Project Description

Karalyn’s Process

Beaded Thunderbird Panel

Emanating with Power, is my Uncover//Recover project, it encapsulates the teachings I’ve learned through my studies in the Indigenous Visual Culture program, of symbolic representations of The Thunderbird in objects; such as bags and pouches, created by Great Lake artists during the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century.

Our first visit to the ROM is when I chose the object I wanted to creativity respond to. I came across a panel, made with wrapped porcupine quill beads, woven with strands made from vegetable and plant fibre. It was designed in a simplified geometric pattern with the motif of the Thunderbird, surrounded by zig-zags representing lightning. The Thunderbird is a great and powerful Manitou; a great spirit, and is embodied in Anishinaabeg culture and belief systems. When we started this project, what first came to my mind was thinking how the objects would have looked like, if the traditions weren’t interrupted and were instead continued up to today. My first instinct was to re-create the object in

drawings and watercolour studies. We then had a workshop with Anishinaabe (Odawa) artist Barry Ace, who instructed us to re-create our objects with contemporary materials from his own creative practice.

From this starting point I worked with our project leader, Bonnie Devine, to source out materials which were chosen to communicate concepts of electric conductivity and the concept of animate objects emanating with power, both spiritually and physically. The materials we chose were a computer copper prototype board and thin coated wire. I manipulated the wire, creating my own beads and then inserted and attached these beads into the board. Using the original objects’s design, I replicated it in my re-creation piece. For this project, I wanted to give respect to this object and its unknown maker, to put in the work to show my love and respect to the kind of dedication that is needed to acquire the patience and endurance in creating such an intricate object. I also wished to appease the great Thunderbird, and give thanks and respect to the Great Manitou.

Tsi nonkwá:ti ne Tsakotshénrion/Ietsakókwen Kaio’tenhserakwe’ní:io, Tewahtkà:wa’s ne Ka’shatsténhsera konwá:iats tsi nahò:ten watio’tèn:’en. Atio’ténhsera kahá:wi tsi nahò:ten wakeweientehtà:’on shiwakaterihwaiénston ne Indigenous Visual Culture nón:we. Ensewatkáhtho’ oh nahò:ten kentónhahkwe’ ne Skatsi’é:ra (Thunderbird). Konwatiia’tarónnion ne kahna’tahtshera’kéhshon tánon’ kaiara’kéhshon, né: ne ronnonkwehón:we rotíhson, tsá:ta iawén:re tewen’niáwe tánon’ sha’té:kon iawén:re tewen’niáwe shiiohseratátie’.

Tiotierénhton ieioiénhton ROM nón:we ia’akwakwátho’, tsorì:wa wa’kerá:ko’ ne takerihwa’será:ko’. Kéntskare wa’ketshén:ri’ – kwah tekahnhè:taron, ase’shòn:’a tánon’ ohonte’shòn:’a ionnià:ton. Nia’tekaieron’tò:ten’s tekaieronniánion, Skatsi’é:ra kaià:tare, tánon’ tewani’nehkara’wánions karónnion. Ro’shatstenhserowá:nen Manitou ne Skatsi’é:ra; Rotonhnhetsherowá:nen tánon’ Raia’takwe’ní:io ne Anishnaabeghró:non tsi nihotirihò:ten tánon’ ne raonehtahkwenhtsherá:kon. Tsi taiakwatáhsawen’ kí:ken kaio’tenhserakwe’ní:io, wa’kanonhtónnionhwe’ oh naiohtónhake’ kí:ken orihwa’shòn:’a tóka’ iah tha’taiotà:’on tsi ronnón:nis tánon’ shé:kon nón:wa wenhniseraténion akaién:take’. Tiotierenhtáhkwen ki’ wà:kehrek ákerahste’ kí:ken orì:wa wakerákwen tánon’ ne tekahnekaiéhston ionhsóhkhwa’ á:katste’ tsi énkerahste’.

Sok ki’ kí:ken Anishnaabe (Odawa) raráhstha’, Barry Ace ronwá:iats, wahshonkwana’tón:hahse’ tsi ní:ioht tsi raónha rátstha’ ne naho’tèn:shon kakè:ron ne ón:wa wenhniseraténion (modern materials). Wahshonkwáhnha’ne’ ne thí:ken naho’tèn:shon kakè:ron eniákwatste’ tsi teniakwahna’netáhko’ ne nahò:ten ionkwarákwen ne ROM tsi iontahkwenniaientáhkhwa’.

