Peatr Thomas: Aski Pimachi Iwew

Project Spotlight: Inside the creation of a new mural for Qaumajuq’s Katita Café

ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᖅ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᐃᔩᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᒃᓴᒥᒃ ᐱᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ
A mural in black and red shows a turtle with a landscape on its shell swimming in a large body of water. The mural is installed among cafe chairs and bench-seating.

This video captures a behind-the-scenes look at the artwork commission from Peatr Thomas in the Katita Café at Qaumajuq, the new Inuit art centre!

This vivid and evocative mural—titled Aski Pimachi Iwew (meaning “Earth Giving Us Survival Ways”)—tells a story of the earth’s renewal. A great turtle shell emerges from the depths to reflect the land on which we live.

A mural in black and red shows a turtle with a landscape on its shell swimming in a large body of water. The mural is installed among cafe chairs and bench-seating.
Peatr Thomas, Aski Pimachi Iwew, 2021. COURTESY WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-QAUMAJUQ.
A view of the Katita Café with seating in the foreground and a café counter in back.
Katita Café. COURTESY WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-QAUMAJUQ. PHOTO: ERIC AU.

Thomas gives a fascinating narrative that adds power to the beautiful colours of the mural—the subtle shades of red and the black silhouettes of the sacred creatures that populate the land:

“The old story goes that in the beginning of creation, Mother Earth was nothing but water. The turtle and water creatures were here first. The muskrat swam to the bottom of the water, grabbed mud, and packed it onto the back of the turtle. Muskrat repeated this process over and over, creating what we now know is an island. On that island, plants and land creatures grew. This new home we call Turtle Island, where you and I now stay.

In Indigenous culture, we are told that there will be a time of great change, Mother Earth cleansing herself, and people awakening to truths. A red sky is said to be the sign of its arrival at the time of the 7th generation.

With the red sky fading, a new sky rises. In this new sky we are guided by the ancestor spirits, the previous six generations, greeting us with love.” – Peatr Thomas

Credit: This video was originally published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery, April 6, 2021. COURTESY WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-QAUMAJUQ.

This story is part of the Qaumajuq Partner Spotlight. View more content from the Spotlight here.