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CUTLINE:
June 13, 2016. Métis artist Destiny Swiderski has begun installation of a new public artwork in Edmonton's downtown. The artwork is created in collaboration with aerosol paint artist AJA Louden. Amiskwac w Î Wâskâyhkan Ihtâwin celebrates the city's North Saskatchewan River Valley and serves as a portal, linking the downtown parks of Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park. A flock of cutout Bohemian Waxwing birds invites pedestrians to explore the space. The 150 silhouettes are embellished with patterns and designs devised during a series of community workshops. Participants were encouraged to create designs that told their personal stories. Both Cree syllabics and translations are utilized as the main hierarchy to express the Indigenous roots as a place to gather and share stories about the past, present, and future.