Ana’s Process

Men’s Composite Dance Regalia, Waistcoat

Ana is interested in powwow couture and the influence of western materials and techniques on traditional garment making as a form of adaptation and endurance. Her first question was, ‘how was this garment constructed?’

Her second question, ‘Can I translate this method into a pattern that can be replicated by other Indigenous people?’ She then created a set of downloadable patterns, instructions, and video tutorials to allow viewers to experiment with making a vest of their own.

My decision to offer instructions for the re-creation of a contemporary vest was inspired by the object in the collection at the Royal Ontario Museum and was assisted by images of Barry Ace’s contemporary beadwork and especially his 2010 performance in Paris France, A Reparative Act.

Ace performed A Reparative Act in four parts to honour the Indigenous dancers who visited Paris in 1843 as members of George Caitlin’s traveling dance troupe. He danced in full regalia at four locations in downtown Paris for four of the dancers: Maungwaudaus (Great Hero) at the Louvre; Noodinokay (Furious Storm), at the Jardin des Tuileries; Mishshemong (King of the Loons), at the Place de la Concorde; and Saysaygon (Hail Storm), at the L’esplanade des Invalides to open Robert Houle’s exhibition Paris/Ojibwa at the Canadian Cultural Centre. Images of Barry Ace’s contemporary rendering of traditional dance regalia provided me with an important reaffirmation of the enduring relevance of beadwork in our communities.

Ana’s Project: Making Remaking

This vest represents an obstacle being transformed into an achievement, one of many for Indigenous Peoples. Western history would have you believe that First Nations and Indigenous communities were and are far behind technologically, that our ways are outdated, that time has forgotten us and that we cannot comprehend contemporary ways – that the height of our achievements are leather fringes, tipis, and fry bread.

Objects like this vest, that clearly illustrate our ability to not only learn how to use new materials but also master new methodologies flawlessly and adapt them into our cultures, prove that sentiment wrong.

But this vest disproves not only stereotypes; I hope it also connects Indigenous communities to the fact that we’ve always been more than what textbooks say we are. Our communities have a right to this knowledge and these practices, and I hope this tutorial reconnects everyone – those from reserve communities, those in urban settings, and those maybe just finding out who they are – to our collective histories. This project is meant to connect us to the ancient practice and intent behind making, regardless of how traditional or contemporary you are or how closely you follow the tutorial. This process of making is the closest we will ever get to our ancestors: the means, material, and methodologies may change but our intentions will always be the same.

Kí:ken oià:kara tewate’nienténhston tsi nahò:ten ionkwaio’tá:ti, nek tsi ó:nen teiottenionhátie’ ne aontonte’nientenhstónhake’ tsi nahò:ten ionkwaterihwatkwenionhátie’. É:so ki’ ne rotí:ien ne Ronnonkwehón:we. Ronatatí’teron raotihiatonhsera’shòn:’a ensónnien’ ne aontahsehtáhkhwake’ tsi Ronnonkwehón:we ohnà:ken rón:ne’ ne tsi nonkwá:ti ne iontstha’shòn:’a (technology). Iorihwakaiòn:’on iá:ken ne tsi niionkwarihò:ten, tsonkhiia’ta’nikonhrhèn:’en tánon’ iah teiakwakwénie’s aionkwa’nikonhraién:ta’ne’ ne tsi nihotirihò:ten ne onkwehshòn:’a ne ón:wa wenhniseraténion – né: khok aonhà:’a tionkwakwénion iá:ken ne aiatión:ni’ ne iohnakenhsen’tónnion, a’tohsera’shòn:’a tánon’ kana’tarakerì:ta.

Kí:ken oià:kara kwah wè:ne tsi sana’tón:nis tsi iakwaweién:te ne orì:wase aiákwatste’ ne thé:nenk aiatiónnia’te’. Tánon’ kwah ieká:ien tsi eniakwakwé:ni’ aiakwaweientéhta’ne’ ne orì:wase oh nenkaié:ren, tánon’ ne taiakhiiatén:rohste’ ne tsi niionkwarihò:ten. Wè:ne tsi iah tetkaié:ri tsi nahò:ten ronnonhtónnion.

