“Footprints” decorate downtown in honour of residential school victims

A new temporary art installation has been unveiled in Regina’s Victoria Park.

The project dubbed the “Footprints Commemorative Indigenous Art Project” was spearheaded by the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID) and the Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District (RWBID) to pay tribute to those found in unmarked graves near Canada’s residential schools.

Research Coordinator Janell Renae-Rempel says the project is a collaboration between nine Indigenous artsits, and is about remembering everyone who has walked through residential schools.

“We’re hoping that it will gather folks to come and honour those that we’ve lost to the residential school system, “said Renae-Rempel. “And celebrate the survivors as well.”

The footprints, drawn with spray chalk, can be seen in Victoria Park and on Dewdney Avenue between Albert Street and Broad Street.

While the footprints are temporary, the project will be seen in other ways.

“It’s spray chalk so it is temporary, but the posters will stay up a bit longer, and we are documenting everything, so that will all be available through our website as well,” said Renae-Rempel.

The posters will be in vacated store fronts throughout downtown and the Warehouse District.

More information on the project can be found on RDBID’s website.

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