Photo credit: sweetmoon photography
Language is such a personal thing. It connects us to who we are, where we’re from and to the people around us. It allows us to be fully engaged in our communities, and whether we’re conscious of it or not, it makes up a huge part of our identity.
Joi T Arcand is a visual artist who explores this relationship with the Cree language through her work. Growing up in Saskatchewan, on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 6 Territory, she was surrounded by family members speaking the Plains Cree language. This language has inspired and informed her work as a visual artist and graphic designer throughout her career.
Joi’s 2009 photo series Here on Future Earth explored what the world would look like if everyday signage was written in Cree instead of English or French, as we are accustomed to in Canada. The 2017 installation Wayfinding was a collection of phrases written in Cree syllabics in the form of neon signs, and displayed in art galleries and sites across Canada. Recognised nationally and internationally for her work, Joi is currently shortlisted for the 2018 Sobey Art Award, the most prestigious award available to young artists in Canada.
A recent project, Mad Aunty, is a strong, bold and colourful collection of laser-cut cursive and syllabic Cree words, this time set in jewellery. After moving from Saskatchewan to Ottawa, she was looking for ways to get involved in the community. A local library was holding a laser cutting workshop, so she signed up. The Cree words she was working with and her new-found skill set intersected naturally.
“Because I was working with language at the time, and working with syllabics, I just naturally started handwriting out these words that I would [then] laser cut.”
When a friend suggested that the words she was designing would be awesome on an earring, the jewellery line was born. But it needed a name. Mad Aunty embodies the caring and disciplinary role of an aunt, and the stern, strong – and often hilarious – spirits of her Kokum’s (grandmother’s) sisters.
The words that she works with are intrinsic to her childhood; commands that her Kokum and great aunts would have used to keep the kids in line. Now based in Ottawa, she noticed that certain Ojibwe and Oji-Cree communities share a lot of the same words, and so the commands have a certain universality to them.
“For the jewellery I stuck with the universality of the language, because it acts as almost an insider. You either know or you don’t know. And it’s a conversation starter. So if somebody is curious as to what the jewellery says, then that’s an opportunity around language and culture.”
In addition to laser-cut acrylic, Joi began learning how to use 3D printing to create new designs. She used this new medium to create the four-finger syllabic rings available on Mad Aunty. One of these rings spells out Awas in syllabics; a cheeky combination when set in rings subtly similar to brass knuckles.
Joi doesn’t provide translations to the words and phrases in her installation art and has carried that concept into her jewellery. This is done intentionally, as the words that dangle from the earrings hold more meaning than their simple Google translation. Omitting the translation creates the opportunity for those who don’t speak Cree to learn the meaning of the words. It fosters a dialogue about the Cree language and supports its revitalisation. It’s an opportunity to learn about the history of Indigenous nations in North America and why these languages are in need of revitalisation in the first place.
And when it comes to dialogue, she often gets the question from non-Cree and non-Indigenous friends who want to support her business: “Is it okay for me to wear these pieces?” To them, she says:
“Absolutely, you can wear these words; it’s just important for me that you are able to have a conversation around what it says and what it means to wear that.” She explains,“If they choose to wear the earrings they need to be able to have those conversations when they’re out in the world.”
Joi has been traveling the world with her artwork, having recently returned from an exhibition in Vienna. While her work has been giving her more travel opportunities, she says the most important part of her design process is going back home.
“Going home is probably the most important part of my process, because for me, that’s where the language lives. The landscape of Saskatchewan, it’s so inspiring.”
To see more of Mad Aunty’s designs, make sure to follow her on Instagram and check out her website. And for more of Joi’s installation and art work, click here.
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Languages fascinate me! I find it fascinating that they have similar words in different languages.
I loves language and am fascinated by how similar native cultures are around the world, especially with regard the fact they are high context compared to western