JOI T. ARCAND

ᓇᒧᔭ ᑳᐅᒐᐚᓯᒥᓯᒋᐠ ᐅᑳᐑᓴᐠ

namoya kâ-ocawâsimisicik okâwisak 

Inspired by Ann M. Martin’s beloved young readers’ series The Baby‑Sitters Club, Arcand reimagines four of the iconic book covers through a contemporary Indigenous lens. She inserts herself into each of the archetypal roles found in Martin’s characters—the creative artist, the shy administrator, the outspoken leader, and the popular socialite. Through this photo‑based series, Arcand reflects on the role of caregivers in Indigenous communities, expanding the narrative beyond traditional motherhood to highlight the vital contributions of childless women, including the culturally significant figure of the “Aunty.”

Arcand’s use of Cree syllabics in the graphic text acts as a pointed reversal of the erasure of Indigenous language and culture from the public sphere. While infused with humor and wit, the work delivers a serious message that confronts the colonial histories of Canada and the United States.

namoya kâ-ocawâsimisicik okâwisak #1

Joi’s Terrible Idea

40 X 55 in. pigment ink on archival paper

Edition 10 + ap

namoya kâ-ocawâsimisicik okâwisak #3

Joi and the Clinic That Keeps Calling

40 X 55 in. pigment ink on archival paper

Edition 10 + ap

namoya kâ-ocawâsimisicik okâwisak #2

Joi and the Locked Door

40 X 55 in. pigment ink on archival paper

Edition 10 + ap

namoya kâ-ocawâsimisicik okâwisak #4

Joi and the IYKYK Fries

40 X 55 in. pigment ink on archival paper

Edition 10 + ap