Wabanaki Modern Wabanaki Kiskukewey Wabanaki Moderne: The Artistic Legacy of the 1960s Micmac Indian Craftsmen" Ta'n Koqoey Naqtmuksi'kɨpp 1960e"

The story of an overlooked group of cultural visionaries

The "Micmac Indian Craftsmen" of Elsipogtog (then known as Big Cove) rose to national prominence in the early 1960s. At their peak, they were featured in print media from coast to coast, their work was included in books and exhibitions -- including at Expo 67 -- and their designs were featured on prints, silkscreened notecards, jewelry, tapestries, and even English porcelain.

Primarily self-taught and deeply rooted in their community, they were among the first modern Indigenous artists in Atlantic Canada. Inspired by traditional Wabanaki stories, they produced an eclectic range of handmade objects that were sophisticated, profound, and eloquent.

By 1966, the withdrawal of government support compromised the Craftsmen's resources, production soon ceased, and their work faded from memory. Now, for the first time, the story of this groundbreaking co-operative and their art is told in full. Accompanying a major exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery opening in 2022, Wabanaki Modern features essays on the history of this vibrant art workshop, archival photographs of the artisans, and stunning full-colour images of their art.

Wla atukuaqn na ujit ta'nik mu ewi'tamuki'k tetuji kelulkɨ
pp ta'n teli amaliteka'tijik

Wla "Mi'kmewaqq L'nue'k amaliteka'tijik" tlo'ltijik Elsipogtog (amskweseweyekk i'tlui'tasikɨ
pp Big Cove) poqji wuli nenupnikk wla amaliteka'tijik 1960ekk. Je wekaw wutlukowaqnmuwow ika'tasikɨ
pp wikatikniktuk aqq ne'yo'tasikɨ
pp ta'n pukwelk ta'n wen nmitew -- je wekaw Expo 67 -- aqq ta'n koqoey kisi napui'kmi'tipp tampasɨ
k koqoey eweketu'tij stike' l'taqnewi'kasik, napui'kn misekn, wi'katikne'ji'jk, meko'tikl kuntal, kaqapitkl l'taqa'teke'l, aqq wekaw akalasie'we'k eptaqnk. Nekmow na kekina'masultijik aqq melki knukwi'tij ta'n tett telayawultijik, nekmow na amskewsewa'jewaqq l'nu'k tel nenujik ujit ta'n teli amaliteka'tijik ujit Atlantic Canada. Pema'lkwi'titl a'tukuaqnn ta'n sa'qewe'l, ta'n wejiaqel a'tukuaqnn Wabanaki, l'tu'tipp kaqasi milamu'k koqowey toqo eweketu'titl wutpitnual tetuji moqɨ
tekl, ma'muntekl, aqq weltekl.

Wekaw 1966ekk, kpno'l pun apoqnmuapni wla amaliteka'tikete'jɨ
k jel kaqnma'tijik ta'n koqoey nuta'tipp, amuj pana pun lukutipnikk, aqq tel awantasuwalutki'k. Nike', amskwesewey, wla a'tukuaqn tetuji msɨ
ki'kɨ
pp wla wut lukewaqnmuwow etel kaqi a'tukwasikk. Wije'tew meski'k neya'tmk Beaverbrook Art Gallery pana'siktetew 2022al, Wabanaki Modern na pema'toql wikikaqnn ujit ta'n pemiaqɨ
pp wla tetuji wulamu'kɨ
pp kisitaqnne'l telukutijik, maskutekl sa'qewe'l napuikasikl toqo nemu'jik etl-lukutijik wla lukewinu'k, aqq sikte wultek aqq welamu'k ta'n koqoey kisitu'tij.

L'histoire d'un groupe de visionnaires culturels ignors

Un groupe d'artisans mi'kmaw d'Elsipogtog (autrefois Big Cove) au Nouveau-Brunswick se fit connatre travers le Canada au dbut des annes 1960. l'apoge de leur renomme, les Micmac Indian Craftsmen firent l'objet d'articles dans des publications d'un ocan l'autre. Leur travail figura dans des livres et des expositions -- dont Expo 67 Montral -- et leurs oeuvres graphiques furent reproduites sous forme de gravures et de srigraphies, et elles ornrent de la papeterie, des bijoux, des tapisseries et mme de la porcelaine anglaise.

En grande partie autodidactes et solidement enracins dans leur communaut, les Micmac Indian Craftsmen furent parmi les premiers artistes autochtones modernes au Canada atlantique. En s'inspirant de rcits traditionnels wabanakis, ils fabriquaient la main une gamme varie d'objets raffins, vocateurs et porteurs d'un sens profond.

En 1966, toutefois, le gouvernement retira son soutien. Les Craftsmen perdirent leur financement, la production cessa peu aprs et leur oeuvre finit par tre oublie. Une nouvelle publication relate maintenant, pour la premire fois, l'histoire complte de cette cooprative innovatrice et de ses ralisations. Publi dans le cadre d'une grande exposition qui a lieu la Galerie d'art Beaverbrook en 2022, Wabanaki Moderne comprend des textes sur l'histoire de cet atelier dynamique, des photographies d'archives des artisans et de superbes illustrations couleur de leurs oeuvres.