Métis sash is a symbol of nationhood, cultural distinction, pride, and identity. Each color has a meaning. Red is for the blood that was shed through the years while fighting for rights. Blue is for the depth of our spirits. Green is for the fertility of a great nation. White is for the connection to the earth and Creator. Yellow is for the prospect of prosperity. Black is for the dark period of the suppression of people and dispossession of land.
Sweetgrass is one of the sacred medicines used in prayer, smudging and in ceremony. The smoke from burning dried, braided sweet grass draws in positive energy whilst clearing the negative, purifying us. The smoldering smoke carries our prayers, thoughts and wishes up to Creator.
Medicine wheel is the sacred hoop; a circle of awareness of the individual self which holds knowledge that represents the balance of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realities. The medicine wheel represents the interconnectivity of all the aspects of one’s being, including the connection with the natural world. Eagle feathers are a symbol of honour, displaying dignity and pride that symbolize what is highest, bravest, strongest, and holiest.
Bow and arrow was a complex technology essential for the survival of Indigenous people, both for hunting and making war. Each element of the bow, arrows and the quiver were comprised of raw materials. It was a fearsome weapon; this powerful missile of velocity provided a higher degree of deadly accuracy and greater mobility, allowing the warrior hunter more chances to strike at prey.
Sage is another sacred medicine used for ceremony, which holds teachings that offer strength, wisdom, and clarity of purpose. Sage cleanses our eyes to see the truth around us, our mouth so that all we speak will be truthful, our ears to hear the spiritual truths given to us by Creator, our hearts so they will feel the truth, our feet to seek to walk the true path. All of these we cleanse to seek balance and harmony, to lead us closer to our families, friends and community, to walk closer to our loved ones and help us flee our enemies, and most importantly, to lead us closer to our Creator.
Medicine pipe, the greatest spiritual power, is an essential key in ceremony. By smoking the holy pipe, you are bound by truth. The pipe ceremony is a sacred ritual for connecting physical and spiritual worlds. The pipe is a link between the earth and the sky that invokes a relationship with the energies of the universe, and ultimately the Creator. This bond made between earthly and spiritual realms is not to be broken.
Teepee is our sacred dwelling that holds traditional teachings within each element of the structure. The door faces East to allow morning prayers to travel toward the rising sun. The four main poles are the embodiment of the four realities: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. The remaining support poles ensures a strong lodge, representing values of obedience, respect, humility, happiness, love, faith, kinship, cleanliness, thankfulness, sharing, strength, good child-rearing, hope, ultimate protection. Controls flaps create harmony in the circle of life. The designs connect us with the Spirit Beings in the world around us, the painted area around the bottom symbolize the earth's surface that pays spiritual tribute to the importance of Mother Earth as the source of all physical life. The painted top represents the upper limit of the physical world, symbolizing Father Sky.
Drum, the heartbeat of Mother Earth, is a constant reminder of our responsibility towards Mother Earth. The beating of the drum helps us listen to our soul so that we can understand our purpose and our connection to each other in the Circle of Life. It is a powerful non-verbal form of peaceful communication, to release tension, emotional stress, and mental fatigue. There is a synchronization of energy, a unity, and a common purpose when the drum is used.
If I am to survive, I must learn the ways and teachings of my ancestors, keeping them close to heart while keeping the balance in my life and my surroundings outside my community. Traditional Knowledge collides with the contemporary and/or mainstream world, and it is my purpose to connect both of these worlds to heal not only myself, but all others who call for healing.
Growing up in a world destitute of purpose and meaning meant struggling with my own identity. Without the Traditional Knowledge my ancestors set out for future generations, I found myself displaced in a society of mixed interpretations of our history. In order to ground myself and build a strong foundation, I needed to look into the history of my parents and grandparents, into the history of my ancestors and within myself. Parts of this journey lead me to places I never thought I would end up. I've learned so much in the past five years that I feel my expedition has only begun, and I am but a little child in a universe filled with vast knowledge, only to be absorbed and expelled onto the rest of the world.
Working within the limitations of virtual art-sharing, I have tried to capture the importance of each item that has contributed to my identity. Regardless of space, time, area or mass, each item was chosen with purpose and meaning. To me, these go hand in hand with pride and culture. During this process of expressing myself, whether physically, emotionally, mentally and/or spiritually, each element of the chosen items has been intertwined with some of these teachings. Each ray of light was strategically placed to incorporate a hidden yet powerful message.
Within each frame, I chose items that would not only speak to the audience, but also share the knowledge that each item held. They embody the wisdom our ancestors laid before us. Part of my creation process meant delving through a painful past of loss and annihilation, feelings that emanate through some of my previous pieces. I do not wish to only showcase adversity, but rather reveal a legacy critical to Nitsitapi, because we are.......
Calgary-based self-taught artist, Sikitso Aki Tanya Loftus nee Scalplock, is a Blackfoot member of the Siksika Nation #147. Since 2016, she has embarked on a journey of self-realization and purpose. Connecting with her cultural heritage and roots have increased her vitality and unleashed a desire to acquire the traditional knowledge and teachings of her ancestors. Her first experience as an artist was in 2020 at the University of Lethbridge, where she enrolled in an Indigenous Art course. It was the recent passing of her eldest child, in the summer of 2018, that brought her to realize she wanted to pursue a career in a field that allows her to help the younger generations with their healing, and to be part of addiction prevention.