Meagan Musseau: wtoqwan a’tukwaqnm (her story skirt)

This exhibition presents a powerful collection of skirts by artist Meagan Musseau, celebrating the unique stories and voices of five Mi'kmaw women. Rooted in relationship, her practice blends innovative material approaches with a sustained commitment to kinship and shared authorship, moving far beyond a solitary studio process to centre the power of story.

Through textile and photography, Musseau offers an intimate visual exploration of femininity, motherhood, and community. Each skirt—crafted from cotton, ribbon, and leather—emerged from conversations with Stacey Howse, Leah Doucette, Jenelle Duval, Darlene Joe, and Kim Musseau, whose memories, teachings, and joys shape the foundation of the designs. The garments stand as expressions of presence and resilience, each reflecting the voice of the woman at its centre. Photographs taken in places of personal meaning deepen the ties between each woman, her story, and the land that holds her. Together, the skirts and images celebrate the artistry of connection and the enduring strength of Mi’kmaw women.

Guest Curator: Jenelle Duval
Mi’kmaw translator: Ida Denny

About the artist

Meagan Musseau is a L’nu woman, artist, and dancer from Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk territory (Bay of Islands, Newfoundland), whose interdisciplinary practice spans basketry, beadwork, land-based performance, video, and installation. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions such as Pi’tawkewaq | our people up river (grunt gallery, Vancouver, BC) and Pejipuk (AKA, Saskatoon, SK; Eastern Edge, St. John’s, NL), and featured in group exhibitions including Woven Together (Kelowna Art Gallery, BC), this land is lonely for us (Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff, AB), The Life of Things (MOMENTA | biennale de l’image, Montreal, QC), and the touring exhibition Boarder X (Winnipeg Art Gallery, MB). She has performed at Spirit Song Festival, Bonavista Biennale, #THIRDSHIFT, and in landscapes across Turtle Island. Musseau holds a BFA from Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, and a Visual Arts Diploma from College of the North Atlantic, and has participated in residencies at Neighbourhood Dance Works, Banff Centre, Columbia College Chicago, and the University of Brighton. Her practice has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Atlantic Emerging Artist Award and VANL-CARFAC’s Emerging Artist Award.

About the curator

Jenelle Duval is a Mi’kmaw curator and multidisciplinary artist from Seal Rocks - St. George’s, Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland), currently based in St. John’s. For over a decade, her work has centred on the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous cultural expression, creating meaningful connections within contemporary professional spaces.

Her curatorial practice is defined by a commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices and finding platforms for diverse artistic perspectives to thrive. At The Rooms, Duval has curated landmark exhibitions that redefine how Indigenous art is experienced in the Atlantic region. This includes Weljesi (2023), a significant retrospective of visual artist Jerry Evans, and Tekweywinen tel Weljesultiek / Be With Us In Our Joy (2024–2025), a multi-disciplinary exhibition showcasing seven Wabanaki artists through the lens of humor, spirit, and play. These projects, alongside her former tenure as Artistic Director of the Spirit Song Festival, reflect her deep dedication to the province's evolving cultural tapestry.

As a musician, Duval is a founding member of the ECMA-winning group Eastern Owl, while her expansive solo and collaborative practice has seen her perform on stages across the country. Her songwriting—which earned a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination—explores land-based narratives and the complex interpersonal relations tied to her home. These artistic and professional contributions have been recognized with the Atlantic Presenters Association Achievement Award and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award.

Deeply rooted in Ktaqmkuk, Duval continues to compose works that embody her territorial attachments and a profound love for her family. She is grateful that her ongoing work within the community keeps her grounded in her home territory.

Image: Meagan Musseau, Stacey sitting on a wood pile in Miawpukek, 2025, photography wearing a custom skirt.