Indigenous resurgence and Reconciliation through art: Two Indigenous artists featured on transit and online for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Waterloo Region – In commemoration of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous artwork by Tsista Kennedy will be shared with the community through a Grand River Transit bus wrap and mural.
Kennedy, an Anishinaabe Onyota’a:ka artist from Southern Ontario, uses symbolism to connect the story of the bison with that of Indigenous People.
“In learning the history of the bison in post-contact North America, I have come to understand that their story of resiliency is no different than ours as Indigenous People,” says Kennedy.
“Additionally, I chose to include an eagle; reminding us of healthy leadership. On the eagle's wings rest the present and future generations of us as Indigenous peoples. We must never forget to consider and provide for the coming faces as we navigate the journey of Reconciliation.”
The bus will be part of the Every Child Matters walk at 10 a.m. on September 30th outside of Healing of the Seven Generations at 300 Frederick St in Kitchener. It will be available to anyone interested or needing mobility assistance along the route. Afterwards, the bus will circulate through the community on major transit routes.
A mural of Kennedy’s artwork is also on display at the GRT Customer Service Centre on King St. and Benton St. in downtown Kitchener.
Additionally, artwork by Luke Swinson, an artist of Anishinaabe descent from Kitchener and a member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, will be shared by local municipalities on social media.
The art, bus wrap, and mural are being shared as part of the Reconciliation Action Partnership (RAP).
RAP is a collective of municipal representatives dedicated to coordinating efforts to support Indigenous-centered initiatives across the region.
Municipalities embrace the opportunity and responsibility to contribute to Reconciliation with Indigenous communities, recognizing the intrinsic connection between land, people, and governance.
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
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