CoC Methodology: Generating Communities of Care Within Indigenous Spaces Through Trauma-Informed Visual Culture

Abstract

Interdisciplinary Two-Spirit, Métis/Saulteaux/Polish artist, Dayna Danger establishes Indigenous protocol through their artistic practice, which translates through their Mask series and their digital film Bebeschendaam, as they demonstrate the ways in which community is generated, upheld and maintained through their art works. In particular, these collaborative projects exemplify methodologies that revolve around building and nurturing community, which generates a Communities of Care methodology, formed by feminist theorist and scholar, bell hooks. Through this concept, Danger advocated for the term, CoC Methodology at their keynote at Concordia University’s Art History Graduate Student Association’s (AHGSA) 13th annual symposium on the theme of Communities of Care, held in February 2019. CoC Methodology relates to the stability and growth of Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, trans, female and gender-variant Indigenous folks. By advocating for CoC Methodology, Danger’s artistic practice not only concentrates on the creative output, but also on the facilitation of community building and safe-keeping.