They Sustain Us: Three Sisters, Four Moments
Skawennati
Three Sisters, Four Moments
Screening and Performance
In collaboration with La Guilde
Location: Society for Arts and Technology (SAT)
For the first time in Canada, Skawennati presents Three Sisters, Four Moments, a hybrid screening and performance that brings the virtual world she has conceived over decades into physical space. Premiered in 2024 at Gray Area in San Francisco, the work begins with a screening of her machinima Welcome to the Garden (2024), followed by a catwalk performance featuring a 12-piece fashion collection inspired by four eras in the lives of the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash.
Each era is expressed through a distinct sartorial language: white deerskin represents Pre-contact; ribbon skirts evoke Colonization; flight suits, referencing both Rosie the Riveter and laboratory coveralls, embody Genetic Modification; and superhero suits envision Five Minutes in the Future.
The collection also reflects the individual personalities of the Three Sisters. Ó:nenhste (corn), the responsible and assured leader, is dressed in sunny yellow, a colour associated with corn and its approachable nature. Osahè:ta’ (beans), tough yet loving and resistant to categorization, wears asymmetrical garments in vibrant purple, defying convention. Onon’ónsera (squash), the playful younger sister, embraces frills in pumpkin orange, balancing a lighthearted spirit with unwavering support for her sisters.
Through fashion, performance, and digital storytelling, Skawennati brings these iconic figures beyond the screen, reimagining their histories and futures through Indigenous futurism.