Enacting Parts

Abstract

I have lived in Mohkínstsis/Calgary for four years, most of which have been marked by the pandemic that is ongoing as I write this. I highlight this here because my physical, social, and cultural connections with this city are limited. However, given the circumstances, I had the privilege and opportunity to connect with the land and the non-human world around me. Walking, a privilege that allowed me to engage with places I have visited and lived in throughout my life, has been particularly significant during the pandemic. Walking through the northwest suburbs of this city has allowed me to foster a relationship with the land, which now animates my practice. In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, I acknowledge that I am an uninvited white settler occupying this land, which forms the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani, Kanai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations). This territory is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. I am grateful to be situated here, and through my work, I aim to honour the land and all its forms, taking greater responsibility for my presence and potential future in this place.