protocols. The non-Indigenous members of the Alliance then asked themselves: what do we have to share? This led to the idea of the sugar shack, a tradition that is both very important in Quebec culture and inherited from Indigenous peoples. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and share the customs of our cultures and to see where they intersect. So we gathered at Alexandre from VU's family sugar shack.
Listen to the maple trees flow
To begin with, Alexandre and his father welcomed us into their home and spoke about the importance of this place for their family. We fed the fire, made an offering of tobacco, and Teharihulen gave thanks.
Jacynthe shared her sensitive perspective on this time of year, and Andrée also told us about Wahta’, the maple tree. We then went around the table, each naming something we wanted to pay attention to during the day (the light, the moss, the water, the smell, etc.) that would help us be present in the moment. To ground ourselves in the land, we drank the water from Wahta’, then went for a walk, each following our own path in silence to listen to the maple trees flowing.
« Je me rappelle avoir été émue de cette reconnaissance envers Wahta’, et y avoir vu un parallèle entre les larmes qui se formaient au coin de mes yeux et la sève qui monte dans l’arbre. Ces moments partagés sont des occasions de connexion. » – Anne-Marie Proulx
Cet événement a été une occasion d’initier certaines personnes à des enjeux rencontrés par les artistes autochtones, notamment au niveau des appels de dossiers. L’importance de la construction de relations où les artistes se sentent bien a été réitérée.
Ce qui en est ressorti, c’est qu’il n’y a pas de formule magique pour ouvrir les organismes à une démarche davantage décoloniale, ni pour inclure des artistes autochtones à nos programmations. Il faut du temps, de l’investissement personnel et professionnel. Mais dans le contexte actuel des centres d’artistes, où il faut toujours faire plus avec moins, comment trouver l’espace et le temps? Bien qu’il n’existe pas de réponse claire à cette question, il demeure important de nommer les freins et les obstacles afin de commencer à voir les chemins à parcourir.
What has flowed until now
After this moment of reflection, everyone was invited to share a memorable moment or aspect of the alliance. Among the things mentioned were: relationships and their continuation over time, the creation of new relationships, the screening of Indigenous films, and so on…
We then ate, because sharing food also cultivates these relationships, literally nourishing them. On the menu: squash soup, ham, cheese, pancakes, baked beans... and of course, syrup from our friend Wahta'!
Harvesting maple sap
After sharing a delicious meal, we returned to put down roots in the land, this time with a more collective spirit. Together, we harvested maple sap.
While it's boiling
To accompany the freshly harvested water, we boiled our ideas and mixed our visions. On the one hand, we reflected on the challenges we faced, the difficulty of communicating our thoughts, even the Alliance's activities. Who is part of the Alliance? Who sits at the famous table where discussions take place? Who should we talk to when we want to address the Alliance? How can we keep everyone informed? Is it necessary? Several months later, we still don't have the answers to all these questions. We have found that the more the network of relationships expands, the more complex communications can become. Although it does not address all the challenges, we have managed to find a solution: it is everyone's duty to be a good spokesperson for the Alliance.
Finally, we expressed our wishes. What do we want for the future of the alliance?
“An alliance also means caring for one another. If we are in an alliance, we must care for one another.”
– Teharihulen Michel Savard
"We can hope that it will go further. The hope is that when the alliance ends, these relationships will not end as well. I see it as a foundation for future relationships, with a direction that will give meaning to those who come after, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. To say, it exists, so yes, we can be together. How we can listen to each other with respect."
– Andrée Levesque Sioui
“These are experiences to be shared. They are not knowledge per se, but experiences to be shared. And it would be like a place of sharing for other centers.” – Véronique Isabelle