Twenty-one small sculptures, cut from the same steel plates as the life-size caribou and made voluntarily by the artist, were presented to Naskapi Elders at their annual gathering in 2024.
naskapi community boardwalk
A curved corten steel mural and six life-size caribou sculptures line the community boardwalk in Kawawachikamach.
- original scope
- Artistic conception of the corten steel artworks for the community boardwalk, a landscape architecture project by CCxA: a 35-foot-long mural and six caribou sculptures in three distinct forms.
- expanded scope
- Drawing on his experience delivering turnkey projects through K-One, the artist also took responsibility for technical design, handling, transportation and installation solutions, fabrication of all components, and delivery.
Central to Naskapi life and territory, the caribou becomes a presence along the boardwalk.
The mural traces a landscape, echoing the meaning of Naskapi: “people beyond the horizon.” Beginning with the image of a caribou overlooking the land, the composition grew through stories shared by community members. It brings together a wolf, a black bear, a fish, geese, Elders in a canoe, Fort Chimo and ancestral motifs. A ptarmigan is hidden within it, much as it would be in nature.
4.1 tonnes of steel, partly hand-finished by James Kennedy, then transported to Kawawachikamach by truck and train.
- Montréal
- truck
- train
- Kawawachikamach
a co-creation process
The artworks were developed through a co-creation process with the Naskapi community. In February 2024, the artist travelled to Kawawachikamach to meet community members, council representatives and teachers. Each visual proposal and its subsequent revisions were presented to the band council for approval.
Special thanks to CCxA and James Kennedy. Your dedication and hard work were instrumental in bringing this project to life. Your contributions have not only built a boardwalk but have also strengthened the bonds within our community.”
2025 awardscommunity boardwalk phase one
Awards recognizing CCxA's community boardwalk project, to which the artworks contributed.
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA)Awards of Excellence National AwardMedium Scale Public Landscapes
- Grands Prix du designAward of the yearLandscape & Territories
- Grands Prix du designGrand WinnerLandscape Architecture, Rural Areas
- Grands Prix du designGrand WinnerLandscape + Wood
- artworks
- 3 George River caribou · 2 female woodland caribou · 1 male woodland caribou
- material
- Corten steel, 19 mm thick, naturally weathered
- dimensions (H × W × thickness)
- George River caribou: 2,168 × 2,168 × 19 mm · 402 kg
female woodland caribou: 1,616 × 1,948 × 19 mm · 371 kg
male woodland caribou: 1,872 × 2,159 × 19 mm · 393 kg - technical details
- Each caribou is bolted to a custom steel base designed for handling, transportation and installation. The sculptures are freestanding, without ground anchors; stability is provided by steel ballast built into the base.
- artwork
- Narrative mural
- material
- Corten steel, 12.7 mm thick, naturally weathered
- dimensions (H × W)
- 1,651 × 10,668 mm (developed length) · 2,972 mm curve radius · 1,774 kg
- technical details
- Five sections measuring 1,651 × 2,133 × 229 mm (H × W × D). Bolted connections at the rear and anchoring to the timber structure. Custom steel supports were designed and fabricated to keep each section stable during studio work, handling and transportation.
- year
- 2024
- location
- Kawawachikamach, Québec
- project
- Community Boardwalk (Phase 1)
- artist
- James Kennedy, in co-creation with the Naskapi Nation
- design and fabrication
- James Kennedy
- landscape architecture
- CCxA
- community
- Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach
- photos and videos
- James Kennedy
Caribou
Eight sculptures cut from the same plates, darkened through black oxidation—a signature technique also found in the artist's steel artworks and Hearts series.