Thó:ner Bonnie Devine, ohén:ton í:kate’ ne kaio’tenhserakwe’ní:io, wa’tiakeniié:na’. Wa’akené:sake’ ne nahò:ten enwá:ton’ enwátstonke’. Né: ne entewate’nienténhstonke’ ne ken’tonhkwarà:ken (electricity) wahtentià:tha’. Tánon’ ne iontstáhkhwa’ iónhnhe, né: ne ka’shatsténhsera tewahtkà:was. Ionkenirákwen ne kawennaráhstha’ aohsòn:kara, athéhsa nikaristò:ten ionnià:ton, tánon’ ne karonware’shòn:’a. Wa’tekhsa’ktaníhon’ ne karonware’shòn:’a, tánon’ wa’ktsi’nehtaronniánion’. Sok kawennaráhstha’ aohson’karà:ke ia’ktsi’nehtaranentaktánion’ tsi ní:ioht tsi teiotonhontsóhon takaieronniánionke’. Kí:ken kaio’tenhserakwe’niiò:ke, wà:kehrek akerihwakwéniehste’ tánon’ akherihwakweniénsthake’ tsi nihá:ti ne rotíhson, né: ne iah teiethiienté:ri. Né: tsi roti’nikonhriióhne tsi rotíhson kí: nahò:ten, tánon’ thoti’nikonhrakontáhkwenhkwe’ tsi rotíhson. Né: ó:ni’ í:kehre takenonhwerá:ton’ ne Skatsi’é:ra, tánon’ tahinonhwerá:ton’ ne Manitou’kó:wa.

ᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᐸᓂᐠ ᒪᓂᑐᐗᑎᓯᐎ ᓱᑫᐗᑎᓯᐎᐣ, ᐁᑯ ᐅᒪ ᓂᑐᔑᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᑲ ᒧᐢᑫᓂᑲᑌᐠ//ᑲ ᑭᐌᐱᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᑲ ᐃᔑᓂᑲᑕᒪᐣ, ᒥᓱᐌ ᐎᑕᒪᑫᒥᑲᐣ ᓂᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᑫᐎᓇ ᑲᑭ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᓯᔭᐣ ᐊᐣᑕ ᐱᒉ ᐃᓂᓂᐎ ᑕᐸᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᐎ ᐊᑕᐢᑫᓯᐎ ᑭᐢᑭᓂᐦᐊᒪᑐᐌᐎᒥᑯᐦᐠ, ᑭᐢᑌ ᐗᐸᑕᓂᑫᐎᓇ ᑲᑭ ᑲᐡᑲᑾᓱᓂᑲᑌᑫ ᐁ ᓄᑯᑕᓄᐦᐠ ᐱᑐᑴᐤ ᐱᓀᓱᐗᐠ ᐗᑯᐨ ᒥᐗᑎᑲ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᒥᐗᑎᔑᔕ, ᑲᑭ ᐯᒋ ᐅᔑᑕᒋᐠ ᐅᑯ ᑭᒋ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᓇ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ ᑲᑭ ᐯᒋ ᐱᒪᑎᓯᒋᐠ ᐎᔦᐡ ᓂᔓ ᒥᑕᑐᒥᑕᓇ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐯᔭᐠ ᒥᑕᑐᒥᑕᓇ ᐱᐳᓇ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑌᑫ᙮

ka oshichipanik manitowatisiwi sokêwatisiwin, êko oma nitoshichikêwin ka moskênikatêk//ka kiwêpichikatêk ka ishinikataman, misowê witamakêmikan nikiskinohamakêwina kaki kiskinohamasiyan anta pichê ininiwi tapasinahikêwi ataskokêsiwi kiskinohamatowêwikamikohk, kistê wapatanikêwina kaki kashkakwasonikatêkê ê nokotanohk pitohkwêw pinêsowak wakoch miiwatika êko maka nêsta miiwatishisha, kaki pêchi oshitachik oko Kichi Sakahikana ininiwak kaki pêchi pimatisichik wiiyêsh nisho mitatomitana êko maka nêsta pêyak mitatomitana pipoona otanak têkê.

