Stitching Ourselves Together: Mi'kmaq Porcupine Quillwork (2021 - ongoing)

This exhibit is the latest collaboration between Wabanaki community members and the Abbe Museum. It is presented from a first-person perspective, with Mi’kmaq artisans and culture keepers sharing their experiences working with quills. Community curator Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq) explains, “When we, as Mi’kmaq people, are involved in the curation and narration of our own history we are able to correct the incomplete and often erroneous narratives assigned to our existence. Academics have often misidentified the motifs represented in our quill art or applied their own experiences and beliefs to our imagery. This Euro-centric interpretation negates our Indigenous use of symbols, styles, and patterns.”

Stitching Ourselves Together challenges common misconceptions around this traditional art form. The displays include historical and contemporary pieces from skilled Mi’kmaq quillworkers and artist profiles from the “Quillers of the Dawn” group working to revive the art form.