Developed and circulated by the Legacy of Hope Foundation, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and Library and Archives of Canada, the exhibition is a significant acknowledgment of the impact of residential schools on First Peoples across Canada.
Curated by Jeff Thomas, a respected First Nations artist and curator, “Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential School” consists of 118 framed archival photographs, text panels, maps, original classroom texts and historical government papers that span over 125 years, selected from nine public and church archives.
Since being launched in 2002, the exhibition has been seen by audiences across Canada and has been enormously successful in raising awareness of the legacy of residential schools. The exhibition has also assisted in healing for many Residential School Survivors and their families and communities.
“A primary objective of our work is to promote awareness among the Canadian public about residential schools and try to help them to understand the ripple effect those schools have had on Aboriginal life,” says Richard Kistabish, President, Legacy of Hope Foundation, in an open letter on the group’s website. “But equally important, we want to bring about reconciliation between generations of Aboriginal people, and between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.”
Georges Erasmus, Chairman, Aboriginal Healing Foundation, says in his own address on the website, “‘Where are the Children?’ acknowledges that the era of silence is over. The resilience of Aboriginal people is evident in efforts to address the effects of unresolved trauma, thereby conferring upon future generations a renewed legacy of peace, strength, and well-being.”
This exhibit runs at the CBU Gallery until September 16, 2011, during the gallery’s regular hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. For more information about the exhibition, or to book a group tour, please contact the gallery online or 902-563-1342.
For more information about the exhibition, or to access interactive online resources, see the Where are the Children? website.
