Exploring the Treaty Relationship is a collaborative video made by Michelle Sylliboy (Mi’kmaw/L’nu), Leigh Gillam (settler), Jessica Mensch (settler), and Antoinette Karuna (Tamil Sri Lankan/French Canadian settler). This work interprets the Treaty Relationship as a space of creation. Using the L’nuk/Mi’kmaw Komqwejwi’kasikl language, we co-wrote a hieroglyphic poem, which we then animated into a short video. We each contributed to the visualization of our poem. Antoinette through rug hooking; Michelle through poetry and photography; Leigh through animation; and Jessica through painting, animation, video, and analog video effects. Each of our contributions was synthesized into our five-minute video animation. The Treaty Song soundtrack was composed and sung by Renae Morriseau (Cree and Saulteaux). The synth accompaniment was composed by Jessica Mensch.
We all live on the unceded territory of the L’nuk People. Our collaboration is as Treaty Partners and our project reflects upon the Treaty Relationship. This Relationship is living—as the Covenant Chain of Peace and Friendship Treaties is living— and we view it as a space where we may come together and create. Our poem, L’nuk/Mi’kmaw Komqwejwi’kasikl language, reflects upon our different experiences of this space.
This project was made possible through support from Nocturne, RBC, and the Change Lab Action Research Initiative (CLARI).