With Seven Generations, KC Adams tells stories through digital portraiture, documentary film and ancestor regalia.
A Thursday opening at the University of Winnipeg’s Gallery 1c03 welcomed students, curators and community members from near and far.
Twelve portraits of youth from the Fisher River Cree Nation–Adams’ community–brought the gallery walls to life.
“She created the photos in seven layers, so those seven layers represent seven generations,” Gallery 1c03 director and curator, Jennifer Gibson, said.
Adams, who is Cree/Anishinaabe and English, created the series titled We Are Still Here after 215 unmarked graves of children were discovered at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Each portrait features a digital layer of ancestor regalia loaned from the Manitoba Museum. The pieces are displayed on a glass table in the gallery’s centre.
“They’re surrounded by regalia, actually, ancestor regalia, to really solidify that idea of looking to the ancestors, Gibson said. “The ancestors have been dreaming of us, thinking about us in the present.”
Relational Making documentary
Nicole Patterson and her son Gibson Traverse were featured in Adams’ documentary, Relational Making.
The film features interviews with mothers of Fisher River powwow dancers about making regalia for their children.
At the opening, Patterson explained her process.
“I did make his outfit with a lot of help from community members, Elders. His colours are incorporated into his outfit,” she said. “I just finished this last night, so I was beading like a mad woman, trying to finish his headpiece.”
“My colours are blue, yellow, red,” Traverse said.
“And what’s your spirit name?” Patterson asked him.
“Hunting Bear,” he said.
While Adams could not attend the opening due to illness, her son, Mac, shared her words.
“She is so grateful for this opportunity to showcase this beautiful work of the ancestors,” he said. “This exhibition is a love letter to her community.”
Seven Generations is on display at the University of Winnipeg’s Gallery 1c03 until Feb. 14.
