Survivor Truths: The Art of Reconciliation

Artist Robert Aller was a volunteer art teacher at the Alberni Indian Residential School on Vancouver Island from 1959 to 1964, and later in Manitoba and Ontario. He encouraged his students to paint landscapes of their homes or scenes depicting their cultures. Aller kept samples of his students’ works, which were then donated to the University of Victoria. Between 2012 and 2013, paintings by students from the Alberni school became part of a multi-year project to return the art to former students or their families. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission funded a special feast in Port Alberni, British Columbia in March 2013 to mark the return of some of these paintings. Many Survivors gave permission for their works to be displayed in educational facilities and museums to raise awareness about the history and legacy of residential schools.