Children of the Earth High School students create a new art installation at Lower Fort Garry to honour residential school Survivors

A new art installation created by over 50 Indigenous youth artists of the OMAZINIBII'IGEG: Indigenous Artist Collective and visual art students at Children of the Earth High School is now on display at Lower Fort Garry.

Facilitated by Parks Canada, this project was to address #79 of the 94 Call to Action by creating a display at the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site to honour residential school Survivors and their families. 

Children of the Earth art teacher Cynthia Flett said the students felt it was important to talk about rebuilding family. "We worked in partnership with our Cree and Ojibway teachers," she said. "They translated all of the teachings that were important to them and to helpful to rebuilding family and include that on the artwork on each hand."

From beginning to completion, the art project took the students 100 days and was created in part using orange handprints that were gathered at various events over the school year. 

The original artwork featured in the display is titled "Family or Ndinawemaaganag" by Christina McKay, a graduate of Children of the Earth High School. She completed the artwork as part of an exhibit held at Neechi Commons titled "Spirit Lines".  

“Students selected this piece as they felt it was the best representation of family to highlight the message of their installation. One student involved shared they felt it was important that the art pieces show the beauty of our culture and that it is growing and thriving,” said Flett.

"Family" will remain on display at the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site for at least one year.