When news broke earlier in the year about the remains found at a residential school in B.C. Canada, I broke. I didn’t know how to react. It triggered a depressive period for me and I had a hard time dealing. I think most of all I felt ashamed that I didn’t know. Ashamed that leaders in our Country could even run ‘schools’ that would require graveyards. Even with a degree in history I didn’t know how residential schools really were, we didn’t talk about them in my history classes. I had always been proud to be Canadian so this news make me step back and assess my feelings.

I’ve discovered I am still proud to be Canadian. I will not backdown from learning about our history even if it is painful and embarrassing. It is a part of our Canadian culture – good or bad. We must deal with these feelings and continue to learn and appreciate what our fellow humans endured. Because of this, I started to put my feelings into art. I didn’t yet have the words to begin to move on.

This is the story of this painting.

One of my bigger paintings in size (36×48″) and in emotional output. I started by creating a colourful background with splashes and sections of different colours. This represents the groups of people involved. The white washed background is meant to represent the attempt by the Canadian government and religious groups to cover over and erase the culture and heritage of our native population. As you can see by trying to make them fit into the seemingly perfectly white circles, it didn’t work. Their colour and heritage shines through. I think it is our responsibility to learn what we can and ensure that history does not repeat itself. The gold leaf represents the more recent attempts at reconciliation and healing. Its beginning to bring us together but is a work in progress.

In the end I hope that people see this painting and see happiness. It is about the reconciliation of cultures and a history we cannot forget. There is hope and there is always happiness to be found.

1 thought on “Reconciliation

    • Author gravatar

      I really enjoyed your sport and how it coordinates with the colors and circles, and how the white washing is a way people cover unpleasant things up. I really liked the pairing to begin with and read your post because the colors caught my eye. But in the end, I think I really just love what you had to say!! Both your words and your painting are beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️❤️❤️

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *