The great river is drowning in water

An exhibition on Indigenous lands, hydropower and the rights of nature

The special exhibition explores the tension between hydropower, Indigenous rights and the rights of nature. The starting point is the James Bay Notebook, a collaborative work by the artist Rainer Wittenborn and the journalist Claus Biegert. This artistic exploration focuses on the largest hydroelectric project of its time, the James Bay Hydroelectric Project in the province of Quebec, and its impact on the James Bay Cree. Constructed in the 1970s, the project flooded Indigenous land, with far-reaching consequences for the Cree way of life. Hydropower is regarded as green energy. But what price do the affected communities pay for it? What about Indigenous rights? And should rivers also be granted rights? The exhibition gets your thoughts flowing and invites you to delve into water-related topics in depth.

In collaboration with journalist Claus Biegert, Cree filmmaker and film producer Ernest Webb, Cree artist Lindsay Chewanish and artist Stefanie Zoche. The James Bay Notebook is on display at NONAM for the last time in Europe. Afterwards, it will return to Chisasibi, where its journey began in 1981 – it will be added to the collection of the Cree Culture and Heritage Centre.