During the pandemic I spent a lot of time reflecting on connection and intimacy. What does intimacy really mean and how can we cultivate intimacy for ourselves and others in diverse realms. I used to view intimacy as something I needed to cultivate with another. During the pandemic when that was not available to myself and others I loved I began to pursue alternative ways to feel connected; connected to myself, my queerness, my Indigeneity and my community. This exploration led me to think about the times when I have felt the most profound connection, most of these times were not shared moments with a lover, instead they were moments of love and vulnerability felt while creating, embracing a friend or sharing a meal. How do you experience intimacy within your world? Where do you build it and with whom or with what?
During the pandemic I spent a lot of time reflecting on connection and intimacy. What does intimacy really mean and how can we cultivate intimacy for ourselves and others in diverse realms. I used to view intimacy as something I needed to cultivate with another. During the pandemic when that was not available to myself and others I loved I began to pursue alternative ways to feel connected; connected to myself, my queerness, my Indigeneity and my community. This exploration led me to think about the times when I have felt the most profound connection, most of these times were not shared moments with a lover, instead they were moments of love and vulnerability felt while creating, embracing a friend or sharing a meal. How do you experience intimacy within your world? Where do you build it and with whom or with what?
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Cheyenne Rain LeGrande, Nehiyaw Isko from Bigstone Cree Nation.
Toonasa Jordana Luggi. Wet’suwet’en, Dakelh and German. Indigiqueer living on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyə̓ m (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), ̱ and sel ̓ílwitulh (T ̓ sleil-Waututh) Nations.
Emerencz Merkle. visual artist, pleasure worker, and sound artist. Cree from Chapleau Cree First Nation, Croatian, Hungarian, and English Settler.
(Clockwise, top left to right)
Cheyenne Rain LeGrande, Nehiyaw Isko from Bigstone Cree Nation.
Toonasa Jordana Luggi. Wet’suwet’en, Dakelh and German. Indigiqueer living on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyə̓ m (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), ̱ and sel ̓ílwitulh (T ̓ sleil-Waututh) Nations.
Emerencz Merkle. visual artist, pleasure worker, and sound artist. Cree from Chapleau Cree First Nation, Croatian, Hungarian, and English Settler.
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Nitotems. Beyon Wren Moor (she/her) two-spirit Nehiyaw from the Pimicikamac Nation. Tatttoo artist and painter with Kisikawacahkos Iskwew – Daystar Nehiyaw, Metis from Treaty 6 Amiskwaci – Beaver Hills (Edmonton AB). Live and travel between Lekwungen Territory (Victoria, BC) and Treaty 6.
Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat is an Indigenous Birthworker, Jingle Dress Dancer, and Artisan from Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation. She currently serves as co founder of Native Arts society and co lead of Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction with her partner Nanook Gordon/ Waabshki Miungun (White Wolf) is an Indigiqueer Inuvialuk from Inuvik, NWT. Founder of Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction and Cofounder of Native Arts Society.
Larissa & their parent LG . Larissa is Nisga’a, Gitxsan, Cree, Blackfeet from the Pikuni Nation, Red River Metis, Swedish, Irish and Scottish. Their parent LG is Two-Spirit, Red River Metis/Cree/Blackfeet/Scottish/Irish.
(Clockwise, left to right)
Nitotems. Beyon Wren Moor (she/her) two-spirit Nehiyaw from the Pimicikamac Nation. Tatttoo artist and painter with Kisikawacahkos Iskwew – Daystar Nehiyaw, Metis from Treaty 6 Amiskwaci – Beaver Hills (Edmonton AB). Live and travel between Lekwungen Territory (Victoria, BC) and Treaty 6.
Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat is an Indigenous Birthworker, Jingle Dress Dancer, and Artisan from Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation. She currently serves as co founder of Native Arts society and co lead of Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction with her partner Nanook Gordon/ Waabshki Miungun (White Wolf) is an Indigiqueer Inuvialuk from Inuvik, NWT. Founder of Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction and Cofounder of Native Arts Society.
Larissa & their parent LG . Larissa is Nisga’a, Gitxsan, Cree, Blackfeet from the Pikuni Nation, Red River Metis, Swedish, Irish and Scottish. Their parent LG is Two-Spirit, Red River Metis/Cree/Blackfeet/Scottish/Irish.
This selection of images from my series An Exploration of Resilience and Resistance seeks to expand on the concept of queer intimacies to reflect on my contemplations of the last years. Indigenous relationships, queer relationships, the creation of a chosen family, the connection to kin, building intimate relationships to self, to body and art practices, are all distinct ways to connect to both our queerness and our Indiginiety. Each image bares a connection different from the image before and the image after.
Within this collection of images, we bear witness to a two-spirit child and parent basking in a shared moment of joy, we are invited to witness individual embracing diverse facets of their own identity. Love blossoms in the care of a partnership, an indigiqueer holds themselves and their Nlaka’pamux blackwork. The artistic bond between friends is celebrated as they adorn each other with their art, and an artist proudly wears her own masterpiece. These images are a heartfelt reflection of our community, culture, land, and the cherished relationships that inspire intimacy.
