In partnership with the International First Peoples Festival, La Guilde is pleased to present the exhibition When the Birds Return - ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᑦ - Summer Arrival , bringing together more than 25 artists from Inuit nations around the theme of birds. By exploring the spiritual, ecological and cultural dimensions of northern birds, it highlights their role in Inuit cosmology, while revealing their importance in daily life.
Winters are long and cold in Nunangat. The polar night and extreme temperatures have forged the resilience of the communities who live there. When migratory birds gradually return from February to June, they herald the melting of the snow, the awakening of vegetation, and the return of light and milder temperatures. It is a time of joy, excitement, and hope.
Birds symbolize renewal and create delight through their plumage, graceful flight, and song. They also represent, even today, the promise of a more abundant and diverse diet, including ptarmigan and geese, as well as eggs, sometimes gathered from cliffsides. Birds are closely associated with the beautiful season and the opportunities they bring. This special role has also secured them an important place in Inuit spirituality and cosmogony. Several artists have made them the main theme of their works.
This summer exhibition invites you to discover snowy owls, ravens, loons, and other wonders, some depicted realistically, others humorously or whimsically. These selected works express the beauty of the winged race, but also its importance in the balance of life, its relationships with humans and the spiritual world.