An ode to miyupimâtisiûn : The story Jimmy Tim Whiskeychan’s artwork tells us
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In late January of this year, the CBHSSJB had the pleasure to present to community members and dignified guests our new Community Miyupimaatisiiun Centre (CMC) in Waskaganish. The winning submissions to our call for offers by Jimmy Tim Whiskeychan and Darwin Sam now grace the walls of our new facility.
In his piece featured in the lobby, Whiskeychan walks us through the fundamentals of miyupimâtisîun, the Crees traditional vision of holistic health rooted in “land-based healing through an active and living culture of tradition, custom, language & ritual”. The artwork titled ᓅᐦᒋᒦᐦᒡᐁᐄᐦᑖᔨᓐᒋᑲᒪᔅᑫᓐᒦᓄᐙᒋᓰᐎᓐ/Healing comes from the land has several components that speak of the resilience of Eeyouch and Eenouch, and the cycles that shaped us: changes of seasons, knowledge transfer through generations, the diurnal motions of the Sun and the Moon, and the return to the land in times of healing. The composition of the piece with its four quadrants and circular shape is reminiscent of the cycle of life and its rites of passage.
“Cree Art is healing and gives people hope on their own journeys. Art heals and reminds us of the importance of culture; sharing it helps everyone understand better. Like our ancestors who have gone out on the land for generations, being on the land provides balance, wisdom, and well-being.”
- Jimmy Tim Whiskeychan
Assisted by Stefanie Thompson in both the realization and installation of the piece, Whiskeychan emphasizes on their collaboration as a key factor of success in this project, given the scale of the piece and the work it required.
“Based on the initial sketch envisioned by Tim, the creation of this monumental work is the result of a beautiful collaboration. Driven by a shared energy, we intertwined our gestures, our colors, and our brushstrokes to bring a vibrant piece to life.
Through its scale and complexity, this project has been both a stimulating challenge and a tremendous source of pride in our artistic journeys. It embodies the power of collaboration and reveals the richness of a creative dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, an open space where ideas flow, evolve, and rise together.”
- Stéfanie Thompson
*Credit photo: Josianne Carrier
The piece will be permanently exhibited in the lobby of the Waskaganish Community Miyupimaatisiiun Centre.
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