The Gitche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden Committee is very pleased to announce that Kathryn Corbiere has been selected to create the sculpture of Nookomis Gitche Name' Kwe - the Grandmother Sturgeon - whose sacred and iconic presence at the Garden will serve as the physical,
spiritual and cultural link to the traditional lands and waters of the Anishinaabeg.

Kathryn Corbiere is an Anishinaabe-kwe from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. She is a highly respected and sought-after certified welder and fabricator, and has won a number of public art commissions, including a national competition with over 100 submissions. Kathryn’s passion for working with steel incorporates a strong visual aesthetic, bringing the material to life through structural design. The convergence of practicality and aesthetics is where she finds growth in her fabrication skills.

Seeking to express herself as a contemporary artisan grounded within a vibrant Indigenous community, Kathryn’s work embraces both traditional and contemporary metal and crafting practices. She continually expands her practice and knowledge of the materials, and seeks increasingly complex and large-scale commissions, able to explore new techniques and execute projects from design to completion in her fully equipped fabrication shop, One KWE.

Not only does Kathryn succeed in creating artwork that people can relate to and are inspired by, she is a leader and teacher in her community, encouraging other young Indigenous people by introducing them to her craft. The Reconciliation Garden Project is particularly meaningful to Kathryn. Her vision for the work combines elements of traditional Indigenous practices and stories, informed by her own family’s fishing and crafting history, and the strength and wisdom of her own grandmothers. You can read more about Kathryn and her work.

Thanks to the generous support from the City of Owen Sound and Liane Regendanz, Michael Craig & Friends, the sculpture will be installed at the Garden in September, 2021. Tax-deductible donations to support the completion of the Garden are still most welcome through United Way of Bruce Grey here.