Indian residential school display at Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon
- EFN Staff | January 30, 2014
Several pieces of art honouring residential school survivors were recently unveiled by the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
"The residential school story and experiences need to be told, understood, and remembered. The art created by this project reflects this and keeps the stories alive. The project and art will also act as an important educational and public awareness tool now, and into the future," said Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas.
Participating students had the opportunity to take part in workshops and heard Elders' stories and recollections of the residential school experience. Students expressed the stories and their emotions behind the stories through their art. The resulting pieces serve as a memorial to residential school survivors, inter-generational survivors and the lost children of the residential schools.
"This partnership is unique in that it gives both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students the chance to work together in reflection and learning," said Susan Shantz, department head in the Department of Art and Art History. "They have the opportunity to translate their new understanding into meaningful artistic symbols."
A presentation of the Project will also be presented at the TRC National Event in Edmonton, March 2014, to be placed in the Bentwood Box and a mural will be placed somewhere prominent in the City of Saskatoon.
"New Child" by Kayla Prive is the piece that has been chosen to be made into a mural.
"I titled this piece "New Child" because it illustrates the renewal of a beautiful people moving forward into a time of healing and rebirth. Elders spoke about how the retelling of painful stories brings back the quiet, afraid, and silenced young child that is still there inside," said Prive. "My deepest hope for all First Nations people, especially those suffering from the intergenerational impact of Residential Schools, is that a "new child" can be born and the frightened child inside can be freed."
The art project has had a strong impact already for survivors.
"The instructors and students of the Commemoration Project should be applauded for the efforts in their understanding of the dark era of Residential Schools in this country and province. The symbolism in the artwork gives hope to many who still live with the intergenerational impacts of these institutions," said Eugene (Bird) Arcand, who was no 781, at the Duck Lake Residential School from 1957-1967.
Replicas of the work will be shared to the seven member nations of the STC and will serve as a symbol of hope and healing. The exhibit is on display until March 2 at the Mendel Art Gallery.