Before the written word, narrative was shared and retained through voice. “Awaaniiyaawa” continues the Blackfoot way of learning by encouraging listening. The focus of this project is the voice of the community and the voice of the stories that are housed in the library. Elders, youth, students, and community members were invited to contribute to this project, sharing their stories, food and cultural understanding as they sat for portraits and created a sense of community.
This project consists of two components: portraits printed on vinyl in black and white; and an audio component, activated by movement in front of the portraits. The audio is meant to be low, a gentle hum to mimic the sound of people whispering in the library and sharing stories.
