On Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, Remai Modern hosted a special experience by the Saskatoon Residential School Survivors Circle (SRSSC) and artist/Residential School Survivor Jerry Whitehead.
Whitehead was on site in the museum’s Cameco Learning Studio to adorn the tipi with a new logo for the SRSSC. He worked with the SRSSC to create a new design and painted at the museum throughout the week before presenting the finished piece to the group.
At the same time, members of the SRSSC were present to provide support and answer questions about their lived experiences as Residential School Survivors.
This project was generously supported by SIGA.
Numerous local groups came to the museum to visit with the Survivors and observe the tipi painting. These groups included included elementary school groups, Sage classrooms, high school Indigenous Studies classes, newcomer groups and students from SIIT.
During the experience, Remai Modern staff captured audio of some of the Survivors in attendance. Click on the links below to hear their stories in their own words.
If you need support, the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-866-925-4419.
This partnership was part of an ongoing relationship between the SRSSC and Remai Modern. In 2022, the museum was honoured to provide a space for a multimedia presentation of Carey Newman’s The Witness Blanket. The success of this project encouraged new initiatives to be undertaken in support of SRSSC.
In 2021, Remai Modern named the SRSSC to be the recipient of all admission donations accepted from the month of June, reflective of June 21 being National Indigenous Peoples Day. This decision was in response to the unmarked and mass graves confirmed and located at former residential schools across Canada. Museum leadership consulted with Knowledge Keepers and Residential School Survivors to determine where the gift should be allocated. Thanks to the understanding and generosity of visitors, more than $11,000 was raised.
About the Saskatoon Survivors Circle
The members of the Saskatoon Residential School Survivors Circle have been working together since 2015 to enhance the activity levels and increase networking amongst Residential School Survivors. Membership is open to any Residential School Survivor that lives in, or close proximity to, Saskatoon. With a motto that states “Nothing about us, without us”, the main objective of the group is to provide a safe space for fellow Survivors. The circle provides guidance and Survivor perspectives to many organizations, including offering important first-hand knowledge of the lived experiences within those institutions.
About Jerry Whitehead
Jerry Whitehead is a nationally renowned artist from Peter Chapman First Nation. Though he has practiced many different styles throughout his career, he is known for his vibrant depictions of powwows and powwow dancers. Whitehead credits his interest in art to his family, having grown up around creative relatives who worked with hides and did beadwork. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indian Art from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. Today, Whitehead lives and works in British Columbia, but his signature style is undoubtedly inspired by his family, culture, and Treaty Six Territory. Whitehead’s work has been shown across Canada and is held in numerous collections, including Remai Modern.
