Quand les oiseaux reviennent - ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᑦ - Summer Arrival

In partnership with the Festival International Présence Autochtone, La Guilde is proud to present the exhibition "Quand les oiseaux reviennent - ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᑦ - Summer Arrival." Featuring works by over 25 artists from Inuit nations, this exhibition centers on the theme of birds and delves into their spiritual, ecological, and cultural significance in the North. It sheds light on the role of birds in Inuit cosmology while revealing their importance in everyday life.

Winters in Nunangat are long and cold. The polar nights and extreme temperatures have shaped the ingenuity of the people who live there. From February through June, as migratory birds gradually return, they signal the thawing of snow, the awakening of plant life, and the arrival of warmer, and brighter, longer days. Their return brings joy, excitement, and hope.

Birds symbolize renewal. They captivate with their colours, graceful flight, and song. They also represent the return of abundant and varied nourishment—ptarmigan, geese, and eggs gathered from cliff sides. Closely tied to the summer, birds are seen as messengers of all the opportunities that come with it. Their significance has ensured them a place in Inuit spirituality and cosmology, where they appear in both creation stories and rituals. Many artists hailing from across Nunangat have taken birds as a central theme in their work.

This summer exhibition invites you to encounter snowy owls, ravens, loons, and other winged beings—some rendered realistically, others playfully or imaginatively. These selected artworks celebrate the beauty of birds, but also reflect on their ecological importance, their spiritual dimensions, and their enduring connections with human life.

"Quand les oiseaux reviennent - ᐊᐅᔭᖅ ᑎᑭᑦᑐᑦ - Summer Arrival" is a collaborative curatorial project developed by La Guilde’s staff and led by France Cantin.

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with LAND InSIGHTS as part of the 35th edition of the Montreal International First Peoples Festival.

Opening on July 31, from 5:30 p.m.