“Kanawak\u00f3n:ha”. Does this word spark curiosity? Welcome to Station 1 of Tsi niion kwarih\u00f2:ten. It is also known as Nos r\u00e9cits, notre voie : parcours Peel or Our Ways: Peel Trail. This station marks the beginning of an artistic journey. It stretches along Peel Street from the Lachine Canal to Mount Royal.
Station 1 sits on the west side of Peel Street. It lies between Smith and Wellington streets. Here, near the Lachine Canal, the theme is Vie aquatique or Water Life. The artwork consists of two bronze spheres. Each sphere represents a different perspective. MC Snow offers an Indigenous viewpoint. Kyra Revenko shares a non-Indigenous interpretation. These spheres start a dialogue between cultures.
Tsi niion kwarih\u00f2:ten is a series of 11 stations. They invite reflection on Montreal’s history. The entire trail features 21 bronze sculptures. The project aims to foster understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. Each station is inspired by the Kanien’keh\u00e1:ka ceremony. It is called “Words Before All Else”. This ceremony expresses gratitude. An Elder traditionally performs it. This happens at the start of important meetings.
The city of Montreal initiated this project. They did it in co-creation with the Kahnaw\u00e0:ke band council. Community members and archaeologists also contributed. Archaeological digs on Peel Street from 2016 to 2019 uncovered a 14th-century Iroquoian village. This discovery inspired the trail. Even the tree guards echo pottery patterns found during excavations.
The Our Ways: Peel Trail includes an audio experience. A podcast in English and French accompanies the art. It is accessible through the Portrait Sonore app. The podcast shares insights into the island’s history since European arrival.
The unveiling of the first stations happened on June 20 2023. It coincided with National Indigenous Peoples Day. The complete trail was inaugurated on June 3 2024. Tsi niion kwarih\u00f2:ten invites us to consider different perspectives. It encourages dialogue. It enriches our understanding of Montreal’s layered past. Take a moment to appreciate the sculptures. Reflect on the theme of aquatic life. Consider the meeting of cultures that this artwork represents.