National Indigenous History Month

Written by Hanna Waswa, Anishinaabe from Eabametoong First Nation, Treaty 9.

As an art gallery, WAG-Qaumajuq has made a commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people and nations that continues year-round and isn’t exclusive to National Indigenous History Month. We see this as a way of forming new relationships and using art for change. Over the past few years, we’ve undertaken significant work to ensure that we are connected and grounded by community, care, and the dismantling of systems of oppression, which includes institutional structures that we’ve taken for granted.

On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, we’re hosting National Indigenous Peoples Day @ WAG-Qaumajuq – we’d love to see you there, everyone is welcome! Come join a day of laughter, learning, and community-building activities, including tours of Inuit Sanaugangit: Art Across Time and The Art of Faye HeavyShield, family friendly workshops, and a rooftop concert to end the day, featuring free snacks, a jigging contest, and live performances from Brandi Vezina, JC Campbell, and The Kaptain!

On June 23, we’re keeping the party going with our second Grippin Sage Rooftop Dance Party. Dance in style on the WAG-Qaumajuq rooftop with Boogey the Beat, featuring Bear Witness from the Hallucination and The Kaptain.

There’s something for everyone throughout the month, and all events are included in the cost of admission! As part of our commitment to Indigenous nations and people, admission for Indigenous people is always free.

As we celebrate National Indigenous History Month, it’s important for us to approach our work with humility both to learn and make amends for ongoing and historic wrongs, and to celebrate the incredible artistry, resilience, and strength of Indigenous people in Manitoba and all over the country.

Guided by the Indigenous Advisory Circle, WAG-Qaumajuq has taken strides to examine every part of our work, from the way we operate to how we care for your permanent collection. We’ve taken a hard look at how we participate in systemic oppression, and as a result both leadership and staff are engaged in training to ensure that the Gallery evolves in a good way. We launched the Canadian Museum’s Association award winning Artworks Renaming Initiative to decolonize the collection by renaming artworks with racist names; each of the artworks were given new names by Indigenous Elders and Language Keepers. The artworks are cared for through ceremony and community connections. We will soon be launching a project that directly addresses UNDRIP Article 13 called ‘Indigenous Language Sovereignty’ and will incorporate Indigenous languages throughout our gallery spaces in a permanent way. We’re also in the process of establishing an endowment fund to acquire contemporary Indigenous art, a fund through the auction of four colour screen prints of Queen Elizabeth II from Andy Warhol’s Reigning Queens series. These are just part of the ways that we are actively committed to reconciliation, and we’re thrilled to invite you to join us on this journey!

For more information on the work being done at WAG-Qaumajuq to dismantle systemic oppression, check out wag.ca/equity.