Kwahrharatstén:ni / Promise

For the Montreal Arts Council’s 70th anniversary, the façade of the Gaston-Miron Building has been transformed by Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist Skawennati. 

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Grounded in Hotinonshón:ni (Iroquois) knowledge, Promise reimagines the Three Sisters - beloved personifications of corn, beans, and squash - as contemporary superheroes whose mission is to rekindle the values of sustainability, interdependence, kinship, and gratitude in the city and the world.

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The vibrant patterns wrapping the columns are inspired by corn, bean, and squash seeds, while an augmented reality (AR) experience, accessed via QR code, brings the heroines to life through 3D animation and an original song incorporating Kanien’keha, French, and English.

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From June through September, this joyful and thought-provoking installation invites Montrealers to reflect on the city’s roots and imagine a shared future that embraces Indigenous values.

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In collaboration with AbTeC (Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace).