MJMAG exhibits honoured traditional Aboriginal beadwork projects in 2020

The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery hosted two unique cultural exhibits curated by local Cree traditional artist Barb Frazer in 2020, showcasing the hard work and cultural connections of Aboriginal women from the area. Both of the exhibitions mentioned below can be viewed in an online gallery by visiting mjmag.ca/ community-exhibits.

Women’s Cape Project:

In partnership with the Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association and Sask Culture, Frazer facilitated a beadwork class with a group of women interested in exploring the traditional practice.

During the nine-week class, each woman began creating a handmade beaded cape that represented their family or history in some way. The beaded cape is traditionally a ceremonial item in most Indigenous cultures, worn at the highest ceremonies, and the knowledge of craft is something that is passed down from woman to woman. Some individuals spent months completing their capes, many of which were featured in the gallery exhibition.

The WACA Women’s Cape Project was on display at the MJMAG from Feb. 7 to Aug. 30, 2020 and featured works from eight local Aboriginal artists.

Curator and traditional Cree artist Barb Frazer, wearing her own cape featuring a recreated design that mirrors the one on her grandmother’s moccasins, organized both beading projects. (photo by Larissa Kurz)

Artist Ashley Young with a guest at the Cape Project opening, talking about her Tree of Life-inspired cape design. (photo by Larissa Kurz) Bernice La Rose’s work (L) is displayed alongside Maryanne Machiskinic’s cape (R). (photo by Larissa Kurz)

Wonda Alton’s cape features red and white roses, and Jazenta Saultier’s beadwork features dragonflies and flowers for her family, both past and present. (photo by Larissa Kurz)

Artist Mavis Olson took the time to bead her fringe in an intricate pattern.

“Rina” by Bernice LaRose, “Ashley” by Karen Young, and “Ralph” by Mavis Olsen. (photo by Larissa Kurz)

“Self Portrait” by Emily Perreault, a Regina teacher who shared how the project helped her connect with her culture. (photo by Larissa Kurz)

“Fleur” by Karen Anderson. (photo by Larissa Kurz)

“Wild Moon Child” by Jazenta Saultier, dedicated to all of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. (photo by Larissa Kurz)

Dancing Spirit in Isolation:

Following the interest in the previous beadwork project and a request to provide an activity of ancestral practice during the spring lockdown, another traditional beadwork project debuted at the MJMAG later in 2020. This project, titled Dancing Spirit in Isolation, was a healing project to address the isolation of the pandemic. More than 30 women designed a beadwork medallion using the figure of the Jingle Dress dancer as a template, traditionally an image of healing, to show how their spirit danced in isolation during the lockdown.

Additionally, spring is traditionally the time when individual cultural projects are completed, making it a natural time to embark on this project. Dancing Spirit in Isolation was on display at the MJMAG from Oct. 9 to Nov. 15, 2020 and featured works from 12 local Aboriginal artists.

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