National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The McCord Stewart Museum launches a new page dedicated to Indigenous cultures and presents a series of activities for the whole family.

Montréal/Tiohtiá:ke, September 27, 2023 – In keeping with its mission to amplify the voices of contemporary Indigenous artists and facilitate access to the Indigenous Cultures collection that it shelters, the McCord Stewart Museum is launching a new webpage featuring a wealth of content on Indigenous cultures. The Museum invited Kanien’kehá:ka artist Leilani Shaw to create a work incorporating symbols that are meaningful to the Indigenous nations of Quebec. Her work, Mother Earth’s Guiding Light, beautifully introduces the new virtual space dedicated to the Museum’s Indigenous content. In addition to launching this new showcase, the Museum is presenting a series of activities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that will appeal to adults and children alike, including Miro Pimatisiwin – Wishing each other a good life, another opportunity to discover the work of an Atikamekw artist through a creative and thoughtful activity. On September 30, visitors will also have access to the exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience for $10. Access to the Museum is free all year round for members of Indigenous communities and for people aged 17 and under.

Connecting with Indigenous Nations

The new page, titled Connecting with Indigenous Nations, is part of the Museum’s decolonization initiative, facilitating the dissemination of the Indigenous Cultures collection within a framework dedicated to showcasing the art, knowledge and history of Indigenous peoples. On this page visitors will find the Museum’s initiatives, blog articles, programming and news related to Indigenous cultures. Updated regularly, it will be a must-see for anyone interested in Indigenous cultures.

“The Museum is constantly innovating to develop new ways for the public to connect with and explore Indigenous cultures and knowledge, both traditional and contemporary. This is reflected by the new digital space, featuring a banner designed by Leilani Shaw, Mother Earth’s Guiding Light, and produced with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts,” points out Anne Eschapasse, President and CEO.

Artwork by Leilani Shaw

Mother Earth’s Guiding Light: Indigenous Wisdom, Storytelling, and Multigenerational Knowledge is a captivating digital artwork that celebrates the profound essence of Indigenous heritage and resilience. Against a celestial backdrop, a diverse collection of Indigenous wisdom is sprinkled throughout the art piece. This visual tale pays homage to the matrilineal lineage of women as symbols of strength and continuity, their silhouettes echoing the shapes of mountains and rivers, representing the profound connection to Mother Earth. Vibrant hues, strong symbolism, and intricate details reflect the various meanings woven into Indigenous stories. Mother Earth’s Guiding Light captures the spirit of Indigenous communities, their unyielding commitment to preserving ancestral wisdom and honoring rich Indigenous knowledge shared with us by the natural world throughout millennia.

“I am deeply grateful for the privilege to collaborate with the McCord Stewart Museum on this remarkable project that serves as a launching point to host Indigenous stories and artwork on their website. Working on this endeavor has been a profound journey of introspection and creativity, and I am humbled to contribute to the celebration of cultural narratives. I look forward to seeing how these visual stories resonate with the audience and contribute to the appreciation of our diverse heritage,” explains Leilani Shaw.

Leilani Shaw

Leilani Shaw is a Kanien’kehá:ka and Northern Paiute visual artist and a member of the Turtle Clan. She grew up on Indian Reserve No. 14, also known as Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory. Her visual artwork focuses on contemporary storytelling and giving new life to Indigenous legends handed down for hundreds of years. Using aspects of surrealism, Leilani integrates teachings and meanings of traditional storytelling into her artwork to create a new and unique world for all to enjoy. Notably, Leilani focuses on subject matter that explores the relationships between us and the matriarchal lineage of women we are all connected to, spanning back millennia. Leilani is passionate about Indigenous activism and working to make long-term systemic change in Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal. She is currently working alongside Indigenous NGOs in Montreal to gather data and areas of focus, in order to advocate for community needs to government agencies.

The Museum gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts for this project.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30

As part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the McCord Stewart Museum is celebrating the creativity and the Indigenous Peoples traditions with a series of activities.

Miro Pimatisiwin – wishing each other a good life

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Free – At the Museum

In collaboration with Marie-Claude Nequado, an Atikamekw multidisciplinary artist from Manawan, and the Centre for Services in Restorative Justice, the Museum will hold a creative and reflective gathering on the themes of broken cultural transmission, identity and the healing needed to build sensitive and respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Participants learn about Indigenous perspectives on healing by exploring Marie-Claude Nequado’s works and unpacking their rich symbolism. This activity will serve as the starting point to create a collaborative work that expresses a shared commitment to coming together and moving forward collectively.

In French and Atikamekw. Space is limited. Reservation required on the Museum’s website.

Visit Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience

The Museum is offering the public the chance to visit the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience at the reduced rate of $10 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Free for Museum members, members of Indigenous communities and children under 17.

Guided tours of Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience

Two 60-minute guided tours of the exhibition will be available at 11 a.m. (in French) and 3 p.m. (in English).

Tickets: Adult: $10 | Students (13 to 30): $5 | Museum members and members of Indigenous communities: Free

Visitors wishing to join a guided tour must reserve their spot on the Museum’s website.

Event presented in collaboration with Ubisoft.

Pre-launch of William* – a virtual reality residential school experience

Friday September 29, 6 to 8 p.m. – Free – At the Museum

*The virtual reality work will be accessible free of charge on Saturday September 30 and Sunday October 1.

To mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Nish Media, Hubblo and the Museum invite the public to the pre-launch of the virtual reality work William, in the company of director Sonia Bonspille Boileau.

The event will feature all six episodes of the series, which aims to deliver reality in an intimate form. The scripts for this immersive production are directly inspired by numerous testimonials from former residents. By embodying a character and living their story, the user engages in an experience that builds empathy and the desire to understand others’ reality.

Natu-natshishkueu: The Adventure of Connection

Ongoing

This participatory activity, presented by Hydro-Québec, invites families to team up and discover the new permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience. Through observation, imagination and discussion, children and adults encounter Indigenous nations by exploring the Museum’s Indigenous Cultures collection and the many stories it holds. Each child will receive an exploration booklet to set off on their adventure.

Free activity, in French and English. Recommended for children aged 6 to 11.

A Hydro-Québec presentation.

Go to the encounter and become an ally of Indigenous nations

The exhibition Indigenous Voices Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience invites the public to go to the encounter of Indigenous peoples and their points of view, through a three-part journey that highlights their still unrecognized knowledge as well as the deep wounds they carry and their incredible resilience. Through this exhibition, inspired by the hope of initiating a dialogue for better mutual understanding, the Museum aims to encourage genuine connection. The webpage Go to the encounter and become an ally of Indigenous nations provides resources to guide visitors through the process of becoming an ally.

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