Students from a small town in Saskatchewan travelled to the Queen City on Monday to have their artwork displayed as part of Orange Shirt Day.
Named Igniting the Spirit of Reconciliation, the exhibit features artwork by students from Balcarres Community School and presents the students’ reaction to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
Each student was assigned one of the 94 Calls to Action back in the spring, and on Monday morning, their work was open to be viewed by the public. Over 20 students from the school attended the event.
Erika Bellegarde, a grade 11 student from Little Black Bear First Nation who goes to school in Balcarres, created a piece based on her interpretation of Call to Action number 36.
At the Orange Shirt Day event hosted on the second floor of the downtown branch, Bellegarde was presented by her teacher Mrs. Michele Schwab to share her thoughts on the project and why this event is so important to her.
She talked about how her Moochum (grandfather) and his mother attended residential schools in Lebret, mentioning how he told her about the story when he managed to run away and escape the school.
“It’s a big deal to me,” said Bellegarde, proudly wearing her orange shirt with the words ‘Every Child Matters’ printed on the front.
“I have a voice for my grandparents who attended residential schools, and I have a voice for those who don’t because they never made it home.”
Jingle dress dancers perform to music provided by Red Dog Singers during Orange Shirt Day on Monday, Sept 30 at the Regina Public Library. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
Artwork from the Balcarres students was created in collaboration with resident artist Holly Yuzicapi.
Bellegarde said she is proud of her schoolmates and teachers for participating in a project that means so much to her and her family.
Students were required to conduct research into their item before starting on their canvases. Beads, leather and other items were incorporated into the paintings to tell a unique story.
While she’s honoured to be a part of a project close to her heart, she hopes more youth will sit down and learn about the history and hear what survivors have to say.
“What they have to say is super important, it’s not something to laugh about and to ignore,” said Bellegarde. “It’s something that people had to experience, and they didn’t have a choice. They were ripped from their families.”
Originally moved to the library from the City Square Plaza due to the cold, rainy weather, the event featured several speakers including members from the Regina Police Service, Regina Fire Department and Mayor Michael Fougere.
The program also included performance by jingle dress dancers, and performances from Red Dog singers and drummers out of Star Blanket.
