IN THE NEWS!
Indigenous starblanket project in Calgary ‘brings comfort to people’
By Gil Tucker Global News, September 18, 2023
Calgarians are coming together in a new way to mark this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. They’re inviting everyone to join them in carrying on an important Indigenous tradition.
Members of the Indigenous community are creating a traditional star blanket. “Many Indigenous people use it as a form of giving as an honour for any rite of passage – graduation, wedding, birth of a child,” project leader Dale Swampy said.
Project participants are inviting members of the public to join their star blanket-making sessions, creating it as part of their preparations for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.
Sparrow Artspace is hosting an emotion packed free exhibit at its northeast gallery for the month of September.
It's honouring the lost children and survivors of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop.
Sheila Norris, the executive director of the Colour it Forward Reconciliation Society, hopes the exhibition starts conversation with visitors.
"All of the art in here is so emotional because it does tell a story," she said. "It does tell something about the horrors that we're in, the history but it also has hope."
CIF Reconciliation Society Community Hub
Honouring the Children Exhibition, Workshops, Community Art Project, Gift Shop
The Colouring it Forward Reconciliation Society (CIFRS) will have a Community Hub with an Exhibition, Workshops, Community Art Project, and Gift Shop at Sparrow Artspace in September 2023, leading up to their Fifth Annual Pokaiks - The Children Orange Shirt Day Walk & Event on Sept 30th.
HONOURING THE CHILDREN EXHIBITION
CIF Reconciliation Society’s Vision Statement is LET’S GET REAL - To promote ReconciliACTION!, Empowerment, Awareness & Leadership through arts and culture. Throughout September, we are partnering with Sparrow Artspace to take reconciliation into ACTION. Honouring the Children Exhibit will bring AWARENESS of the history, stories, memories and healing of the Indigenous Peoples of residential school survivors and families, those affected by the 60 scoop, generational trauma. During the month, 12 different Indigenous artists will display their artwork. Featuring the work of: Amber Boyd, Autumn Whiteway, Dale Swampy, Tania Big Plume, Jona Sparvier, Sandra Lamouche, Danielle Piper, Flora Johnson, Ken shepherd, Pearl White Quills, Priscilla Boulay, Tory Manywounds, Diana Frost, Kalum Teke Dan, and Sheila Norris.
ARTIST RECEPTIONS: Meet the artists! Sat Sept 9, 1-3pm OR Thurs Sept 14, 5-7pm, free/drop-in!
COMMUNITY ART PROJECT
CIF Reconciliation Society is proud to be creating a special Community Art Project with Dale Swampy with workshops to create a Star Blanket. The blanket will tell the story of many people who help be part of the healing and EMPOWERMENT by making a part of the blanket. Join Dale Swampy Sept 2, 1-4pm, Sept 8, 3-6pm, Sept 9, 3-6pm, Sept 15, 3-6pm, Sept 16, 3-6pm, Sept 22, 3-6pm, Sept 23, 1-4pm, Sept 29, 3-6pm to learn about star blankets and to add a piece to the blanket with a message, a name of a lost one or survivor, painting, beading, or any way you want to contribute to this collaborative blanket. Go to Community Art Project to register for a workshop. You can also add to the blanket during opening hours (Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm) at Sparrow Artspace and at Pokaiks – The Children Commemorative Walk and Gathering @ Shaw Millenium Park on September 30th. The completed blanket will be displayed in a future exhibit.
WORKSHOPS
We will host several workshops led by Indigenous artists who will share their knowledge, artistic and LEADERSHIP abilities with community members of Mohkinstsis (Calgary). Check out all the workshops on Eventbrite!
GIFT SHOP!
Colouring it Forward pop-up shop will also be onsite with colouring books, orange day shirts, reconciliation calendars, and more.
CIF Reconciliation Society thanks its funding partners, Calgary Arts Development, and Sparrow Artspace.
