Kapwani Kiwanga, “Landscape Twice Removed,” 2018
In this installation, Ojibway author Eli Baxter read “On Lake Temiscamingue” by Archibald Lampman in Anishinaabaymowin, the language of the Ojibway people. Lampman’s poem was originally written in the 19th century and was translated and voiced in 2018 by Baxter for Kapwani Kiwanga’s exhibition “Clearing.” Baxter’s voice was combined with selected Robert R. Whale landscape paintings from Glenhyrst’s permanent collection.
As Kiwanga writes, “Three 19th Century English language poems which evoke regional landscapes were chosen and translated into the Indigenous languages that would have been spoken in the region at the time of the poems writing.”
Temiscaucing Saagayiguneeng
Translated and voiced by Eli Baxter
1. Payshig kohpahsinaagohsi anib, nasoh neembawi
2. Zaygayndagohn noopimeeng aeetush chakaatay saagayigun,
3. Ahbihtooskaam sheekohkohsi mitig kaniweemakataywihsich innaanday aeetush ka agohtayg shaawasgoh innaanday.
4. Kanimakatayaag naayaasheeng. Awasinikayee kaween peekohsaysinoon
5. Kichi meeshichabun ishinaagohn zhingwaukug ayaawug asineeng ani maachishkaa.
6. Waasag wayti shaawonong, animaacheemagun kichi
7. Naangishkaa peeskeegunun peeshaamahgun zhoomin innaanday. Takayaa aeetush weemakatayaa innaanday.
8. Nayaasheeng anipihmibatomagun, pongee ayta ka akasing naytaawangang
9. Neesh zeebeesun nungoshkohtaateewug wayti awasinikayee: keewuskway aeetush mishakohn
10. Ohzhoongitaakohnniwaan animikee peekohbihtoon tawugan.
11. Owayti payshig kabihbungihsing wayti kaapihmaacheemagung noopimeeng izhitaawin.
12. Awasinikayee neemboh kaawaawiyaabohsayg nibi aeetush kaakakitohnaaniwongkahinitaakong kabungisimong—
13. Oway kohtug kaageetaashkohbihnaach ishpahmihtanaa
14. Wonakohchigay bimibatowin kageebunkishinohwaach asineensug, meekana peetay.
On Lake Temiscamingue
By Archibald Lampman
1 A single dreary elm, that stands between
2 The sombre forest and the wan-lit lake,
3 Halves with its slim gray stem and pendent green
4 The shadowed point. Beyond it without break
5 Bold brows of pine-topped granite bend away,
6 Far to the southward, fading off in grand
7 Soft folds of looming purple. Cool and gray,
8 The point runs out, a blade of thinnest sand.
9 Two rivers meet beyond it: wild and clear,
10 Their deepening thunder breaks upon the ear--
11 The one descending from its forest home
12 By many an eddied pool and murmuring fall--
13 The other cloven through the mountain wall,
14 A race of tumbled rocks, a road of foam.