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Nee’ Shah | Our House

White bold sans-serif text outlines exhibition details on a black background. At bottom right is grunt’s logo in white. At centre, a landscape photo is featured. The image is taken from the interior of the Taathǜh, a large white canvas tent structure composed of different sizes of white and off-white weathered canvas stitched together with a variety of thread colours including black and orange. Stitched beadwork and fabric motifs adorn the tents’ walls and ceiling. Black PVC pipe with white sectioning provides a solid structure that the canvas fabric is attached to. The floor is grey polished cement with a small bright circle spotlight on the floor at centre frame, located by the front opening of the tent. The front opening is a symmetrical vertical slit with fabric cascading to the floor on both sides, forming a triangular open space for people to enter and exit the tent. The right side of fabric is tied by a black and orange material threaded through a small hole in the right wall of the tent. Visible through the tent’s opening at its front is a brightly lit gallery setting in which two people with dark bottoms and a blue and green puffer jacket stand side by side looking to the right and upwards.

Exhibition Title: Nee’ Shah | Our House

Artist: Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé.

Opening: Thursday, December 5 | 6 PM to 8 PM.

Exhibition Dates: December 5, 2024 to February 1, 2025.

CONTENT WARNING: 

This exhibition includes themes of loss, grief, mourning, and substance use. 

Hǫǫsǫǫ dìik’analta’ de’ (take care of yourself).

 

As a way to process grief and loss, Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse has created a literal and metaphorical shelter that has been reclaimed, reconstructed, and revitalized. Having found herself in deep internal conflict following the loss of yet another family member to substance use, Vander Meer-Chase invites you to enter Nee’ Shah | Our House to witness the importance of awakening sleeping materials as a method of navigating loss. Through the processing of natural materials with her family, Vander Meer-Chasse attempts to empower you to witness universal cycles of loss, grief, and mourning.



Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé reflects on the exhibition:

“Nee’ Shah | Our House began while pursuing my Masters of Fine Arts at Concordia University under the guidance and influence of my Grandma Marilyn John. The exhibition explores themes of grief, loss, and remembrance. By way of patches, I translate text I have sent to family members that I have lost or are currently experiencing substance use disorder. I do not personally experience substance use disorder; I am only a witness and a loved one to many that are experiencing or have experienced substance use disorder. Symbols, colours, and patterns that represent my Upper Tanana, Frisian, and French families and communities are present throughout the tent and act as protection, grounding, and connection. Natural materials were collected and processed collaboratively as a family and became a daily ritual in my self-growth and grief recovery.

A special tsin’’įį choh (big thank you) to everyone that has stood by my side as I grieve the recent passings of my Grandma Marilyn John, Brother Stewart Chassé, Uncle Patrick Johnny, Uncle Peter van der Meer, and Cousin Duncan Stephen.

I have been blessed with an abundance of teachers throughout my life, who share with me teachings, memories, stories, and language. This journey would not have been possible without contributors and supporters. Tsin’įį choh to my Ancestors, my family, my friends, my moosehide and fish tanning teachers, my Upper Tanana language teachers, and White River First Nation.”

 

Please note that the exhibition opening will be an alcohol-free event and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages will be available for free.

 

About the Artist:

Dineh k’èh Ddhälh kit Nelnah shǫǫsį’, nòodlèey k’èh Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé shǫǫsį’. Ts’òogot Gaay ts’änh diht’eh. Tthèe Tsa’ Niik ts’änh diht’eh. Amiskwaciy Wâskahikan dänh shih hǫǫłįį. Kwanlin dänh nìidhihshąąn. METULIYE Camosak tah huht’įįn. Shnąą Ttthìi’ Elgąy mǫǫsį’. Shnąą wunąą stsǫǫ Stsaay Ch’idzǜü’ mǫǫsì’, wunąą Nii’ii Jaiy, wunąą Laats’iih’ol, wunąą Gàan Dànihtl’įǫ. Shnąą wuta’ sts’aay Sid van der Meer moosi’. Shta’ Wilfred Chassé mǫǫsį’. Shta’ wunaa stsǫǫ Helen Chassé mǫǫsį’. Shta’ wuta’ sts’aay Louis Chassé mǫǫsį’.

Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé is a proud Niisüü Member of White River First Nation from Beaver Creek, Yukon and Alaska. She currently resides on Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories in Victoria, British Columbia, although she travels home to the Yukon as often as she can. She is an Upper Tanana, Frisian, and French visual artist and curator. Her visual arts practice is invested in the awakening of sleeping materials and the reanimation of found objects that are rooted in understandings of identity. She has recently been exploring themes of grief, loss, family, community, and relationships in her installation works.

 

Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé’s Instagram page: www.instagram.com/teresasvc

Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé’s Website: www.teresavandermeerchasse.ca

Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ddhalhkitnelnah

 

Photo taken from inside of Taathǜh courtesy of Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé and Mike Thomas.

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