Kanien'keh:ka artist and activist is 1st Indigenous winner of Montreal arts prize

Katsi'tsakwas (Ellen Gabriel), a Kanien'keh:ka (Mohawk) artist, filmmakerand activist, is the first Indigenous artist to win a prestigious Montreal arts prize.

The Grand Prix ofthe Conseil des arts de Montrallaunchedin 1985.The award, whichrecognizes her 35 years of activism and artistic work,includes a $30,000 grant.

"There were such strong and creative artists who were the finalists and so I'm very honoured," Katsi'tsakwassaid.

Her 2023 documentaryKanatenhs When the Pine Needles Fallcentresthe voices of Kanien'keh:ka women during the 78-day standoff in 1990between the Kanien'keh:kacommunity of Kanesatake, the Srte du Qubec provincial police and, later, the Canadian militaryover a contested area of land known as the Pines northwest of Montreal.

Katsi'tsakwassaysthis ismistakenly referred to as the OkaCrisis, although it happened onKanien'keh:ka land.

She said when aSWAT team first arrived, they were met by unarmed Kanien'keh:ka women who are considered title holders and therefore protectors of the land.

"We had the examples of our mothers and aunties and grandmothers before us," she said.

She saidthe men in her community displayed courage but the contribution to the resistance by Indigenous women has been overlooked.

Katsi'tsakwas said her film reclaims a narrative, distorted through colonization,where her female ancestors felt the brutality of colonization on their families, their land and communities but were notrelegated to the sidelines of the resistance.

"It's time for women to be recognized for their equal part in the survival of our people," said Katsi'tsakwas.

The Jury Prizeoffered by the Caisse Desjardins de la Culture, and the Tl-Qubec Audience Awardwere both awarded to the same organization, circus arts company Marguerite bicyclette.

The jury's criteria for the 38th Grand Prix wereinnovation, uniqueness and authenticity of the artistic approach,the will to take action and desire to have an impact on the community, and the originality and relevance of strategies to reach audiences in Montral or mobilize the target community.

Mylne Guay, cultural advisor - Indigenous arts for theConseil des arts de Montral,said it's a very competitive process.

"They mostly selected her because she has such a strong voice in communities, especially in Kanesatake," Guaysaid.

The prize recognizesKatsi'tsakwas'scareer as a visual artist as well as the impact her activism has had on Indigenous and environmental rights.

Visual artistHannah Claus, who is Kanien'keh:ka from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario,attended last week'saward ceremony.

Claus was on the board of the Conseil des arts de Montralfor six years and is still on its Indigenous Arts evaluation committee.

"I knew that she'd gone back to film school and just was so thrilled that she'd made this film," Claus said.

"This is something near and dear to her heart really, and that she was able to to put it together and out in the world like that, I just thought that was so amazing."

Kanatenhs When The Pine Needles Fall won the award for Best Canadian Short Film during the International First Peoples Festival inMontreallast year, and has screened at nearly 30festivals around the world.