Rekindling Creativity on a Day for Truth and Reconciliation

 

                                                     Toronto Sign Wrap -- Joseph Sagaj

This is second annual National Day for Truth and Reconcilation and I trust that our Prime Minister is not on vacation. This is a holiday for some while many of us will wear our orange shirts and put up flags with the words "Every Child Matters" in recognition of the horrors of the Residential Schools for Indigenous children.

We now acknowledge that this supposed education system was designed to eradicate Indigenous culture and language. The Canadian government enlisted various Christian denominations in this concerted effort toward cultural genocide, to our great shame. Hundreds and likely thousands of children died while at these indoctrination centres from malnutrition, lack of adequate medical care, and God knows what other reasons. 

While this program was largely successful, creating intergenerational trauma and normalizing systemic racism, there has been an upwelling of Indigenous identity and culture in recent years. The arts have flourished in everything from music to dance to visual art. It's not hard to focus on the wrongdoing toward and victimization of Indigenous peoples but this artistic expression, along with the resurgence of Indigenous languages has been vital to the ongoing process of Truth and Reconcilation. https://artsconsulting.com/arts-insights/truth-and-reconciliation-in-the-arts-and-culture-sector/

This week the Toronto sign in Nathan Philips Square was unveiled with a new artistic wrap called Rekindle by Joseph Sagaj. Canada Post just issued four new stamps featuring Indigenous artists and artworks. 

We have a lot of art in our home and over the years have acquired a number of pieces from different Indigenous artists across the country, two of which are by an Inuk member of our extended family. While we have essentially no space for more art we recently purchased an original print by the wonderful Christi Belcourt called The Fish are Fasting for Knowledge, a title which intrigues us. We love this image and eagerly await its framing so we can put it in a place of prominence -- we're already musing about the wall space juggling. An interview with  Belcourt was on CBC Radio's Q this morning. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/friday-sept-30-2022-christi-belcourt-david-a-robertson-and-more-1.6590213

We feel this is a way to affirm Indigenous culture in a tangible way. For too long "good art" was associated with Europe and the settler descendents of Europeans in this land. 

                                                The Fish are Fasting for Knowledge -- Christi Belcourt

I have long believed that artistic expression can be a form of prayer as well as an affirmation of culture. This may not surprise people who know me and that I have a degree in art history as well as theology. Art also speaks truth to power. The paintings of Kent Monckman are irreverent (to say the least) and provide biting commentary on the history of colonialism.

                                                   The Scream -- Kent Monkman  -- 2017

                                                          Stained Glass in Parliament -- Christi Belcourt