Round 2 Story
The Journey Continues…
The Story of Round 2
During one of the Reveals in Round 1, Elder Lorraine McRae, former Chief and then Councillor of Chippewas of Rama First Nation asked the curator of this Call to Action to not let this project be a “one-of”. She impressed on the curator that there are too many “one-of” events. What was needed was sustained efforts over time to keep the process of Truth seeking and acts of reconciliation alive in Simcoe County. Truth and Reconciliation is a daily journey over time, not a single event.
Paul Shilling, our lead Indigenous artist for Round 1, asked if we would consider doing the process again. That was an opportunity to fulfill Elder McRae’s request. Paul wanted to see if we had learned anything from the experience. We agreed to do Round 2. The artists images and stories are found in the Round 2 selection on this website. Thank you Elder McRae. Thank you, Paul Shilling. Thank you, artists.
Round 2 Questions Asked
What Does Truth and Reconciliation Look Like and Sound like in Simcoe County NOW?
What Does Truth and Reconciliation Look Like and Sound like in the hearts and minds of the individual artists NOW?
This Round has 2 questions asked of the Kind Spirit. The first is the same question asked of the Kind Spirit in Round 1. The second is directed toward the individual who is actively engaged in seeking and creating the images granted by the Kind Spirit.
Round 2 was a random draw, leaving the order of the works and conversations up to the Kind Spirit. There are clusters of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists in the story line now. It reflects the Great Disruption effects on the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Round 1 was balanced: Indigenous, non-Indigenous, Indigenous, non-Indigenous. Round 2 was totally up to the Kind Spirit to guide us.
Once again, we began with a Sweat Lodge, a feast and a draw.
There are 13 artists this Round. The fact that the gallery is on property owned by a church organization is very difficult for some. Some of the artists felt unable to continue to participate. That is understandable and deeply respected. We are all at different stages of healing from the Residential School Legacy, several of the artists who initially could not participate in Round 2 continued in future Rounds. When we started the project, we agreed that the Kind Spirit was the Giver of the images to inspire Truth and Reconciliation in our geographic area
The United Church of Canada is a very socially conscious organization. It was the first Church in Canada to offer a formal apology and is consciously looking for ways to foster Truth and Reconciliation. After consulting with the Elders and Knowledge Keepers they agreed that if they were to display the Project in a church, it would be St. Paul’s United in Orillia, because of their socially conscious history in the area. St. Paul’s community has been very supportive and courageous throughout the 4 Rounds of the Call to Action #83. The Ogimaa Miskwaaki Gallery is part of the non-sectarian branch of St. Paul’s Community Centre.
The TRC Commission was created by the Canadian Government as the result of a law suit brought against it by the Survivors of the Residential Schools. The Calls to Action are the recommendations the Survivors clearly stated are necessary to make their Truth known and for the people of Canada to reconcile the relationship. It is time for the various levels of Canadian Government and the organizations, who were contracted to implement the residential school policies, to do their work to change the story and fix the relationship.
The images and stories, living in the Ogimaa Miskwaaki Gallery, offer a chance to learn the Truth…to have the Kind Spirit touch each heart that experiences them… and be inspired by the Kind Spirit to acts of personal /public acts of reconciliation. With Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, Truth and Wisdom…. the Images sought by the artists on the behalf of all people await the public to receive them … have their hearts touched …. find their call to action.
Round 2 begins with ‘Hope’. This hope comes from taking time to feel the effects of the truth that we learned in Round 1. They are difficult truths. We must process all those feelings of fear, anger, horror, guilt, shame, sorrow, loss of innocence, and intergenerational grief/trauma. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous have been deeply scarred by the Residential School Legacy. If we persist with humility and love for each other, ourselves and all our Ancestors and Relations, then we have a chance to listen deeply to the Truth and integrate it into our mind and heart in a good way. Right now, we lack the wisdom required to be able to ‘Share’ (Xavier’s piece) with All of Our Relations……human, plant, fish, bird, air, earth, sky, water, the creepers and the crawlers. If we process the facts and feelings from Round 1 and 2, we will learn to listen and share.
When Elder Ernestine Baldwin saw the second Round of works, she became very emotional. “I can’t tell the Indigenous artists from the non-Indigenous artists this Round!!! There IS HOPE!”, she said.
Answer to Round 2 Questions
After learning the truths of Round 1, there is another kind of ‘Hope’. It is a hope that moves our heart, mind, spirit and imagination. The first work in Round 2 is Jennie Clark’s work. She had forgotten that the first work in Round 1 that Xavier created was called, ‘Hope.’ Jennie called her work ‘Hope’ also. Her hope comes from being present just for a “…moment of activation, you need not follow the ancient path of self-abandonment, shame, blame, and self-agression. Choose something different. Just this time. Even for one or two seconds that is enough. A new world is born of that.” (Matt Licata). If we allow ourself to experience these images with the “Second Hope”, we have the opportunity to Bakwendmaajge (The act of sharing). Thus, “a new world is born of that” … a world of action, a world based on “Truth…Listen…Truth…Share” (Xavier Frnandez).
Time Line of Round 2 Significant Events:
January 12, 2018 – Sweat Lodge, Feast, Draw the order of artist to do the works.
January 13, 2018 - September 6, 2018: The 13 artists, in order of the draw, create the images.
October 13, 2018: The private gathering to reveal the images in order of creation and the individual story telling.
October 26, 2018: The First Public Reveal at Quest Art Gallery in Midland Ontario. Two Pipe Carriers offered an opening Pipe Ceremony.
October 20 - January 5, 2019: Displayed at Quest Gallery in Midland, Ontario.
September 2, 2019 – December 20, 2019: Luther College, Waterloo, Ontario.
November 16, 2019: Public Reveal at Luther College, Waterloo, Ontario.
December 20, 2019 – March 11, 2020: Sunlife Insurance Office, 227 King Street South, Waterloo, ON N2J
February 2020 - August 2020: Covid quarantine, Round 2 was vaulted at the Sunlife Insurance office for safe keeping.
October 27, 2020: Round 2 is returned and hung in the Ogimaa Miskwaaki Gallery, 63 Peter St. N. Orillia, Ontario.
December 16, 2020: Public Reveal at St. Paul’s United Church. https://www.youtube.com/live/6brRtPU4_1E?si=An_-RAI_xSifKIAi