Autumn Whiteway Calls for Submissions to Her Upcoming Exhibit Indigenous Motherhood and Matriarchy
After giving birth to her son Migizi in July of 2020 via emergency C-section, Autumn Whiteway (Night Singing Woman) was bound to her hospital bed for four and a half days. While recovering from the surgery, the Saulteaux/Métis artist and curator conceptualized her exhibit Indigenous Motherhood and Matriarchy, a three-part series that features artworks which explore motherhood and matriarchy through an Indigenous lens. The final part of the series will be housed in the Arts Commons + 15 Galleries from mid-September to December 2021 as part of the RBC Emerging Visual Artist Program.
“I started planning and curating from my hospital bed,” says Autumn. “The second day in the hospital the idea just came to me during one of my first experiences breastfeeding as a first-time mom — it was such an incredible feeling. I didn't expect it to be that way and expect such a bond.”
Autumn is a visual artist, traditional craftworker, curator, and archaeologist. She is inspired by artists such as Norval Morrisseau, and Kent Monkman and explores Indigenous themes from a contemporary perspective in her artwork. Her painting and digital art is primarily focused on the heavily symbolic Woodland Style of Ojibway art which features bold lines, bright colours, and 2D x-ray imagery. In addition to her painting, Autumn uses photography as a form of activism to highlight Indigenous issues.
The third part of her latest project, Indigenous Motherhood and Matriarchy, is currently open for submissions from all Indigenous perspectives and will feature artwork from Indigenous women, men, LGBTQ2S people, and youth. Autumn says she is open to a broad spectrum of interpretations from artists and looks forward to seeing submissions from both emerging and established creatives.
“For me, it's important to be very inclusive of all different voices,” says Autumn. She particularly wants to see submissions from Two-Spirit perspectives and other voices in the community that have historically been silenced due to colonialism.
Resurgence, resilience, and community are overarching themes in Autumn’s artwork and are prevalent throughout the first two instalments of her exhibit. “It's very powerful because traditionally a lot of Indigenous societies were matriarchies, and then with colonialism they switched to a patriarchy which has caused a lot of issues within the communities such as violence towards women. I think that this exhibition is important to highlight the resurgence of matriarchy. There's a lot of women on the front lines as water protectors and pillars of their communities.”
“I would love for anybody and everybody to view this exhibition. I particularly think it's important with what's happening across Turtle Island, right now, to look at our histories and look at Indigenous cultures,” Autumn says. In light of the recent recoveries of the bodies of over 1000 Indigenous children across Canada, Autumn particularly wants people who view the exhibit to think about how the history of residential schools and state-sanctioned violence against Indigenous communities have created complex relationships for some with Indigenous motherhood.
“Many of the works that have been submitted have been really joyful aspects of motherhood, but there is a darker history to motherhood in Indigenous communities too because of residential schools,” says Autumn. “A lot of people were taken away from their families and may not have learned how to be parents and there's a lot of intergenerational trauma in these communities.”
Lifegiver by Autumn Whiteway
Indigenous Motherhood and Matriarchy is an exploration of diverse voices that delivers truth, emotion, and a message of resilience in the face of centuries of colonial oppression. “Colonialism has profoundly interfered with the matriarchal systems and traditional child rearing practices of Indigenous peoples. Despite this, Indigenous women are resilient; with mothers and matriarchs rising to the occasion to strengthen our communities and pass on their wisdom to generations to come.”
How to Submit
Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island are invited to submit to Indigenous Motherhood and Matriarchy. Selected artists must be able to ship artwork to Calgary/Mohkinstsis (some funding is available to supplement shipping costs). Various forms of visual media will be accepted. Please submit a selection of high resolution images, an artist biography and headshot to Autumn Whiteway at whitewaa@myumanitoba.ca by 11:59 pm August 13, 2021.
