Something Cold and Hard like Winter showcases the movement of time through large scale photographs and video. The works speak to the narratives that surround the earth and the longevity of its existence, the influence of capital gain on the environment and time immemorial.

Niro thoughtfully reflects on the historical and explores how post-colonial mediums have had an impact on Indigenous people and the land. By looking at the surface of the earth we understand our interconnection and the importance of not taking what is there for granted. We are part of the earth and will remain so.

The volume includes a foreword by Suzanne Luke, curator of the Robert Langen Art Gallery, and a creative essay, "The Balm to the Burn" by bestselling author Alicia Elliott.

Shelley Niro is a multidisciplinary artist and a member of the Six Nations Reserve, Turtle Clan, Bay of Quinte Mohawk. She has worked in a variety of media, including beadwork, painting, photography, and film. Niro’s art has been featured in numerous exhibitions and museums across Canada and the United States, including the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Alicia Elliott is a Mohawk writer from Six Nations of the Grand River territory. Her award-winning first book A Mind Spread Out on the Ground was a national bestseller.