Reflections

 

About Reflections

Explore the intersection of art, connection, and community dedication to the Gatineau River. This page is dedicated to showcasing the diverse array of artistic endeavors and community contributions that pay homage to the majestic beauty as well as the ecological and cultural importance of the Gatineau River. Join us as we unite in appreciation of this natural treasure, fostering a deeper connection between art, community, and the serene waters that flow through our lives. 

Here’s some community contributions that have been offered to us: 

Birth of the Tenàgàdino Alliance

At Riverfest 2023, Elder Gilbert Whiteduck from Kitigan Zibi,  spoke about the Rights of the Gatineau (Tenàgàdino) River, Various environmental groups and many patrons signed the statement of rights. and you can sign it too!

The short video describes how the Tenágádino Alliance was born.  For more information, please visit their facebook page www.facebook.com/tenagadino.alliance/

 

Poem by Brian T. Doyle

A Toast to a River

Brian Doyle is the author of many middle-grade and young-adult novels, most inspired by childhood memories of Ottawa and spending summers in the Gatineau Valley. Many of these have been adapted into plays or movies. Brian was awarded Canada’s most prestigious prize, the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award four times. He has twice won the Mr. Christie’s Book Award. In 2002 he won the Leishman Prize and in 2005 Doyle received Laureate of the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature, a lifetime achievement honour.

Publication by the Gatineau Valley Historical Society

We collaborated with the Gatineau Valley Historical Society (GVHS) to develop the Gatineau River Heritage River Paddle: A Guide for paddlers and boaters to increase awareness of our river’s rich heritage – both historical and environmental.

 

 

The River Love Project

The River Love Project began in 2021 as a year-long, community-wide public engagement project during the pandemic lockdowns to keep people engaged with each other through sharing their love of the Gatineau River. During the year at each turn of the season, the public received an 8 x 11 insert in Wakefield’s local newspaper, The Low Down to Hull and Back.  The insert was of a drawing of the Gatineau River in that season made by artists Sofia-Jain Schlaepfer (fall, “Otter”), Nathalie Coutou (winter, “Braiding River”), Stephanie Hill (spring, “Spring Paddler”) and Gabiyen Ottawa (summer, “Níbin”).   

“We asked the public, who were stuck at home, to colour it and together, to think about what the river means to them.  The insert was also available in libraries and schools. We received hundreds of submissions from people who shared their love of colour, of the river, and of the community that they are in. ”   

 

 Here are 4 drawings that you can download and print to color for yourself.

winter

By Nathalie Coutu 

As French Canadian & Métis-Mi’kmaq, Quebec; born on a farm with a kennel of over 800 sled dogs is where she developed a passion for painting and sketching. Her inspiration is about inclusiveness and reconciliation to foster understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. She created KHEWA inspired by her 2 children to create a space for Indigenous heritage. In 2018, she launched COUTOU COLLECTION which features her artwork on wearable art that is made in Canada.

spring

By Stephanie Hill.

I come from Cornwall, Ontario, spending summers at our family cottage by the Saint Lawrence River, surrounded by relatives, friends, and the abundant life of wetlands. This upbringing heavily influences my artistic focus on family, relationships, and nature. Graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), I was fortunate to study in Florence, Italy, exploring the works of renowned artists like Giotto and Botticelli. Inspired by these masters, my art delves beyond mere depiction, incorporating symbols and mythologies to convey profound narratives. Working primarily with oil on stretched linen, I also enjoy experimenting with watercolours, oil pastels, and pen and ink on paper. Through my art, I aim to evoke emotion, portraying a world where dreams and the divine intertwine. Now based in Wakefield, Quebec, near the Gatineau River, my work reflects the ever-changing dance between external landscapes and internal realms, inviting viewers on a journey of self-discovery.

AUTUMN

By Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer.

Sofia pursued visual arts, completing fine art and scientific illustration programs before transitioning to biology and environmental science (BSc, MSc) to enact positive change inspired by her love of nature. Following a successful career as a research scientist, she shifted focus, recognizing the power of art to evoke emotional connection. Sofia now leads nature connection programs for children at Cahoots Outdoor Programs and facilitates nature and art programs with Wisdom of the Earth, integrating her passion for both art and environmental advocacy.

SUMMER

By Gabriel (Gabiyen) Ottawa.

A 19-year-old Algonquin artist from Kitigan Zibi, Quebec, draws inspiration from his upbringing on his home reserve. Specializing in portrait painting, he now explores the realm of illustrations for coloring books, using oil paints to depict various figures in modern pop culture. With a profound connection to his Anishinabe identity, Gabriel highlights the significance of the Gatineau River to the Algonquin people throughout history. His artwork “Níbin,” meaning summer in Algonquin, celebrates the season as a time of travel, trade, and cultural ceremonies, emphasizing family values and ancestral teachings. The illustration depicts a family constructing a birchbark canoe, symbolizing the importance of the river as a vital lifeline for the Algonquin community.

The project resulted in a heartwarming video directed by Siminovitch Prize winning artist Nadia Ross about a project that took on a life of its own, in the best possible way.

After a year-long colouring project with over one hundred people from the region as a way to help cope with shut downs due to the 2020-2022 pandemic, the River Video sums up the experience in a moving call to love the river more.

The River Love project was produced by STO Union Theatre Co. Inc. with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Culture Outaouais and the MRC des Collines de L’Outaouais.