Christi Belcourt’s The Wisdom of the Universe

sisopêkahikan ôma wâpamihcikâtêw oskihtêpakwa êkwa pisiskiwak, kâ-mêscinêcik ahpo cî kâ-ati-mêscinêcik, tâpiskôc sâkahikanis iris, karner kamahmâhk kâ-sîpihkosicik, piyêsisisak ka-ahkosîcik êkwa kâ-sîpihkosicik. Belcourt pakosêyihtam ê-wî-kiskisomikoyahk ê-âniskômohcikêhk kahkiyaw kîkway askihk. kisîhtoskawikonaw êka ka-osâm-pimâcihoyahk, mêskoc kwayask ka-mâmacihâyahk kikâwinâw- askiy, itwêw ôma, “mêtoni takahki-kîkway ôma askiy, mamâhtâwaskiy ôma. ninôhtê-mêkin kahkiyaw kîkway nitayân, tâpiskôc nisâkihitiowin, nitâtoskêwin, kahkiyaw nitohci-nanâskamon kâ-miyikowisiyahk.”

This work features plants and animals that are listed in Canada as threatened, endangered, or extinct, like the dwarf lake iris, the Karner blue butterfly, and the cerulean warbler. Belcourt hopes that through her work we will remember the interconnected nature of existence on this planet. She encourages us to abandon unsustainable paths in favor of an abiding relationship with Mother Earth, stating, “This wondrous planet, so full of mystery, is a paradise. All I want to do is give everything I have, my energy, my love, my labor—all of it in gratitude for what we are given.”