First Nations artists process grief from Kamloops residential school discovery through their work

WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.

An artist from northern Quebecturned to art as a way to grieve afterlearningremainshad been found atthe site of a former residential school in B.C.

The Tk'emlps te Secwpemc First Nation said last Thursday that preliminary findings from a survey of the groundsat the former Kamloops Indian Residential School with ground-penetrating radarindicated the remains of 215 children were on site.

"Art has always just been my way of speaking without any words," said Nalakwsis, a Cree and Abenaki artist who uses they/them pronouns.

The artist is fromWhapmagoostui, Que.,on the coast of Hudson Bay.

One of the drawings that Nalakwsis created as a response to the news was of 415 braids, 200 pairs and 15 single braids.

"The braids are very significant to me and to my people and the cutting of the braids signifies loss," they said.

"When you cut your hair, it's when you have lost something or somebody close like a parent or a child. The first thing they took from Indigenous children was their hair and then everything else."

Art as therapy

Megan Kanerahtenh:wi Whyte is from Kahnawake, Que., and is an art therapist and local artist who primarily works with Indigenous youth.

"Sometimes, taking a talking approach can be difficult, especially if there's trauma," said Whyte.

She said art is important because it helps people process emotions,take action andgrieve.

"I think art making is one of those powerful opportunities to take all that pain and to create something that's meaningful," said Whyte.

Tyler Tabobondung Rushnellfrom Wasauksing First Nationin Parry Sound, Ont., saidhe's had heaviness clouded over him since hearing of the discovery in Kamloops.

He said he has experienced intergenerational trauma because members of his family attended residential schools and his mother was part of the Sixties Scoop.

To help sort out the emotions he's feeling, Rushnell turns to art.

"Creating art helps me heal what has been taken from me and my family," he said.

Recently he created a piece that shows a thunderbird flying over a residential school building, which he said is bringing the children home and destroying the building.

Rushnell saidwhile making this picture, he was flooded with emotions that ranged from sadness to anger.

"After creating this piece, I felt my mind had gotten a lot clearer and my thoughts weren't so bad anymore," he said.

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.