As part of Jamii's 7th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations
Exhibited at The Esplanade & Berkeley St - David Crombie Park
In the spring of 2025, Jamii collaborated with emerging photographer Kurri Quill from Pikangikum First Nation to create Mong'Kah'Job, a stunning photo exhibition unveiled at David Crombie Park on June 21st 2025 as part of Jamii’s Annual Indigenous Day Celebration.
Unveiled on Thursday, June 21, 2025
On display from June to November 2025
Producer: Jamii
Photographer: Kurri Quill
Curator: Isorine Marc
Graphic Designer: Iris Unlu
Additional Coordination: Vanessa Hazel
Funded by: RBC Foundation Emerging Artists, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council.
As part of CONTACT, Photography Festival
ARTISTIC STATEMENT by Kurri Quill:
My name is Kurri Quill. I am from Pikangikum First Nation. I am a self-taught photographer and have been doing photography for 4 years now. I remember buying a canvas with a local photographer’s picture on it, I was blown away and felt so inspired. The picture was so beautiful and thought to myself, “I should get my photos out there too.”
One of my biggest inspirations is Denzel Quill, a photographer from Pikangikum. He is extremely talented and has a unique perspective on nature that I find really compelling. His work has really inspired me to explore my own creativity and vision behind the lens. My first camera was a Canon 90D and it came with a kit lens that I’ve been using ever since. My love for photography grew the more I took photos of every little thing. I made sure I had my camera with me wherever I went as I didn’t want to miss that opportunity. Photography helped me notice and appreciate the small details of everyday objects and plants that I overlooked before; the way light hits a leaf or the texture of a flower petal. It opened my eyes. It was like seeing the world for the first time.
My first paid photo project was a wedding. I was kind of struggling a little bit because I only had a kit lens that made it difficult for me to shoot in low light environment but I made it work. I’ve spent countless hours watching YouTube videos to develop my own style. While I don’t have formal training, I’m proud of the skills I’ve built and the creative journey I’ve been on. I’ve practiced a wide range of photography techniques and styles, from portrait and landscape to sports and wildlife photography. Photography taught me to appreciate life’s small moments.
This photo exhibit is important to me because it allows me to connect with diverse stories and experiences, promoting empathy and understanding through powerful visual narratives. To see the world in new ways, and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of human experience. By sharing these photos, we can build bridges of understanding and foster a more compassionate and connected world.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT by Isorine Marc:
It is an honour to present the powerful photography of Kurri Quill in our community - a collection that invites us to learn more about Indigenous culture and offers a window into the lives and spirit of Pikangikum First Nation.
Curating this exhibition with Kurri has been a delight. I’ve been deeply impressed not only by his photographic talent, but also by his clarity of vision and gift with words. His work speaks volumes. It calls on us to see the people of Pikangikum - individuals of all ages navigating their own life journeys - while celebrating their culture and way of being. Kurri’s message is a quiet yet powerful invitation to grow closer, to bridge gaps in understanding, and to honour the dignity of each story captured through his lens. In Canada, physical distance separates communities - but the beauty of the arts, and of this exhibition in particular, lies in its ability to transcend that distance. It allows us to see one another more fully.
My own journey with Pikangikum has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. For the past eight years, this connection has shaped me, and I feel deeply grateful that it continues to be part of my story.
Thank you, Kurri, for sharing this journey and for opening your heart through this project.
PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION:
Pikangikum First Nation is located on Pikangikum Lake, approximately 100 km northwest of Red Lake in Northern Ontario. “Pikangikum” comes from the Ojibway word “Biikanjikamiing,” which refers to how the Berens River flows into Pikangikum Lake on the east, how the lake spreads out from the river on either side, and how the river leaves the lake in the west across from where it enters. It is a community of about 4,000 inhabitants, surrounded by a natural environment. The lakes and the forest are where a majority of community members still derive a significant portion of their domestic and livelihood needs and where they spend a significant portion of the year living on the land, carrying on traditions since time immemorial.
RELATION BETWEEN JAMII/THE ESPLANADE COMMUNITY and PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION:
Relationships are central to our lives and help to ground us as individuals, families, and communities. The relationship between the Esplanade community and Pikangikum First Nation began in 2018 when Jamii initiated an intra-provincial project. Since then, Jamii has annually collaborated on arts projects with the Pikangikum Education Authority and Eenchokay Birchstick School, focusing on youth, storytelling, and well-being. One of these recent collaborations includes Darwin Peters creating a mural on the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre in Toronto in June 2023. Over time, trust and mutual appreciation between our communities have grown, and we are deeply honored to present Kurri Quill’s work today in our park, continuing to share the stories of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
