Living and Lost Connections

February 10 – May 20, 2024

The Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON

Curated by Melissa Bennett

From the depths of my body, the cosmos unfurl—starlight courses through veins held by ancestral presence from within. Our bodies, formed from clay and moonlight, exist as celestial entities in a cycle of (re)awakening. My journey intertwines with that of my Ancestors, traversing across time and space, feeling their resonance on Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ homelands.

Life and death transcend earthly vessels, existing in cyclical motions. 

My soul is a traveller of many lifetimes. I greet myself back at the beginning of my journey, but stronger. Embodied echoes of knowledge stir from within, returning to my medicines. Whispers in Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ flow through my bloodstream. While the words evade my understanding, I feel my Ancestors calling to me—a tender embrace welcoming me home. Their gestures are gentle and loving as I remember my sacred responsibilities.

As the Ancestors bear witness, we shed collective tears born from generations of grief and loss. The land they once nurtured has been uprooted and laid to waste, leaving our spirits shattered and our languages silenced—yet—like the moon orbiting the Earth, we continue. The tides ebb and flow within feminine bodies, ensuring continuous rebirth and regeneration. 

Generations of Hodinöhsö:ni’ women intricately weave memories into mine, forging pathways for my return. Slowly navigating the vast map, seemingly endless, Ancestral frequencies resonate. A tapestry of kin and relatives stretch like galaxies forming the essence of my existence.

We rise and fall, mirroring the land's rhythmic breaths, the journey of healing unfolds—nonlinear and adaptive, like time itself. Our memories are destined to be etched into the stars and passed down through generations—legacy. 

Jacobs-Blum gratefully acknowledges support from the Ontario Arts Council. A special thank you to Kiera Boult, Marc LeSage and Yuma Dean Hester for supporting the production of the film.