Vol 2, No 1 (2026): Celebrating Indigenous Studies Across the Globe
Issue Description
This photograph taken by artist Danya Danger documents the process of crafting a traditional bone scraper, rooted in Indigenous hide-tanning practices passed down through the artist's family over generations. Inspired by stories shared by her great-grandmother, who grew up on a farm near Camperville without running water or electricity, Danger sought to create a visual record of knowledge that colonialism and racism once forced into silence. Central to the image are the materials and methods used by her great-great-grandmother, Marie-Thérèse, who knew how to tan hides traditionally. The blue rope featured in the photograph carries dual significance: it is used both in the practical work of hide tanning and in the traditional ceremonies the artist participates in. This work is an act of reclamation, honouring ancestral knowledge, preserving cultural heritage, and affirming the living continuity of Indigenous traditions within her family and community.