Right of Way - artist William Kingfisher

nakeyaad mtig (Direction Tree)

William Kingfisher is an independent arts curator, artist and gardener. He is a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Rama and is presently the Associate Artistic Producer at Nozhem First People’s Performance Space, Indigenous Performance Initiatives, Trent University.

As an artist, recent projects include: “determinatives”, paintings and prints, solo exhibition, Bancroft Art Gallery, June 9 – 28, 2024, Bancroft, Ontario and “The Refuge: Listening to the Underneath”, a visual art exhibition, for Erring at King George, Peterborough (2022) with Karyn Recollet. As a curator, recent projects include “enaawendewin/relationships” (2017-present), an ongoing project where Kingfisher creates gardens to use as a starting point to explore anishinaabemowin (Anishinaabe language and concepts), traditional foods, decolonization, ways of being in the world, and spaces to imagine future worlds.

About nakeyaad mtig (Direction Tree)

Portages in southern Ontario were an important component for trade and as gathering places. Often remembered in present times as “carrying places” or “communication roads”, here, in Bridgenorth where I live, I am fortunate to live near two (east and west) communication roads. These roads were often marked for the traveller to follow. In the case of the Chemong Portage it is noted that there were “marker trees” that were purposely bent at the bottom near the trunk and when grown would form a bend, thus forming a noticeable sign for the travellers. Along the route between Bridgenorth and Peterborough there are two marker trees that I have been able to identify. They look pretty old, and the bent branch on one of the trees is held up with a wooden block.

For nakeyaad mtig (Direction Tree) I began by taking a photograph of one of the trees along the route and using this as a basis for a woodblock print. I projected the image on a piece of wood, drew it, cut it out, and then printed it. I was happy with it but felt that it needed to somehow reflect the travelers that have walked or travelled this portage route. I began to place images I have gathered from my own travels – the petroglyphs, a rock carving near Awenda, old family photos, along with some old songs and phrases related to traveling – and began to create a context for mtig (tree). Since we are still using this route I then felt that mtig and the portage route should be part of the present world and started to think of them in larger terms – as a route for moving from one place to another and mtig as pointing the way. So, I thought it might be nice to include some “wayfinding advice” for the traveler today as they travel along the portage route, so I asked four family members what advice they would give to someone traveling today, not only along the portage route but, say, through contemporary life. These statements are from a cross section of voices - a grandmother, a mother, and two youth and when I placed them on the top surface of the work, I felt it had become something larger, but I felt it was still rooted in the continued use of the nakeyaad mtig(direction tree) and the portage route. 

Linda Bebee: “As you travel, stop, be still and be aware of your habitat” “The flora and fauna are all guides to help you get to your destination”

Kerry Bebee/Mkade Ginewkwe: “Zhawenindizo: Take the time, to stop along the way, to care for your own self”

Quinn Beyers/Aptogiizhik: “My happiness comes from being kind to others. Be passionate about the things you love and put effort into them”

Moe Golden: “Don’t be afraid to go where you want to go and do the things you are passionate about”

– William Kingfisher, 2024