ᓂᓇᓇᐣ ᐅᐢᑲᐨ ᑲᑭ ᒧᐗᐱᐢᑕᒪᐦᐠ ROM ᐁᑯ ᐊᐣᑕ ᐃᐢᐱ ᐁᑭ ᑫᒋᓇᐦᐅᔭᐣ ᓂᒥᑌᓂᒋᑲᓂᐠ ᑌᑫ ᐊᓂᒪ ᑫᑾᐣ ᑲᐎ ᓄᒋᑕᔭᐣ᙮ ᓂᑭ ᒣᑾᐢᑫᐣ ᑭᑭᔭᑎᐠ, ᐁᑭ ᐅᔑᑕᓄᐦᐠ ᑲ ᐎᐢᑫᓂᑲᑌᑭ ᑲᐠ ᔕᐳᓂᑫᐎᓇ ᒥᑭᓴᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐁᑭ ᐊᔓᑐᓂᑲᑌᑭ ᒪᐢᑯᔑᔭ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓂᐱᔑᓇᐱᔭ᙮ ᐁᑭ ᐃᔑᓂᒣᑕᓄᐗᐣ ᐁ ᐌᑕᓇᑾᐠ ᑕᐸᓯᓇᐦᐦᐃᑫᐎᓇ ᐁᑭ ᐊᔑᑎᓇᑲᓄᐦᐠ ᐱᑐᑴᐤ ᐱᓀᓯᐤ ᐁ ᐎᑴᑎᓇᐤ ᑲᐱᔑᔑᑫ ᐗᒋᔭ ᐁ ᑭᓄᑾᓇᐠ ᑌᑫ ᒪᓇ ᐅᒥᓂᑭᐢᑲᐤ ᐁ ᐸᓯᐢᑲᐸᓂᐠ᙮ ᐱᑐᑴᐤ ᐱᓀᓯᐤ ᒥᑐᓀ ᑭᐢᑌᐗᑎᓯᐤ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓱᑫᐗᑎᓯᐎ ᐅᒪᓂᑐᒼ, ᓀᐢᑕ ᑭᐢᑌ ᒪᓂᑐᐗᑎᓯᐤ, ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓯᑐᓇᒧᐗᐠ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯᐗᐠ ᐅᑕᐢᑫᓯᓇᐗᐤ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐅᑕᐺᔦᓂᒋᑫᐎᓇᐗᐤ᙮ ᐃᐢᐱ ᑲᑎ ᒪᒋᑕᔭᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᓯᐎᐣ, ᑫᑾᐣ ᐅᐡᑲᐨ ᑲᑭ ᐱᑎᑴᒪᑲᐠ ᓂᒥᑌᓂᒋᑲᓂᐠ ᑕᓂᓯ ᐊᓇᐦᐃ ᑫᑾᓇ ᑲᐯᒋ ᐃᔑᓇᑯᑫ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑌᑫ, ᑭᓴᐢᐱᐣ ᒧᐗᐟ ᑲᓂᑫ ᐁ ᒪᓂᐱᒋᑲᑌᑫ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓴᑯᐨ ᐱᑯ ᒋᑭ ᐱᒧᑌᒥᑲᐠ ᐱᓂᐡ ᐊᓄᐨ ᑲᑭᔑᑲᐠ᙮ ᐅᐡᑲᐨ ᑲᑭ ᒧᓀᑕᒪᐣ ᐁ ᓇᑐ ᓇᐢᐱᑐᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᐊᓂᒪ ᑫᑾᐣ ᐁ ᑕᐸᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᐎᓂᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᔓᔓᐯᑭᑲᓂᐠ ᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒪᓱᐎᓂᐠ ᑌᑫ᙮ ᑭᐡᑾ ᒪᑲ ᓂᑭᑭᐢᑭᓄᐦᐊᒧᑫᐎᓇᐣ ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ (ᐅᑕᐗ) ᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᑫᐟ ᐯᕆ ᐁᐢ ᑲ ᐃᔑᓂᑲᓱᐟ, ᐊᐌᓂ ᑲᑭ ᑭᐢᑭᓇᐦᐊᒪᑯᔭᐠ ᒋᑭ ᓇᐢᐱᑐᑕᒪᐠ ᐊᓇᐦᐃ ᐌᐢᑲᐨ ᑫᑾᓇ ᒣᑾᐨ ᐊᐸᒋᑕᔭᐠ ᐊᓄᐨ ᑲᑭᔑᑲᐠ ᐊᐸᒋᑕᐎᓇ ᒣᑾᐨ ᐁ ᒥᓂᑯᔭᐠ ᐅᑎᔭᓇ ᑲᐃᔑ ᓄᒋᒋᑫᐟ ᐁᑭ ᐯᑕᐟ᙮

