A travelling exhibit now at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery entitled ‘George Littlechild: Here I am — Can you see me?’, aims to shine an even brighter light on the horrific realities of the residential school system.
The exhibit’s 22 pieces are by well-known Cree artist George Littlechild, who is from the Maskwacis area, where the Ermineskin residential school was situated. The exhibit was curated by M.J. Belcourt, a traditional Métis artist working in the Edmonton area.
The display’s pieces are primarily of children who passed away at the residential school in Ermineskin, though the individuals remain unidentified.
Littlechild also shares a personal connection to the residential school issue as he mentioned many family members who experienced them first-hand. He is also a 60s scoop survivor who was taken from his family and experienced traumatic abuse. His two uncles, Louis and Alfred, also passed away at the residential school.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada conservatively estimates that between 4,000 and 6,000 children died while in attendance.
Find more information on the exhibit at reddeermuseum.com
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