Niimaamaa
Niimaamaa is a word recognized by Cree, Ojibwe, and Metis speakers as “My mother.” Niimaamaa is a stylized sculpture of a pregnant woman that represents motherhood, Mother Earth and new beginnings.
We are all born into this world, the sculpture is a majestic symbol of motherhood and Mother Nature, honoring people, animals and entities of all walks of life as her children. Her seven cascading strands of hair remind us of the seven sacred teachings: love, respect, courage, humility, honesty, wisdom and truth.
Her pregnant form signals that she is a water carrier and she is positioned to gaze towards the horizon between the water and sky. Within the hair strands, the waterways of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers are traced, and seven-sister constellations marked to honor the sky and water worlds. Embraced in a copper-amour dress, she represents prosperity and strength.
She is Mother Earth; within her 30' form are shapes representing the landscape, water and constellations. Highly polished metal allows the viewer see themselves reflected within the entity as a reminder of their responsibility to protect the earth.
In a gesture of humility, and reverence, she is kneeling and proudly welcomes the sun from the east, which signals rebirth, as observed by the teachings of the medicine wheel. She is a towering reminder of our responsibilities to the environment, love to all our relations and hope for the future.
2018
Polished, painted steel, copper, core ten metal
Artists: KC Adams, Jaimie Isaac, Val Vint