Kí:ken oià:kara ionkwana’tón:nis tsi iah tó:kenske té:ken tsi nahò:ten ronnonhtónnion ne ronatatí’teron. Aiá:wen’s ki’ ò:ni’ aionkwana’tón:hahse’ tsi iationkwehón:we sénha iakwaweién:te tsi ní:ioht tsi kahiá:ton ne kahiatonhserà:ke. Ontionkwe’ta’shòn:’a rotiianerenhserá:ien ne ahonaterièn:tarake’ tánon’ ahatiweientehtónhake’. Tánon’ aiá:wen’s ki’ kí:ken ka’nikonhraientáhtshera taionkwà:nerenke’ ne tsi niiawénhseron. Taionkwà:nerenke’ ne akwé:kon tsi nítion tsi kanenhstá:ton tewanákere tánon’ kanatowanèn:ne tewanákere, tánon’ tsi nihá:ti ó:nen’k rotitokénhse’ ka’ nithonathwatsirí:non. Kí:ken kaio’tenhserakwe’ní:io tetionkwá:wis oh ní:ioht tsi thé:nen shes ronnón:nis tánon’ ne oh niiontié:ren tsi thé:nen tión:nis. Iah thé:nen teiontié:ren tóka’ tsi niionkwarihò:ten aó:wen tóka’ ni’ ón:wa nikahá:wi aó:wen. Iah thé: teiontié:ren tóka’ kwah énhtshere’ ne ka’nikonhraientáhtshera. Akwáh ákta tentewatera’né:ken’ ne ionkhihsothokon’kénha nó:nen thé:nen entión:ni’. Sewatié:rens tewatténie’s oh nontié:ren, oh nahò:ten wátston tánon’ oh nienkaié:ren, nek tsi tiótkon né: shà:ka tewahská:neks.

ᐅᒪ ᐱᒉ ᐱᔑᐡᑲᑲᓂᐡ ᐃᔑᓇᑾᐣ ᒪᓇ ᐁᑭ ᓇᑲᐢᑌᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᒥᓇ ᐁᑭ ᐊᒋᐸᓂᐠ ᑲᐡᑲᐦᐅᐎᓂᐠ ᑌᑫ, ᐯᔭᐠ ᓴᑯᐨ ᒥᐢᒉᐟ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᐅᒣᓂᐤ᙮ ᐌᒥᐢᑎᑯᔓ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑌᑫ ᑲᑭ ᐯᒋ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᒋᐠ, ᐊᔭᐦᐊᐤ ᑭᑕᐺᑌᓂᑕᒶᐠ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐃᑕᔑᑫᒋᐠ ᑭᒋ ᐅᑕᓇᑫᐸᓄᐗᐠ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ, ᐃᓂᓂᐎ ᐅᐱᒪᑎᓯᐎᓂᐤ ᑲᐃᔑ ᑲᐡᑯᐦᐅᒋᐠ ᒧᓇ ᐊᔕᔾ ᑌᑕᑾᐣ, ᒪᓇ ᐁᑭ ᐗᓂᑫᑯᑕᓄᒋᐠ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᑲᑭ ᑲᐡᑲᑕᐗᐠ ᐌᒥᐢᑎᑯᔓ ᐅᑲᐡᑲᐦᐅᓇᐗᐤ ᒪᓇ ᐱᑯ ᐃᓂᐧᓂ ᑲᐡᑲᐦᐅᐎᐣ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᓄᒋᑕᐗᐠ ᐗᔭᓇᐠ, ᒥᑾᒪᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐸᓇᐠ᙮

oma pichê pishishkakanish ishinakwan mana êki nakastêk nêsta mina êki achipanik kashkahowinik têkê, pêyak sakoch mischêt ininiwak omêniw. wemistikosho otanak têkê kaki pêchi pimatisichik, ayahaw, kitapwêyênitamwak ininiwak kaish itashikêchik kichi otanakêpanowak kiyapich, ininiwi opimatisiwiniw kaish kashkohochik mona ashay têtakwan, mana êki wanikêkotanochik êko maka nêsta kaki kashkatawak wêmistikosho okashkahonawaw – mana piko ininiwi kashkahowin kipyach nochitawak wayanak, miikwamak, nêsta panak.

ᐅᔑᐡᒋᑫᐎᓇ ᐅᒪ ᑌᑲᐣ ᐱᒋ ᐱᔑᐡᑲᑲᓂᐡ, ᑴᔭᐢᐠ ᐯᑌᓇᑾᐣ ᒋᑭ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᓯᔭᐠ ᐱᑐᐡ ᐅᐢᑭ ᑫᑾᓇ ᓴᑯᐨ ᐊᑎ ᑲᐡᑯᐦᐅᔭᐠ ᐅᐢᑭ ᑲᑐᒋᑲᑌᑭ ᒥᓇ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐊᐸᒋᑕᔭᐠ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐅᑕᐢᑫᓯᐎᓂᐤ, ᐁ ᐗᐸᑎᓄᒪᔭᐠ ᒪᔦᐤ ᐊᓂᒪ ᐁ ᐃᔑᓇᑯᓯᔭᐠ᙮

oshishchikewina oma tekan pichê pishishkakanish, kweyask petenakwan chiki kiskinohamasiyak pitoosh oski kekwana sakoch ati kashkohoyak oski katochikateki mina nesta apachitayak kaishi otaskesiwiniw, e wapatinomayak mayew anima e ishinakosiyak.

