They Said So / kî-itwêw ᑮᐃᑌᐧᐤ

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Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet, “Heart Piece,” 2023

acrylic and graphite on canvas, 4ft x 5ft (courtesy of the gallery)

They Said So explores and celebrates the Métis stories you won’t find in textbooks but rather the stories of the women, the queer and trans kin, the nurturers, and the knowledge keepers. The stories of those who tended the fires, who fed us, and kept us surviving.

This exhibition brings us closer to the land in our communities and the land where our ancestors once lived; we are sharing stories that pass through our lineage to future generations. Through the exploration of our own histories and culture we add to the existing knowledge deep in our marrow.

This exhibition belongs to all of us. We are not unique in the reality that our ancestors' stories have been lost or hidden from us. The seeking of histories, belonging, and resistance, is a similar story for many of us. These stories of longing and displacement are often intentionally minimized and dismissed. We use storytelling through art to validate that our ancestors existed, they led, nurtured, and carried. It is because of this that we exist, we lead, we nurture, and we carry.

They Said So is curated by Kyla Pascal and features the work of Carrie Allison, Dana Belcourt, Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet, Maureen Callihoo Ligtvoet, Arlo Henry, Erin Konsmo, Candace Neumann, and Kyla Pascal.