Cathy Mattes and Jigging

Cathy Mattes came in from Brandon for a presentation which she titled "Indigenous Art History at the BUSH" as a part of Site/ation by BUSH gallery (Gabrielle L'hirondelle Hill, Peter Morin, and Tania Willard). As has become ritual, the talk began with a call and response song performed by brother Joseph Naytohow – art elder and participating artist in Site/ation. Cathy Mattes is one of the first Métis curators, and uses her Métis/Michif culture as a point of access for her curatorial practice. BUSH gallery utilizes "trans-pedagogy" and indigenous philosophy which particularly interests Cathy as different from typical colonial art academies and institutions. Indigenous centred art institutions value collaboration and Cathy translates curation as a propeller of creative continuance. She pointed to examples of folks excelling at this as Daina Warren at Urban Shaman Gallery, Tania Willard and Peter Morin of BUSH gallery.

Cathy Mattes is Michif, which, she pointed out is the Métis word for Métis. She describes the Michif language as having roots in Cree, French, English, and Anishinaabe, and have distinct regional variations as a result. After finding out both of her grandparents' primary languages were Michif, she started actively learning. For Cathy, learning the language means understanding the culture, and understanding the knowledge and teachings as well. Part of Cathy's PhD work embodies this, specifically, teaching and being taught. It places humility as a site of discourse. It is through being taught and processing teaching that Cathy has begun to read differently and through an informed lens.

Cathy's connection to her to her Métis identity revolves around the kitchen table, a site of visiting and listening. The Métis kitchen table was where loved ones were fed, beadwork was sewn, and also was often the warmest room in the household because of the oven. The kitchen table was a domestic and activated space, with her family always moving around. The kitchen table was a place to be with family, have ancestors manifest.

During the presentation, Cathy showed us a jig with Joseph . They both had their variations, Cathy being Michif/Métis from Southwestern Manitoba and Joseph who is Plains/Woodland Cree from Saskatchewan. After the presentation, Cathy had everyone jig with her. She has recently begun practicing ending talks with a Red River Jig, following after a ritual by one of the knowledge keeper's she works with in Brandon who would make everyone stand in a circle to give and receive a hugs until everyone had been hugged after every event. Sharing the Red River Jig is Cathy's version of showing care and comfort. The talk, including jigging will be put online sometime soon - we are just trying to find a way to make the files smaller so that Vimeo can manage it. Keep looking for them on our video archive!

Thank you for the knowledge Cathy!

Cathy Mattes

Cathy Mattes and Joseph Naytowhow jig dancing.