Pepihchew Home Decor brings cultural message home
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY—Wall art with words in Anishinaabemowin and Cree have become a popular home decoration.
Lauree Linklater-Pizzale from Moose Cree First Nation has been creating wooden signs with syllabics with culturally relevant messages.
On the artisan scene since June, her business Pepihchew Home Décor literally takes on new meanings to soothe the cultural soul.
“It started out with a small idea for my own self,” noted Linklater-Pizzale. “My husband and I were painting our home and I thought it would be wonderful if we had Cree syllabics over our doorway saying this is our home. Then I thought I can make it myself.”
Linklater-Pizzale’s journey to learn her language was the genesis of her art.
“With three children, I want to make sure they have the opportunity to connect to their language,” stated Linklater-pIzzale. “We often practice words. This morning at the breakfast table we talked about my signs. I said they generate conversation about how we should connect to our language. These signs are a reminder in our own homes to do that.”
Linklater-Pizzale’s 11-year-old son has a sign in his room that says ‘my son’ in Cree – Nikosis. Her daughters have one as well – Nitânis.
Nipissing First Nation Native teacher Tory Fisher is helping Linklater-Pizzale compile Anishinaabemowin words relevant to the territory.
“I’ve been in North Bay for 15 years now and I’ve connected with a lot of Ojibway brothers and sisters here. Tory Fisher is one of them. He graciously offered to assist me with the language,” stated Linklater-Pizzale. “Being in Ojibway territory, it is important for them as well to connect to their language. So he has offered suggestions on what to put on Pepihchew’s signs.”
She is branching out to include words with special meanings.
“I’m offering messages of resiliency and hope,” noted Linklater-Pizzale. “As Aboriginal people, we are in a transition of being empowered; who we are, what we are and what we stand for and what rights we have.”
By day, Linklater-Pizzale is a manager of mental health units and regional programs at the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
She says that over the years, many things have impacted her views on things.
“Knowing your history is important. It generates from there and keeps growing,” stated Linklater-Pizzale.
Pepihchew Home Décor is a family affair that is mindful on the environment.
“It started with going to garage sales and repurposing pieces. I want to keep a percentage of my business mindful of that,” noted Linklater-Pizzale. “I picked up a really nice bench. I painted in Objibway on it, Come In Friends.”
Linklater-Pizzale has enlisted the family to keep up with the demand.
“If I need specific cuts, my husband helps,” continued Linklater-Pizzale. “He found a saw at one of the garage sales. And my daughters help me paint. They will help with the first and second coats.”
Her daughters, aged 16 and 13, were inspired to get involved after attending a camp supported by George Couchie.
“My daughters went to the camp and really connected to the culture. They found a real close base of friends and wanted to continue with their cultural life,” stated Linklater-Pizzale. “So now they want to gift with these signs saying it is important to them. There again, it’s all about the message.”
Linklater-Pizzale has spoken to a lot of people who are happy about seeing the language in their own homes.
“I went to Attawapiskat for work and wanted to gift them for hosting me. So I made 26 of these signs and brought them up,” added Linklater-Pizzale. “The message we need to be connected to is self-love. So I painted self-love in Cree, Sakehisoowin. My clinicians went to visit later and said the signs were in their homes.”