Aux confluents de l’Akiawenhrahk
Portages : intergenerational mediation project
Wendake
Fall 2022 to Spring 2023
Portages is a mediation project that aimed to create links between generations, ancestors, and families in Wendake, in a spirit of transmission and care. While this project, developed between 2020 and 2023, was initially conceived as the premise for the Yahndawa’ exchange project, the pandemic forced its postponement. Portages was therefore reformulated to ultimately become part of the artistic exchange.
Photography workshops (fall 2022)
Led by artists Anne-Marie Bouchard and Manon Sioui, in collaboration with France Gros-Louis Morin and Débora Flor, a series of four workshops was held with young people from the Maison des jeunes de Wendake. During these workshops, participants explored the cyanotype technique, a photographic process that allowed them to produce images from plants and family photographs. A final workshop was also held during the Kwahrëndahrenh Yohchëndeh (Trappons l'hiver - Let's Trap Winter) event in February 2023.
For these workshops, young people were invited to bring photographs of their own families and to work with archival photographs of the Nation. To do this, the artist-mediators conducted meticulous research in the photographic archives of the Huron-Wendat Nation Council to paint a portrait of the community, taking care to represent all families and certain important figures so that young people could learn about their ancestors.
These workshops raised awareness among young people about an ancient photographic technique, light, certain medicinal plants and their traditional uses, the ancestors and families of Wendake, and the transmission of Wendat culture between generations. Participants left the workshops with a small booklet they had created themselves, containing all the experiments they had done together, as well as postcards with the images they had produced.
Writing workshops (spring 2023)
Author Andrée Levesque Sioui was invited to join the project to lead two writing workshops in April and May 2023. The first workshop took place with elders at the Marcel-Sioui Residence, during a gathering to share their memories based on images created by young people, as well as life stories and songs. The seniors wrote memoirs and wishes addressed to the young people. The second workshop was held with a group from the Maison des jeunes de Wendake, with whom we took care to share what the elders had told us, so that the young people could in turn take the time to write a postcard to the elders.
The mural
Following these meetings, Andrée Levesque Sioui and Manon Sioui produced texts summarizing this experience. The images and texts were brought together to create a large mural that has been permanently installed at the new Akhiakahratatha'yeh long-term care facility in Wendake. The original images were also displayed in an exhibition in the corridors and cafeteria of the Marcel-Sioui Senior Citizens' Residence.
Artist mediators
Manon Sioui, Anne-Marie Bouchard et Andrée Levesque Sioui
Assistants
Débora Flor et France Gros-Louis Morin
Participants of the Maison des jeunes de Wendake
Diego Gros-Louis, Yakwahi’tsa’ja Tangerine Gros-Louis Rock, Hawentsahti’ Phoenix Gros-Louis Rock, Selena Collin, Charly Rosalie, Juliette Cloutier
Participants of the Cabane d'hiver organized by the CDFM
Alexandre Bédard Daigle, Sandrine Masse Savard, Annie Vanasse, Bertrand Picard, Andrée Levesque Sioui
Participants of the Résidence Marcel Sioui
Jean-Paul Savard, Thérèse Gros-Louis, Céline Fortin, Ginette Bertrand, Camélia Dumont, Pauline Sioui, Jacques Picard
Contributors
Roxanne Chabot, Isabelle Francis, Marie-Claude Duchesneau, Geneviève Lord, Steven Gros-Louis
Facilitators from the CDFM
Josée Dion et Sabryna Godbout
Coordination
Véronique Isabelle