Thunder in Our Voices examined the contentious issue of oil and gas pipelines across Indigenous lands. The exhibition contextualized this topic through the history of the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, one of the largest engineering projects ever considered in North America. Following the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in the 1970s, a consortium of major oil companies proposed transporting natural gas across northern Canada, down the Mackenzie River Valley, and onward to Chicago. The Dene and Inuvialuit of northern Canada opposed the project, insisting that their land claims be settled before any construction began.
To address the impasse, the Canadian government appointed Justice Thomas Berger to conduct hearings to determine where and whether the pipeline should be built. Justice Berger held formal hearings with industry representatives and visited thirty Dene and Inuvialuit communities, inviting residents of all ages to speak. Their testimonies, amplified through media coverage, generated widespread public support for Indigenous communities, and the pipeline was ultimately never constructed.
Seven years prior to the exhibition, Durango photographer Linda MacCannell traveled on a 1,000-mile journey to revisit these communities with a team of lawyers and journalists who had participated in the original inquiry. Events were held in each community so that residents could hear recordings of the speeches their grandparents had delivered to Justice Berger. MacCannell also offered photography classes, enabling students to document their experiences and conversations with Elders.
Reflecting on the project, MacCannell stated, “This work is a conversation across generations. The journey relied on community support and people’s willingness to share their stories. These gifts...made the journey unforgettable.”
Thunder in Our Voices had toured twenty-five Dene and Inuvialuit communities and ten universities across Canada before being presented at the Center of Southwest Studies, marking its first venue in the United States.
Photo credit: Linda MacCannell