The Meeting

Description

‘The Meeting’ by Jim Oskineegish – First Nations Woodland Art presented by DaVic Gallery of Native Canadian Arts

Condition:       no condition noted.

Description by Artist:   No description available.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:

• The Stage: Turtle Island The entire composition is built upon and within the form of the Turtle. This is Turtle Island—the sacred landmass that is North America. The bold, black “power lines” and the visible backbone of the turtle signify that this land is the foundation, the primary ancestor, and the living context for all that is occurring.

• The Facilitator: The Shaman Within the turtle’s shell, a centralized Shaman figure, marked by their traditional cap and a “divided” face of inner/outer vision, is actively facilitating the meeting. Their bold, divided color palette (blue, green, yellow, red) suggests they are in a state of spiritual transformation, bridging the worlds to allow communication.

• The Clans: Anishinaabe Presence Surrounding the Shaman are key Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) clan animals: the Bear (for medicine and protection), the Eagle (for wisdom, strength, and connection to the Creator), and the Loon (for leadership and diplomacy). Their placement within the turtle confirms they are in a balanced, grounded relationship with the land and with each other.

• The Power: The Serpent A powerful Serpent—distinct from the clan animals—weaves its way through the upper quadrant of the composition. In Woodland cosmology, serpents are not evil but are powerful underworld and water spirits. They are considered high-consequence beings associated with intense medicine, healing, protection, and the deep knowledge of the spirit world. Its inclusion here suggests that this is not just a standard meeting of diplomacy; it is a high-level spiritual council, requiring the full power of all realms—land, sky, and water—to be successful.

Conclusion: In summary, “The Meeting” is a visualization of cosmic reconciliation. It depicts a pivotal council where the sacred land (Turtle Island), the human world (the Shaman), the social world (the Clans), and the spiritual world (the Serpent) are all united by a single, vibrant network of shared energy and shared responsibility. It is a perfect metaphor for the complex, multi-layered dialogue required for a meaningful Reconciliation Action Plan.