A new exhibit at Carleton University Art Gallery prompts viewers to imagine a world where Cree language syllabics are prevalent in everyday communication. Running until December 13, the exhibit showcases a mural of a convenience store with signs in Cree syllabics, highlighting the language’s underrepresentation in Canadian society.
Internationally acclaimed artist Joi T. Arcand, hailing from Muskeg Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, spearheads the exhibit. Over the past four years, Arcand collaborated with Heather Anderson, the acting director of Carleton art gallery, to bring this vision to life. Anderson noted that Arcand’s interest in Cree syllabics traces back to her 2009 work, “Here on Future Earth,” where she digitally incorporated Plains Cree language into Saskatchewan buildings.
To further amplify Indigenous languages, billboards featuring Arcand’s art will be displayed throughout Ottawa. One billboard, created in partnership with Anishinà be artist Dani Printup, showcases the Algonquin word “aki,” meaning territory. These billboards aim to acknowledge and celebrate local Indigenous languages that often go unnoticed in the capital.
Additionally, the gallery exhibit boasts interactive elements such as magnetic Cree syllabics alongside educational resources, enabling visitors to engage with the language firsthand. A unique payphone installation, developed in collaboration with Artengine in Ottawa, allows guests to hear Cree spoken by language learners, offering a multi-sensory experience to appreciate the beauty and sound of the language.