ninanan oskach kaki mowapistamahk ROM êko anta ispi êki kêchinahoyan nimitênichikanik têkê anima kêkwan kawi nochitayan. niki mêkwaskên kikiyatik, êki oshitanohk ka wiskênokatêki kak shaponikêwina mikisak nêsta eki ashotonikatêki maskoshiya êko maka nêsta nipishinapiya. êki ishinimêtanowan ê wêtanakwak tapasinahikêwina êki ashitinakanohk pitokwêw pinêsiw ê wikwêtinaw kapishishikê wachiya ê kinokwanak têkê mana omiinikiskaw ê pasiskapanik. pitokwêw pinêsiw mitonê kistêwatisiw nêsta sokêwatisiwi omanitom, nêsta kistê manitowatisiw, êko maka nêsta sitonamowak omêniw anishnapêwak otaskêsinawaw êko maka nêsta otapwêyênichikêwinawaw. 

ispi kati machitayak oma kiskinohamasiwin, kêkwan oshkach kaki pitikwêmakak nimitênichikanik tanisi anahi kêkwana kapêchi ishinakokê otanak têkê, kisaspin mowat kanikê e manipichikatêke nêsta sakoch piko chiki pimotêmikak piinish anoch kakishikak. oskach kaki monêtaman ê nato naspitochikatêk anima kêkwan ê tapasinahikêwinik nêsta shoshopêhikanik kiskinohamasowinik têkê. kiskwa maka nikikiskinahamokêwinan anishinapê (otawa) ka oshichikêt pêri ês ka ishinikasot, awêni kaki kiskinahamakoyak chiki mina naspitotamak anahi wêskach kêkwana mêkwech apachitayak anoch kakishikak apachitawina mêkwach e minikoyak tipinwê otiyana kaishi nochichikêt eki pêtat.

