The Good We Are Given

Gaa’miinigoowiziyang “The Good We Were Given”

is a community mural led by Heart Berry’s Giizh Agaton Howes.  

Giizh painting the mural

What we do at Heart Berry is gather and translate our stories and ways of being. I always start with thinking about our good life and how we have a deep well to draw from.  I also really believe strongly in not only sharing about our ways but LIVING those ways. As someone who grew up in my home community but not engaging in these seasonal activities I am truly grateful to be able to learn and share them with my family.

Our children Ami and Rizal Ricing

I am a product of the boarding school era like so many of you.  Searching for connection, knowing more is there and waiting for me. I think often about our grandparents and all they survived and all they had to forget. We owe it to them and our grandchildren to do this work.

Giizh's grandma Kadina, GGrandma Josephine, GGG Grandma Charlotte, GGGGGrandma Margaret circa 1924. Kadina was sent to Red Lake Boarding School around 1926. Josephine was sent to Chilocco Boarding School in the early 1910s.

Ricing was one of many ways like sugarbush, netting, that is truly a beautiful and challenging experience. The first time I ever went ricing I felt the magic of who we are as Anishinaabe instantly. More than reading a book or talking about who we are but BEING who we are is where the magic lies. And it's alot of work!

Ricing with Kaasii Houchin

When I was asked to create this mural about healthy living I really had to take it back to that we were always healthy active people before colonialism.  Our entire way of life was based on movement, well being, and hard work.  We need to look forwards but we can do that with the good we are given.  We don't need to reinvent magic.

Kadina Katherine Howes parching manoomin

When we are gathering manoomin (wild rice) the rice has this way of arching over and enveloping the canoe.  Across the water you can often hear other harvesters laughing and telling stories as they harvest.  There is so much magic out there waiting for us and can only be experienced in the doing. Our relationship with water is powerful and an incredible gift. Due to many years of forced displacement and assimilation policies many of us have lost our relationship with so much of our good life. 

Ricing and wild rice features prominently in my work of Heart Berry. As a cornerstone of the ecosystem it is an indicator of the health of the whole system of which we, as humans, are a part of.

Giizh Ricing 2024

Our Ojibwe florals are meant to remind us of these gifts and show us what to look for to be healthy.  Through access to our waterways, land bases, foods, medicines, and way of life we can build a healthy thriving community. 

Manoomin flowers

A big part of this mural project was our community paint nights attended by our incredible volunteers.   As artists we have these moments to build community and to build narratives. 

Community paint night

This project truly stretched me as an artist. But I love a challenge that combines learning, strength, community, language, and history.  I intentionally create these spaces around myself and you can too. From learning how projectors work and don't work, to how framing an archway works, what sign boards are, paint types, clear coats, city council meetings, organizing volunteers, Ojibwe language stories and translations, this project held me close and I am grateful for every frustration, every hardship.  I want to always grow and evolve and connect.  

Public art is an opportunity to transform a space that is neglected or bring beauty and intention to a place that is just not considered.  Ojibwe art is an opportunity to declare what is important to us and make a statement about space.

See how the bandshell is transformed!

How it started... site visit day

Frame installed and sign boards cut by the incredible duo Heather Olson and "Heather's dad"

Projector tracing at HQ! So many paint drops! Giizh's mom was there advising and hauling every step of the way!

Lots of line work and late nights

Strting to come together

My ritual is to jump for joy at every project!

This mural had many hands on it to bring it to success.  Miigwech to the Carlton County and Fond du Lac Tribal collaboration who sought this opportunity through a Safe Routes to Schools Grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  Miigwech to the city of Cloquet for hosting this mural. I want to thank all of our community volunteers, installation crew, too numerous to mention, but want to name our elder advisor Laurel Sanders, and youth artist Ami for their hard work.  Miigwech to Naawakwe Howes for working with me on Ojibwe language concept and translation.  

Our community event was an incredible gathering of volunteers, Ojibwe language, food, collaborators, and the youth drum group. Miigwech to you all for your gifts.

The greatest credit however goes to all of our ancestors, grandparents, and families who kept this good way of life alive for us.  We are grateful and will carry forward your gifts to us.

-Giizh