Repatriation ceremony, Port Alberni, British Columbia
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Why do you think the paintings were returned in such an elaborate ceremony?
Details
Date March 30, 2013
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
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- This photo is of a group of Survivors and family members at a March 2013 ceremony, holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
- The return ceremony took two years of planning and preparation.
- Each artist, or their family, was given their original painting as well as a framed copy.
- Many chose to decline their paintings or keep them for themselves and their families.
- Others chose to return their paintings in a shared ownership so that they could be used to educate Canadians about residential school experiences and legacies.
This photo is of a group of Survivors and their family members holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School. The return feast included researchers from the University of Victoria, Elders from across the region, the family of teacher Robert Aller, and local leadership.
After a careful ceremony of entry and welcome, each artist and/or their family was given their original painting, as well as a high-quality framed reproduction. Each was then invited to consider what they would like to do with the original painting. While many chose to decline or keep their paintings as personal objects, others chose to return their paintings to the university in a shared stewardship agreement where the paintings would be used to educate the Canadian public about the history and legacy of the schools and the students’ experience.
This photo is of a group of Survivors and their family members holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School. After nearly two years of careful research and preparation involving extensive cultural ceremony and thinking through how best to return the paintings to their creators or their kin, researchers from the University of Victoria, Elders from across the region, the family of Robert Aller, and local leadership attended a special return ceremony and feast held at the Alberni Athletic Hall on March 30, 2013.
The original paintings were walked into the hall, led by Nuu-chah-nulth drummers, and followed by their artists. The originals were then placed beside framed copies of the art that lined one wall of the space. After cultural protocols of welcome to the territory were completed, each artist and/or their kin was called up to receive their painting and to speak to all those in attendance as witnesses of the return.
Each was then asked what they would like to do with their painting. Some chose to decline the painting, finding the associated memories too painful. Others kept their paintings as personal objects of their history. Still others chose to return their paintings to the university in a shared stewardship agreement where the paintings would be used to educate the Canadian public about the history and legacy of the schools and the students’ experience.
- This photo is of a group of Survivors and family members at a March 2013 ceremony, holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
- The return ceremony took two years of planning and preparation.
- Each artist, or their family, was given their original painting as well as a framed copy.
- Many chose to decline their paintings or keep them for themselves and their families.
- Others chose to return their paintings in a shared ownership so that they could be used to educate Canadians about residential school experiences and legacies.
This photo is of a group of Survivors and their family members holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School. The return feast included researchers from the University of Victoria, Elders from across the region, the family of teacher Robert Aller, and local leadership.
After a careful ceremony of entry and welcome, each artist and/or their family was given their original painting, as well as a high-quality framed reproduction. Each was then invited to consider what they would like to do with the original painting. While many chose to decline or keep their paintings as personal objects, others chose to return their paintings to the university in a shared stewardship agreement where the paintings would be used to educate the Canadian public about the history and legacy of the schools and the students’ experience.
This photo is of a group of Survivors and their family members holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School. After nearly two years of careful research and preparation involving extensive cultural ceremony and thinking through how best to return the paintings to their creators or their kin, researchers from the University of Victoria, Elders from across the region, the family of Robert Aller, and local leadership attended a special return ceremony and feast held at the Alberni Athletic Hall on March 30, 2013.
The original paintings were walked into the hall, led by Nuu-chah-nulth drummers, and followed by their artists. The originals were then placed beside framed copies of the art that lined one wall of the space. After cultural protocols of welcome to the territory were completed, each artist and/or their kin was called up to receive their painting and to speak to all those in attendance as witnesses of the return.
Each was then asked what they would like to do with their painting. Some chose to decline the painting, finding the associated memories too painful. Others kept their paintings as personal objects of their history. Still others chose to return their paintings to the university in a shared stewardship agreement where the paintings would be used to educate the Canadian public about the history and legacy of the schools and the students’ experience.
Summary
- This photo is of a group of Survivors and family members at a March 2013 ceremony, holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
- The return ceremony took two years of planning and preparation.
- Each artist, or their family, was given their original painting as well as a framed copy.
- Many chose to decline their paintings or keep them for themselves and their families.
- Others chose to return their paintings in a shared ownership so that they could be used to educate Canadians about residential school experiences and legacies.
Essential
This photo is of a group of Survivors and their family members holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School. The return feast included researchers from the University of Victoria, Elders from across the region, the family of teacher Robert Aller, and local leadership.
After a careful ceremony of entry and welcome, each artist and/or their family was given their original painting, as well as a high-quality framed reproduction. Each was then invited to consider what they would like to do with the original painting. While many chose to decline or keep their paintings as personal objects, others chose to return their paintings to the university in a shared stewardship agreement where the paintings would be used to educate the Canadian public about the history and legacy of the schools and the students’ experience.
In-Depth
This photo is of a group of Survivors and their family members holding student artworks produced at the Alberni Indian Residential School. After nearly two years of careful research and preparation involving extensive cultural ceremony and thinking through how best to return the paintings to their creators or their kin, researchers from the University of Victoria, Elders from across the region, the family of Robert Aller, and local leadership attended a special return ceremony and feast held at the Alberni Athletic Hall on March 30, 2013.
The original paintings were walked into the hall, led by Nuu-chah-nulth drummers, and followed by their artists. The originals were then placed beside framed copies of the art that lined one wall of the space. After cultural protocols of welcome to the territory were completed, each artist and/or their kin was called up to receive their painting and to speak to all those in attendance as witnesses of the return.
Each was then asked what they would like to do with their painting. Some chose to decline the painting, finding the associated memories too painful. Others kept their paintings as personal objects of their history. Still others chose to return their paintings to the university in a shared stewardship agreement where the paintings would be used to educate the Canadian public about the history and legacy of the schools and the students’ experience.