ᐅᑕ ᐅᐡᑲᐨ ᒪᒉᑕᓄᐗᐠ ᓂᑭ ᐎᒉ ᐊᐸᑎᓯᒪᐤ ᓂᑐᑭᒪᐎᓇᐣ ᐳᐣᓂ ᑌᐸᔾᐣ, ᒋᑭ ᒥᐢᑭᑲᑌᑭ ᐊᐸᒋᑕᐎᓇ ᐁᑭ ᐗᓇᐸᒋᑲᑌᐠ ᒋᑭ ᐅᒥᓂᑭᐢᑲᐟ ᒋᑭ ᐃᔑᓇᒣᑕᓄᐦᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᒪᑲ ᑲ ᐱᒪᑕᑭ ᐊᐸᒋᑕᐎᓇ ᑫᑾᓇ ᒋᑭ ᑲ ᐅᔑᒋᐸᓂᐠ ᒪᓂᑐᐗᑎᓯᐎ ᓱᑫᐗᑎᓯᐎᐣ ᒋᑭ ᐃᔑᓇᑾᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐯᐡᑭᐡ, ᑲᑭᓄ ᐁ ᒪᓂᑐᐗᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐁ ᒥᔪᐦᐠ᙮ ᑲᑭ ᐅᑎᓂᒪᐠ ᑫᑾᓇ ᐊᔭᐦᐊᐤ ᐊᓇᐦᐃ ᐯᔭᐠ ᑯᒼᐱᔪᑎᕐ ᑲᓇᐸᑲᑎᐠ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐱᐗᐱᐢᑯᔭᐱᔑᐡ᙮ ᓂᑭ ᐊᒐᐱᑌᐣ ᐱᐗᐱᐢᑯᔭᐱ, ᐁ ᐅᔑᑕᔭᐣ ᑎᐱᓉ ᓂᒥᑭᓴᐠ ᐁᑯ ᒪᑲ ᑭᐡᑾ ᐁ ᐱᑎᓇᑭᐠ ᓀᐢᑕ ᒪᑲ ᐁ ᑕᐸᓇᒪᐣ ᐊᓇᐦᐃ ᒥᑭᓴᐠ ᐊᐣᑕ ᓇᐸᑲᑎᑯᐦᐠ᙮ ᐊᐸᒋᑕᔭᐣ ᐊᓂᒪ ᒧᐗᒋ ᓂᐢᑕᒼ ᐅᔑᒋᑫᐎᐣ, ᓂᑭ ᓇᐢᐱᑐᑌᐣ ᒬᒋ ᐊᓂᒪ ᐁᑭ ᐅᔑᑕᔭᐣ ᓂᑎᔭᐣ ᐯᑾᐣ᙮ ᐅᒪ ᐅᒋ ᐊᐸᑎᓯᐎᐣ, ᓂᐎ ᒥᓀᐣ ᑭᐢᑌᓂᒋᑫᐎᐣ ᐅᒪ ᑫᑾᐣ ᓀᐢᑕᐣ ᐊᓇ ᑲᑭ ᐅᔑᑕᐟ ᒧᓇ ᑲᑭᐢᑫᓂᒪᑯᓄᐟ, ᐁᑭ ᐸᑭᑎᓂᒪᐣ ᓂᑕᐸᑎᓯᐎᐣ ᒋᑭ ᓄᑭᑕᔭᐣ ᓂᓴᑭᐦᐁᐎᐣ ᓀᐢᑕ ᑭᐢᑌᓂᒧᐎᐣ ᐁᑭ ᓱᑲᐢᐱᓀᔭᐣ ᐁ ᑌᑕᑾᐠ ᒋᑭ ᑲᐡᑲᑕᔭᐣ ᐁ ᐯᐦᐅᔭᐣ ᓀᐢᑕ ᐁᑭᑭᓯᓱᐌᔭᐣ ᒣᑾᐨ ᐅᔑᑕᓄᐦᐠ ᐅᒪ ᑲᓇᒣᑕᑾᐠ ᑫᑾᐣ ᑲᑭ ᐅᔑᑕᓄᐦᐠ᙮ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓂᐎ ᐗᒋᔦᒪᐤ ᑭᒋ ᐱᑐᑴᐤ ᐱᓀᓯᐤ, ᓀᐢᑕ ᒪᑲ ᓂᐎ ᓇᓇᐢᑯᒪᐤ ᓀᐢᑕ ᓂᐎ ᑭᐢᑌᓂᒪᐤ ᑭᔐᒪᓂᑐ᙮

ota oshkach kati machêtanowak niki wichê apatisimaw nitokimawinan ponni têpayn, chiki miskikatêki apachitawina êki wanapachikatêk chiki ominikiskat chiki ishinamêtanohk nêsta maka ka pimataki apachitawina kêkwana chiki ka oshichipanik manitowatiswi sokêwatisiwin chiki ishinakwak nêsta pêshkish, kakini ê manitowak nêsta ê omiyohk. kaki otinimak kêkwana ayahaw anahi pêyak kompiyotir kanapakatik maka nesta piwapiskoyapishish. niki achapitên piwapiskoyapi, ê oshitayan tipinwê nimikisak êko maka kishkwa ê pitinakik nesta maka ê tapaniman anahi mikisak anta napakatikohk. apachitayan anima mowach nistam oshichikêwin, niki naspitotên anima eki oshitayan nitiyan pêkwan. nêsta niwi wachiyêmaw kichi pitokwêw pinêsiw, nêsta maka niwi nanaskomaw nêsta niwi kistênimaw kishêmanito.

Karalyn’s Project: Project Thunderbird

A symbol of power. This piece is a record of Karalyn’s material investigation into how the original object was made. To better understand its materials, dyes, beading and weaving techniques she remade the panel in real time using contemporary materials – coloured plastic-coated electrical wires woven into a copper circuit board.

The circuit board and wire are made of copper. 

They are transmitters of electrical energy, which signal the handing down of Thunderbird narratives through generations. The circuit board references communication, transmission, and the propagation of thunderbird energy. The image and colour of both the original panel and the contemporary model provide a pixelated surface texture that suggests movement, mapping, and a tradition of visual story telling.

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