- Academic Life
When collaborative research becomes a tool for awareness and connection
De gauche à droite : André Dudemaine, Tania Raphaël, Cynthia Bégin, Thérèse Raphaël, Germaine Dubé, Myriam Duchesne, Vicky Tremblay, Naomie Léonard, Stéphane Guimont Marceau
The exhibition In Your Moccasins: Journeys of Indigenous Women in Roberval is on display at the Maison du développement durable in Montréal until August 25, 2025. It invites the public to connect on a human level with the stories of women from Mashteuiatsh, who share their daily lives and experiences in the public spaces of Roberval.
Through drawings and personal testimonials from the women, the exhibition invites visitors to “walk in their moccasins” to better understand contemporary Indigenous realities, while also shedding light on the historical roots of current issues. More than just an exhibition, it serves as a tool for knowledge mobilization and a space for dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
This project stems from research conducted since 2022 by a team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), led by Professor Stéphane Guimont Marceau, a specialist in Indigenous–non-Indigenous relations, in collaboration with Puakuteu, the Mashteuiatsh Women’s Committee.
The Ilnu and Atikamekw women involved in the project participated in a body mapping workshop, talking circles, semi-structured interviews, and a feedback session on the preliminary data analysis. Their desire to share the results led to the creation of the exhibition in collaboration with the organization Mosaïque sociale. Initially presented at the Ilnu Museum in Mashteuiatsh, the exhibition now continues its journey in Tiohtiá:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal.
“I’m so grateful that the women embraced this project, which grew out of my doctoral research. The body mapping workshop was a fantastic moment of connection and sharing, filled with laughter and kindness. I’m thrilled that this encounter lives on and continues to grow through this beautiful exhibition.”
Naomie Léonard, PhD candidate in Urban Studies at INRS
🎧 A podcast also accompanies the exhibition. Created by the Collaboratoire Villes Voix Visions team at INRS, it gives voice to the women involved in this research and knowledge-sharing initiative.
