The late Josephine Mandamin and Autumn Peltier
by Tom Sasvari
WIIKWEMKOONG—A petition campaign to get an Indigenous woman on the Canadian $20 bill includes proposed designs that include the late Josephine Mandamin of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, and (a separate design) that would feature her great niece, Autumn Peltier, also of Wiikwemkoong
Ms. Mandamin walked around the Great Lakes from 2003 to 2017 to bring awareness to the problems of water pollution and environmental degradation on the Great Lakes and Indigenous reserves in Canada. Her great-niece, Autumn Peltier, followed in Ms. Mandamin’s footsteps, becoming the next generation’s “water warrior.”
Ms. Peltier was named as the Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation in 2019.
“The Change The Bill (campaign) is not just about placing an Indigenous woman on a banknote, it is about recognizing the contributions and significance of Indigenous women in Canada and creating a more inclusive society,” said Lynn Groulx, chief executive officer of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC).
NWAC launched the “Change the Bill” campaign in January in an attempt to get an Indigenous woman featured on the Canada $20 note, acknowledging the contributions they have made in Canada.
The proposed commemorative design of Ms. Mandamin was submitted by artist Adrienne Assinewai, who is originally from Manitoulin Island, while the proposed commemorative design of Ms. Peltier was provided by Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie of British Columbia.
The NWAC explained, “Indigenous women have played an integral role in shaping the history and culture of Canada, yet they have been historically excluded from mainstream representation. It’s time for change. The NWAC is launching Change the Bill (which was launched in January), a campaign aiming to get an Indigenous woman featured on the bill to acknowledge contributions made in Canada.”
Ms. Groulx noted that more that 20,000 signatures have been gathered on the petition, which will be submitted to the central bank this spring for their consideration.
“We are calling on all Canadians to support the recognition and representation of Indigenous women by signing our petition to feature an Indigenous woman on a Canadian bank note. By signing this petition, you are taking a stand for a more inclusive and equitable society for all Canadians.”
Ms. Mandamin was known as the Water Woman, as she walked around the Great Lakes from 2003 to 2017 to bring awareness to the problems of water pollution and environmental degradation on the Great Lakes and Indigenous reserves in Canada.
Ms. Assinewai is a visual artist born and raised on Manitoulin Island. She grew up surrounded by her traditional culture and nature and was driven to share these treasures with others from a young age. Now based along the coastline of New Brunswick, Ms. Assinewai continues to be inspired by the natural world and creates from her private home studio. She chose to depict Josephine Mandamin/Biidaasige-baname. Her traditional name translates to “The one who comes with the light” and she carried her name well. For her activism, Ms. Mandamin received the Anishinabek Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Cross in 2019.
“I’m originally from Sheguiandah and now live in Little Shemogue, New Brunswick,” Ms. Assinewai said. “It is a nice little area that reminds me a lot of Manitoulin Island.”
“As a kid I was always drawing and always had a pencil and paper in my hands,” said Ms. Assinewai. “I went to school to formerly train in the arts and just completed my last formal training in 2019 in the design and visual arts program at Cambrian College.” She is a visual artist, “and I find I need to do work in a bunch of different media like fibre work and wool sculptures.”
Ms. Assinewai explained she had been contacted by NWAC to do the design of Josephine Mandamin for the $20 bill. “They (NWAC) approached me and explained the idea to change the bill initiative. I think it is a great idea and think it would be nice to see this change being made on the $20 bill. At the time they contacted me, my husband and I had gone back to Ontario for Christmas and when they got in touch with me in early January, I had pneumonia.”
“I had about 5-6 days to come up with the design,” said Ms. Assinewai. “Luckily, digital art allows me to do this work faster. And I took a day to think of all the potential women I could use for the design, and I kept landing back on the idea of Josephine. She is from my home on the Island, and I have always looked at people that we can all look up to and are representative on matters. Being an Indigenous woman from my family’s land, and everything she did in terms of the water and environmental aspect I chose Josephine Mandamin. The sheer determination she showed in walking around all of the Great Lakes, and all her accomplishments was incredible.”
“No, I can’t personally say I knew Josephine, but my dad (Maxie Assinewai) was a healer, and he knew a lot of people,” said Ms. Assinewai. “He would go to a lot of conferences and meetings so there is a good chance I met her,” noting she moved away from Manitoulin in 2003.
“What is really neat about this initiative is as a bunch of artists (12 in total) who have created these design pieces, the works can be purchased in poster size,” said Ms. Assinewai. “And all the money that goes into the sales of the posters, $20, all goes back to the artists. This is great for myself because I am a seasonal worker and the rest of the year I work on my art.”
Ms. Mandamin’s great-niece, Autumn Peltier, of Wiikwemkoong followed in her aunt’s footsteps, becoming the next generation’s water warrior and is the Anishinabek nation’s Water Commissioner. Her design was created by Claire Shannon-Akiwenzie (of Anishinaabe/Irish descent) who is a digital artist, beader and educator based in unceded Musqueam, Tsleil Waututh and Squamish territory in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a proud member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario. Her father taught her to create at a young age and subsequently helped connect her to family, language and story through beadwork, painting, sewing, and drum making.
Ms. Shannon-Akiwenzie’s artwork features Autumn Peltier, a globally respected Indigenous water and rights activist. “Autumn has quickly become an empowering figure for young Indigenous women, children and voice for many Indigenous movements around the world,” she wrote. Ms. Peltier, “is strong in her cultural knowledge and teachings and unafraid to use her voice to speak up for the health and wellbeing of nibi (water), for the people and for future generations.”
NWAC said people can, “sign our petition to call for change and representation on Canadian bank notes. Follow the campaign on social media using #ChangeTheBill and @NWAC_Canada on Instagram. Let us know who you would nominate. Learn more about the women and artists featured in this campaign at changethebill.ca, where you can support the Indigenous artists by purchasing prints of their artwork for $20.
You can check out the various designs and sign the petition at https://www.changethebill.ca/
Over 31,000 signatures have been gathered on the campaign petition that will be submitted to the central bank this spring for their consideration.
