About
Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek means
"Those who create along the waters of the Coast"
Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek is a new collective of over 150 Omushkego artistic and cultural practitioners from the Hudsons and James Bay, Treaty 9 area (nanipek.ca). Formed in 2023 and supported by the Mushkegowuk Council of Chiefs, this collective brings artists together to enrich and preserve contemporary and traditional practices, empowering creative voices to support social justice, environmental and Indigenous rights, and healing. A program of the Mushkegowuk Council we serve 9 remote and fly-in communities within Mushkegowuk Territory
Our Purpose
Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek exists to address two existential and interconnected needs:
Cultural Revitalization: We have an urgent need to support cultural knowledge transmission activities so that Omushkego ‘arts’, skills, and knowledges are passed to future generations.
Land Stewardship: Elders have told us that Oshichikesiwuk must play key roles in expressing our inherent and sacred relationship with the land. With massive proposed conservation areas and mineral developments, now, more than ever, we must engage our cultural and artistic leaders to address these challenges.
Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek was created from the knowledge that Oshichikesiwuk (artists) have a key role to expressing our identity and defining the future of our lands and culture.
Borne from Oshichikesiwuk Voices
We asked the artists what was needed to play this role in an artist needs assessment. We got a clear response:
- Our nation needs a regional network and organizing body who are committed to the cultural development and well- being of our people.
- Our communities need cultural and artistic infrastructure, resources, and support (space, supplies/equipment, mentorship, educational workshops…etc)
- A long term approach is needed to ensure that knowledges, skills, and practices are passed to future generations
- Land, culture, and art are so deeply interconnected that without a thriving landscape, there can be no thriving culture.
Our Approach
Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek is made up of three core initiatives that address these needs
- Regional Network and Programming: We support the connection of artists, communities, and partners through events, artistic showcase, mentorship, and celebration.
- Supporting Communities Cultural Needs: We support communities in coordinating support for cultural infrastructure, programming, and materials.
- Stewards of the Breathing Lands: We connect Oshichikesiwuk to environmental activities happening on the land such as environmental assessment and conservation.
Omushkego Gegageh
Grounded in community engagement, we created a draft strategic plan that addresses our nation’s foundational need to develop a long-term regional strategy for our cultural development and land stewardship. Omushkego Gegagegeh means ‘Our people forever in Cree. This plan, which is aligned with the 10 year implementation phase of the innovative Omushkego Wahkohtowin – Project Finance for Permanence, is the first steps ensuring the strength of the Omushkego people continues for many generations to come.
