Women who inspire: Gallery6500 features 15 prominent Indigenous women
By Laura E. Young
SUDBURY – An appointment at the Sudbury & District Labour Council has inspired a Sudbury art gallery to feature the stories of 15 female Indigenous athletes, educators, artists, and leaders of Northeastern Ontario.
“I am so blown away I am almost in tears,” says Jo-Anne Marshall, curator of GALLERY6500, and a member of the Sudbury labour council. “Everyone should be inspired by these women. And they’re so modest.”
The 15 women featured are: the late Josephine Mandamin and her niece Autumn Peltier; Zara A. Contin, Kaella-Marier Earle, Angela Recollet, Linda Roy, Edna Manitowabi, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, Dr. Shirley Cheechoo, Pamela Toulouse, Natascha Contin, Paula Naponse, Roseanne Archibald, Kelly Babstock, and Lisa Pitawanakwat.
Debbie St. Germain was named the president of the labour council this year. At the same time, Marshall, who is also a member of the women’s committee, was among committee members looking for a way to support and acknowledge all the roles women play in the community.
Marshall, who is always looking for ideas for exhibits, thought it was something they could do to partner with the women’s committee and GALLERY6500.
“I felt really compelled. I reached out to my Indigenous female friends and said, ‘How should I do this?’”
Marshall contacted Chiefs around the northeast, as well as some Indigenous organizations in Sudbury for a selection of names.
She was looking for women in about seven different categories.
“I was looking for their nominations for women, not necessarily who were well known, but who had done great things as a volunteer or in ports, and the arts,” notes Marshall. “If there were 500 names submitted, I would have put them up for sure. I thought it was really important that the Chiefs put forth the names, that I had nothing to do with saying yay or nay.”
The exhibit was created over the winter. Marshall would meet with the women, talk to them, and write out their biographies. The women then approved of the biography, making changes and adjustments along the way.
Working extensively with Marshall, Melanie Laquerre, a local graphic designer, created the visual concept and layout of the presentation.
Each woman is pictured and their individual stories are told in various voices and ways.
“I was blown away by what I was reading,” Marshall adds.
As well, the exhibit features seven paintings from Nikki Manitowabi’s Anishinaabe Kwe series.
It’s expected that the exhibit will wrap up later in September but that doesn’t signal the end for Marshall. It’s more like she would prefer the series to close its doors on this, its first home, and move forward and outward.
She says she definitely wants the exhibit to continue to see the light of day and hopes other groups will reach out to display the stories in their respective culture and other community centres.
“If someone wants to show them in their schools, please contact me. I don’t want [the displays] tucked away.”
Marshall can be reached by email at jo.mac@eastlink.ca or by text message at 705-677-8332.
The gallery is located in the Steelworkers Hall in downtown Sudbury at 66 Brady Street and is open 9am-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.