Pikangikum is an Ojibway First Nation in Northwestern Ontario, home to over 3,000 people. Since 2018, Pikangikum and Jamii have partnered on various arts initiatives, including photo exhibitions, video portraits, and murals in both Pikangikum and Toronto’s Esplanade community.
In 2023 and 2024, Jamii collaborated with the Pikangikum Education Authority and Eenchokay Birchstick School to create a series of video portraits. These portraits feature Elders, emerging artists, established artists, and community leaders, produced by artists Isorine Marc, Gillian Mapp, and Eray Guler with support from the Jamii Team, including Iris Unlu.
We are proud to share these powerful video portraits with you. They explore themes such as growing up in disconnected communities, youth struggles with addiction, the fight against suicide, and the challenge of accessing clean water. Yet, they also tell stories of hope, dreams, and a beautiful future, celebrating healers and artists who are creating meaningful change within their communities.
