The Blackfoot word nitssaakita’paispinnaan can be translated into English as “we are still in control.” It is a term used when a person is still in self-control. It is an important word that Blackfoot people remember because it tells how we are free to make our own decisions; that we are in charge of who we are and how we want to live. 

The exhibition Nitssaakita’paispinnaan: We Are Still In Control honours this; not only in subject matter, but also in method of creation. It features work by three contemporary Blackfoot artists — Kristy North Peigan, Smith Wright, and Lori Scalplock. We all began our process by visiting with Blackfoot ceremonial knowledge keeper Kayihtsipimiohkitopi (Kent Ayoungman), who shared about Blackfoot ways of life, knowledge, siksikaissksahkoyi, and about ways-of-doing-things-as-we-were-taught. We had other opportunities tovisit with him too, and those visits helped us learn more about ourselves as Blackfoot people. They also inspired these artworks. 

Curated by Troy Patenaudeand Kent Ayoungman

Organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program, TREX Northeast & Central

This exhibition was made possible through generous sponsorship from Syncrude Canada Ltd.

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