Ode’imin Mukwa by Catherine Dallaire
When we’re suffering, we often ask mukwa, the bear, for strength and courage. Also important is ode’imin, the heart berry/strawberry. The berry represents love, and the plant represents community. This piece, Ode’imin Mukwa, is a visual prayer in which manidoo mukwa, the bear spirit, claws its chest open as a vibrant strawberry plant pours from inside it, reminding us of the strawberry’s teachings. This action and the bear’s unafraid expression are suggestive of love, empathy, and selflessness for the people
Catherine Dallaire was born in 1979 in Kitchener, Ontario. She is Métis with roots in both the Kichesipirini band of Algonquin (Allumette Island) and the Weskarini band of Algonquin (Trois-Rivières). She is a multidisciplinary fine artist and graphic designer and enjoys working in both traditional and contemporary mediums.
Dimensions 60"L x 50"W
Photography by Jesse King
Models Claudia Skunk and Kaitlynn Tomaselli