Gaze upon these bronze spheres. They are part of Tsi niion kwarihó:ten Our Ways Peel Trail. This isn’t just art. It’s a conversation. A dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives.
Here at Station 4 we’re looking at a celestial theme. The Kanien’kéha word Tsi karonhiá:ke means Sky World. Think constellation charts ancient stories. The two bronze spheres represent different ways of seeing the same sky. One sphere reflects the Indigenous understanding. The other shows a non-Indigenous viewpoint.
This project took years. Archaeological digs from 2016 to 2019 unearthed an important 14th-century Iroquoian village right here on Peel Street. This discovery sparked the idea. The sculptures themselves are a collaboration between Kanien’kéha visual artist MC Snow and non-Indigenous artist Kyra Revenko. They wanted to bridge cultures. They wanted to share stories.
The audio component enhances the experience. Download the Portrait Sonore app. Listen to Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices. Hear legends. Learn about botany human anatomy and navigation. Explore different knowledge systems. The artists even incorporated a pottery motif from the archaeological find into the cast iron tree guards.
The entire Tsi niion kwarihó:ten installation stretches along Peel Street. It goes from the Lachine Canal all the way up to Mount Royal Park. Eleven stations each with two bronze spheres. Each station focuses on a different theme. Each a piece of Montreal’s shared history. A history older than European colonization.
Tsi niion kwarihó:ten Our Ways Peel Trail is more than just a stroll. It’s a journey. A journey through time. A journey through understanding. A testament to reconciliation. And it all begins right here at Station 4. Let the spheres speak to you.