Maanjidowin: The Gathering

Description

Maanjidowin: The Gathering has been unveiled by PortsToronto at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The sculpture was created by David M. General, Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan of the Six Nations, and was conceived and installed in partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit and aims to recognize the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and their relationship to the land, air and water on which the airport now operates.

Maanjidowin: The Gathering, is a large-scale granite and bronze sculpture that is more than 16-feet in length and features three mythical fishers – Makwa-Kwe (Bear), Nigig-Kwe (Otter) and Migizi-Kwe (Eagle) – who have come to the estuaries and islands along Toronto’s Lake Ontario shoreline to fish. The canoe in which the fishers sit is inscribed with words and symbols of significance to the Mississaugas of the Credit, including: The Medicine Wheel; the Seven Grandfather Teachings, which are guiding principles that provide the moral and cultural foundation of life; and poetry from the current Chief R. Stacey Laforme. As indicated by inscribed arm tattoos, the creatures are all female, as females played a central role as custodians of cultural traditions surrounding water.