ᓴᑯᐨ ᐅᒪ ᐱᒉ ᐱᔑᐡᑲᑲᓂᐡ ᒧᓇ ᓴᐯᓂᒋᑲᑌᐤ ᑲ ᐃᑌᐣᑕᐠ ᐌᒥᐢᑎᑯᔓ, ᓂᐸᑭᑌᑌᐣ ᓀᐢᑕ ᒋᑭ ᐊᓄᐢᑫ ᒥᓄᐸᓂᐠ ᐃᓂᓋᐠ ᑲᐃᔑ ᐃᑕᔑᑲᒋᐠ ᑕᔑᓀ ᑭᔭᐱᐨ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᐁ ᑲᐡᑭᑕᔭᐠ ᒧᓇ ᐎᓇ ᑲᐃᔑᓇᒣᐦᐊᑯᔭᐠ ᐌᒥᐢᑎᑯᔓ ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐃᑲᓇ᙮ ᑭᑕᐢᑫᓯᐎᓇ ᑕᐺ ᑌᑲᑾᓱᐗᐠ ᒋᑭ ᑭᐢᑫᓂᑕᑭᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑭᐢᑌᓂᑕᒧᐎᓇ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᒥᓇ ᑲᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓂᐸᑭᑌᓂᑌᐣ ᐅᒪ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐎᐣ ᒋᑭ ᐊᓄᐢᑫ ᒥᓱᐌ ᐊᐌᓂᑲᓇᐠ ᐊᓂᑭ ᑲ ᐃᑕᒋᐠ ᐦᐅᐢᑲᓂᑲᓂᐦᐠ, ᐌᒥᐢᑎᑯᔓ ᐃᑕᔑᑫᐎᓂᐦᐠ, ᐊᓂᑭ ᓀᐢᑕ ᑲ ᐃᑕᒋᐠ ᔕᐗᓂᐦᐠ, ᐊᓂᑭ ᓀᐢᑕ ᑲᐎ ᓇᑐ ᑭᐢᑫᓂᑕᓂᑎᓱᒋᐠ ᒋᑭ ᐊᓄᐢᑫ ᒧᐗᑐᓂᑲᑌᑭ ᐅᐦᐅ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑌᑫ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐗᒋᑫᐎᓇ᙮

sakoch oma pichê pishishkakanish mona sapênichikatêw ka itêntak wêmistikosho, nipakitêtên nêsta chiki anoskê minopanik ininiwak kaishi itashikêchik tashinê kiyapich mistahi ê kashkitayak mona wina kaishinamêhakoyak wêmistikosho masinahikana. kitaskêsiwina tapwê têkakwasowak chiki kiskênitakik oma kiskênitamowina êko maka mina katotamak maka nêsta nipakitênitên oma kiskinohamakêwin chiki anoskê misowê awênikanak – aniki ka itachik hoskanikanihk, wêmistikosho itashikêwinihk, aniki nêsta ka itachik shawanihk, aniki nêsta kawi nato kiskênimitisochik – chiki anoskê mowatonikatêki oho otanak têkê kiskinowachikana.

ᐅᒪ ᐊᐸᑎᓯᐎᐣ ᐁ ᑌᐣᑕᑾᐣ ᒋᑭ ᐊᓄᐢᑫ ᐎᒉᐦᐃᑭᔭᐠ ᐌᐢᑲᐨ ᐅᔑᒋᑫᐎᓇ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᑭ ᐯᒋ ᑐᒋᑲᑌᑭ, ᐊᑐᐎᓇ ᑲᑭ ᑕᐣᑌ ᒣᐤᒋ ᐌᐢᑲᒋ ᐃᑕᑎᓯᐣ ᒥᓇ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐊᓄᐡ ᑲᑭᔑᑲᐠ ᐁ ᐃᑕᑎᓯᐣ ᐁᑯ ᒥᓇ ᑕᓂᓯ ᐯᓱᐨ ᐁ ᓄᓯᓀᐦᐃᒪᐣ ᐅᒪ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐎᐣ, ᐅᒪ ᑲ ᐅᔑᑕᔭᐠ ᑕᐺ ᑲ ᐯᔓᐗᒪᓇᐣ ᑭᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᐌᐢᑲᒋ ᐊᑕᐢᑫᓯᒥᓈ: ᑲᑭ ᑐᑕᒪᐠ, ᑭᑕᐸᒋᑕᐎᓇ, ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᑲ ᑭᐢᑌᓂᑕᒪᐠ ᑲ ᐱᑐᔑᐸᓄ ᓴᑯᐨ ᑲᐎ ᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᐌᐢᑲᐨ ᐅᒋ ᑕᔑᓀ ᐯᔭᑾᐣ ᑲ ᐃᔑᓇᑾᐣ᙮

oma apatisiwin ê têntakwan chiki anoskê wichêhikiyak wêskachi oshichikêwina êko maka nêsta otanak kaki pêchi tochikatêki, atowina kaki tantê mwêchi wêskachi itatisiin mina nêsta anosh kakishikak ê itatisiin êko mina tanisi pêsoch ê nosinêhiman oma kiskinohamakêwin. oma ka oshitayak tapwê ka pêshowamanan kiotanak wêskachi ataskêsiminan; kaki totamak, kitapachitawina, êko maka nêsta ka kiskênitamak ka pitoshipano sakoch kawi totamak wêskach ochi tashinê pêyakwan ka ishinakwan.