(Montreal) The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau unveiled a huge sculpture on Monday in tribute to the indigenous children who lived in residential schools.
The Residential Schools Memorial was unveiled on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Sculptor Stanley C. Hunt’s work, which was fashioned from a cedar trunk, depicts the faces of 130 children. The artist was inspired by the discovery of unmarked children’s graves in Kamloops, British Columbia.
“I will remember the day we heard about the children of Kamloops,” said the sculptor. No words, in any language, could be used to make sense of any of this. »
PHOTO FROM THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY FACEBOOK PAGE
The Residential Schools Memorial was unveiled on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History, Caroline Dromaguet, noted that this sculpture is “a dazzling work of art, but also a testimony to one of the darkest chapters in the history of this country “.
She also said she hoped the Residential Schools Memorial would encourage museum visitors to engage in in-depth discussion and reflection on the topic of residential schools.
The sculpture will be on permanent display in the Four Seasons lounge of the History Museum.