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Boohoo niijii-bimaadiziig. Cynthia Langford niindizhinkaas.  Nin ojibwe, Flying Post First Nation Ontario treaty nine niindoonjibah. T’Kemlups niinday.Nin mazina’iganike.

 

What I have said in anishinaabemowin is:

Welcome my fellow human beings, my name is Cynthia Langford , I am Ojibway  from Flying Post First Nation treaty nine in Ontario. I now live in Kamloops and I am an artist.

 

I grew up in a small town on Lake Superior, part of a family of eight. My father is Ojibway and my mother is French. Unfortunately, I was not exposed to much of the culture and traditional teachings at home ( I believe now that was my parents way of protecting us children from Indian agents and prejudice). My father, one of thirteen children, was raised in the bush by my grandparents, who bravely kept their children away from Indian agents and prevented them from entering the residential school system. Recently, I’ve begun to learn from my father about his upbringing—the deep connection he had with nature through studying plants, hunting, fishing, and respecting the land.

Now, as an elder, I feel a profound longing and urgency to reclaim this lost knowledge.

 

Through the ongoing process of truth and reconciliation, I have experienced a heavy sense of cultural loss—one that I should have been exposed to earlier in life. I am grateful to the Flying Post First Nation for investing in resources that teach our community the language, traditional arts, and culture.

 

My artistic journey began after an art workshop in Tuscany, which opened my eyes and heart to the beauty of the land. I discovered the joy of painting and the necessity to express the feelings burning in my heart and hands. Upon returning home to Salmon Arm to my husband and two daughters, I devoted myself to exploring acrylic painting, capturing the landscapes of my home and travels. I felt particularly drawn to paint My Ida, a location sacred to the local Neskonlith people. I participated in numerous art workshops to refine my skills, and soon I was accepted into the Federation of Canadian Artists. My work has been exhibited in local galleries and businesses, an experience that has been exceedingly rewarding.

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Both of my daughters have married and settled in Kamloops. For several years, I commuted between Salmon Arm and Kamloops to visit and spend precious time with my wonderful grandchildren. The drive along the river, where I often spot eagles, leads me past the stunning golden hoodoos that beckoned me to my new home. This year, we were fortunate to sell our home and relocate just down the street from three grandsons and only 15 minutes away from my granddaughter—this fills my heart with joy.

Our new home offers a spectacular view of the hoodoos, and I am constantly in awe of how the winds and the Creator have shaped this ever-changing land. I feel a profound connection to these lands and their people.

In discovering the traditional art of beading I envisioned beading many feathers, allowing the beads to guide my designs. Beading is very new to me and the design process and feeling of the beaded work on my hands is calming and fulfilling.  I have used fabric to sculpture and shape the landscapes here to capture my heart and soul as well as my traditional landscape paintings of the hoodoos on canvas.They  serve as a constant source of inspiration for my artwork.

 

 

Miigwetch

 

 

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