A vinyl print of a photograph depicting two Indigenous people standing in front of green plants and a lake with their fists held to hips and elbows out. The right figure is an indigenous adult, in a black t-shirt with an old newspaper article titled "Indian Land for Sale" but "for sale" is crossed out with red and replaced with "not for sale". On the left is a youth wearing a t-shirt picturing a red-brown skinned angry hulk behind an indigenous man reading "treaty broken". Installed on a shop window.

Shawn Johnston | Land Back Camp

CAFKA.21 | Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost

Land Back Camp: Our Voices

Location: 157 King St. W, Kitchener

June 21, 2021 - August 31, 2021

Land Back Camp: Our Voices is a series of photos that spotlights the Two Spirit IndigiQueer folx and queer settlers of O:se Kenhionhata:tie, also known as Land Back Camp. The camp began in late June 2020 with only a teepee and two tents beside a playground in Kitchener’s Victoria Park, and later moved to Waterloo Park in Waterloo in October 2020. Its original intent was to temporarily “occupy” a space in the park – an area which had for centuries been a gathering place for Chonnonton, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron Nations under the Dish With One Spoon Wampum. Land Back Camp continues today and are reclaiming space in Laurel Creek Conservation Area.

 

 

Land Back Camp: Our Voices Educational Virtual Tour

About the Artist

Shawn Johnston is a co-founder/ co-organizer of O:se Kenhionhata:tie, also known as Land Back Camp. They are a Two Spirit Anishinaabe originally from Couchiching First Nation and are an award-winning photographer.

Image: Shawn Johnston, Land Back Camp: Our Voices (2021), Installation view: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener + Area (CAFKA), 2021. Photo: Conan Stark.

CAFKA would like to recognize the in kind contribution of Westmount Signs as well as our community site partner, CMG Entertainment