Yaadachoon

Robert K. Mills, Ganák’w
2024, Aluminum, Edition 3/5

Designed to be capable of enduring the waters of the Northern Pacific Ocean and built to ensure the survival of Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, canoes have been the mode of transportation for thousands of years. Creating these magnificent canoes has allowed the builders to participate in trade, attend sacred ceremonies and harvest foods along the Northwest Coast.

Yaadachoon skillfully weaves together the marginalized and hushed essence of the Tlingit culture, harmoniously juxtaposed with the paradigms of Western governance. The artist perceives this sculpture as an embodiment of human experience, eloquently illuminating the dichotomy inherent in the symmetrical form of the canoe. It communicates, through the exquisite design principles of “Formline,” the profound duality that underpins Tlingit self-governance, through the revered Eagle and Raven, and underscores the solemn civic duty of nurturing and preserving one’s counterparts. This symbolism serves as a compass, guiding humanity’s collective voyage towards a brighter, harmonious future.