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A recently completed mural is highlighting and honouring the unique experiences of M茅tis survivors of Canada鈥檚 residential school system.  

The M茅tis Memories of Residential Schools, A Testament to the Strength of the M茅tis mural mosaic consists of 24 vibrantly illustrated tiles, each of which reveals a piece of M茅tis history, tradition, or culture. 

, an associate professor in the , partnered on the project with the Rupertsland Institute and members of the M茅tis community and says sharing these accounts from a M茅tis perspective was essential, and long overdue. 

鈥淔or too long, the M茅tis story has been told by those who have had a colonial agenda. Just as Louis Riel once predicted, our people are waking up and telling our own stories, in our own voices.鈥�

While some of the tiles disclose difficult truths about residential schools, such as the meting out of harsh discipline, banning of the Michif language or the removal of self-identity by cutting long hair into bowl-shaped short cuts, others celebrate the resilience of women and the importance of jigging and fiddling in M茅tis culture.

Each tile is accompanied with a teaching statement and reflective questions that educators, or families, can discuss 鈥� an undertaking Poitras Pratt believes is necessary going forward: 

As educators and everyday Canadians, we need to listen to all the truths, from all First Peoples, before we can start imagining and practising being better together.

Billie-Jo Grant, who was formerly with the Rupertsland Institute and now serves as the Indigenous consultant with Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional School Division, collaborated on the project and agrees that an increased understanding of the lived experiences of residential school survivors offers considerable value.   

鈥淎s a strong, resilient M茅tis woman who has experienced the impacts of intergenerational trauma, my hope is that people of all ages will learn, connect, and reflect on the dark legacy of Canadian residential schools that lives on today.

鈥淭he collective process of truth-telling and being heard is incredibly healing for me, both personally and professionally.鈥�

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Poitras Pratt and Grant will provide insight into this project and address the historical biases and racism experienced by the M茅tis community. All are welcome to this free webinar. .

The is hosting an installation of the mural until mid-January 2023; a and complementary resources are available online.