July 21, 2001 – August 16, 2001
Arizona State Museum
Seven Eyes, Seven
Legs: Supernatural Stories of the Abenaki Exhibition
Several original
carvings by gifted Abenaki artists Gérard Antoine “Tsonakwa” Rancourt and Yolaikia Wapitaska [1.] were on
display in an exhibition entitled Sevens Eyes, Sevens Legs: Supernatural
Stories of the Abenaki at Arizona
State Museum’s Native Goods Gallery from July 16 through August 15, 2001.
The exhibition was a celebration of the Abenaki culture
from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States and is representative of
the images found in a recently published book, of the same name, by the same
gifted couple.
Gerard carves wooden masks and stone sculptures with a
full range of traditional to contemporary styles and themes. He learned carving
under the instruction of his father and other family members. After a long
detour through political movements and other pursuits, he returned to artwork
full time upon the death of his father
in 1981. Since then, he has accomplished
more than sixty feature shows in museums and galleries in partnership with his
wife Yolaikia [1.]. Across the U.S., Canada and Europe he
has combined Abenaki stories and language with artwork to introduce diverse
peoples to Abenaki culture and awareness. Gerard
is originally from Quebec, Connecticut and Vermont.
Yolaikia is a
self-taught, spontaneous artist. She carves very complex groupings of figures
in antler, amber, and fossil ivory. Finished with settings of gemstones, many
of her works are strung to be worn. Her assemblages illustrate stories and
concepts from Abenaki mythic lore. Yolaikia
had a difficult time maintaining her Abenaki heritage until she
discovered her skill in carving. An accomplished artist, she has more than sixty feature shows to her credit.
Yolaikia is from Quebec, and Pennsylvania.
This particular descriptive write-up by the Arizona State Museum, claiming that "Yolaikia" had a difficult time maintaining her Abenaki heritage, until she discovered her skill in carving, is what caused me to begin exploring the merits of both Gérard Antoine “Tsonakwa” Rancourt Jr. and this 3rd spouse's merits, and foundation of their own histories.
What I discovered, was that not only did Gérard Antoine “Tsonakwa” Rancourt Jr. began to manipulate his own background (retrospective social history) into becoming not only an Indian-ist but also began to change his persona into being an "Abenaki" from and of the Province of Quebec, Canada.
Of course, all of it was dubious at the point of becoming aware of where he was actual born vs. what he was saying. A great storytelling it was, of concocted horse-pucky indeed. Even Odzihozo was amazed!
Gérard Antoine “Tsonakwa” Rancourt's 3rd wife, "Yolaikia Wapitaska" made mention briefly, her mother's name Edna Sciolé in the Acknowledgements section on Page 2 of their book entitled Welcome the Caribou Man.
Dominic D. Sciolé, in is Register of Wills, mentioned his Real Estate: 2526 S. Cleveland Street in Philadelphia, PA 19145. in 2004.
Marilyn Bernadette Sciolé was mentioned in her father's Register of Wills, Page 2, as living at 10775 West Mars in Tucson, AZ 85743.
WHY would it be difficult to maintain an Abenaki heritage, being that all four (4) grandparents of Marilyn Bernadette Sciolé, a.k.a. "Yolaikia Wapitaska" were ITALIANS.
As for Gérard Antoine (a.k.a. "Tsonakwa") Rancourt Jr.' genealogical ancestry:
Neither of these two STORY TELLERS are Abenakis
It's called Abenaki Identity Theft
http://abenakiart.org/permanent_exhibits
Abenaki Identity Thieves SUPPORT each other
Slapping Each Other On the Back
http://abenakiart.org/permanent_exhibits
Abenaki Identity Thieves SUPPORT each other
Slapping Each Other On the Back
