The theme of Arsene’s new body of work for this year’s residency is centered around teachings of the moss bag. The pieces are visual interpretations of a moss bag, what we use to swaddle a baby in Indigenous traditional parenting. The stone motifs of a moss bag is a reminder to return to ôpikinasowin, meaning the act of raising children in nêhiyawêwin, the Cree language. For everything that is ceremonially significant to us, we keep it safe in a bag. This is protection from the outside world, mimicking the warmth and safety of your mother’s womb. Your body is a moss bag for your spirit. Many of the carvings are hollow inside to represent the opportunity to fill the space with something good. It represents the significance of our potential as human beings.

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Arsene Joseph Alexander Arcand is a nêhiyaw (Cree) Indigenous Artist from Kipohtakaw (Alexander First Nation #134) in Treaty no.6 Territory, was announced as Edmonton’s fourth Indigenous Artist in Residence in June 2025. Arsene utilizes his background of traditional and cultural experience to draw inspiration into his art form and style. He was introduced to soapstone carving from his uncle, artist Leo W Arcand, and has utilized many different forms of art since his childhood, including painting and sketching.

Arsene was raised with the nêhiyaw (Cree) way of life by his late grandfather, spiritual leader and hereditary chief of Alexander First Nation, Arsene Joseph Arcand Sr. Since then, Arsene has had multiple carvings commissioned from organizations and various other projects for personal collections. Arsene continues to express the story of each stone as it comes to be told and shared with others around Turtle Island.