Art exhibit at Dawson College shows realities of Indigenous students

For Faith Shecapio, walking into the Vernissage: Living Perspectives art exhibit was like seeing her entire school year collected into one room.

"We cried yesterday. We were having a little moment together and we're just remembering our whole school year," said Shecapio, a student in the Journeys program at Dawson College in Montreal.

The art exhibit, which opened last Friday, allows Indigenous students to share their culture through photography, leather works, and ribbon-skirt making.

The artwork is a reflection of how the students spent their time in the Journeys program. It's a one-year transition program that helps Indigenous students settle into the city to pursue higher education.

Faith Shecapio's photography skills are showcased in the exhibit with an image of Montreal's high buildings at sunset. Shecapio will enroll in social science and early childhood education, with the aim of becoming a teacher in her hometown of Mistissini, Que. (Vanna Blacksmith/CBC)

"It was hard at the beginning because no one really knew each other," said Shecapio, who is Cree from Mistissini, Que. "But we grew our bond throughout the whole semester."

Shecapio said it felt good to be classmates with other Indigenous students.

The artwork in the Vernissage: Living Perspectives exhibit also tells a story about the complex realities of their lived experiences.

Family, friends and fellow Dawson College students attend opening night of the Living Perspectives art exhibit. (Vanna Blacksmith/CBC)

"Sometimes that talks about going home, missing home or making a home in the city and living that kind of urban and rez lifestyle," said Iako'tsi:rareh Lickers, who is the co-teacher and curator of the Learning Perspectives course.

Lickers is the only Indigenous professor in the Journeys program. They said that helped them create a special connection with their students.

"We're dealing with the things that [the] average ... settler doesn't have to go through," said Lickers, who is Seneca from Six Nations. They said dealing with things like trauma, suicide and attending funerals are hard when students are far from home.

But being in a classroom with other Indigenous students who are Cree, Inuit, and Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) was helpful in continuing their studies, Lickers said.

Lickers said the students' artwork helped them come into their sense of identity.

"I heard them talking about how they never really thought they would be learning their culture in depth in a Western-ized institution," said Lickers.

Students had hands-on teachings in how to skin and butcher a moose, how to make fish skin into leather, and other traditional practices.

Student Shirleyann Rabbitskin, right, with some family members who came to show their support at the exhibit's opening: Caroline Rabbitskin Sam, Connor Rabbitskin, and Callie Sam. (Vanna Blacksmith/CBC)

Shirleyann Rabbitskin, a Cree student from Mistissini, said the program allowed her to be out on the land while also being far from home, in an urban setting.

"It's a good feeling to see my photos and other people's photos from their land," said Rabbitskin.

She said being able to learn and preserve her culture was important to her.

"We got to be in the bush but still be in the city. But it's sad that this is the last semester that this program is happening," said Rabbitskin.

The Learning Perspectives course will soon no longer be part of the Journeys program due to Quebec's language reform law, known as Bill 96.

Rabbitskin is fluent in Cree and English. French would be her third language, but it is harder to learn when other courses are her priority.

Some of the course's content may continue under another name and mandate, but it still falls under an English complementary course, according to Lickers.

Some of the students in Dawson College's Journeys program: Phylicia Benjamin, Megan Bosum, Julia Clement, Natasha Doolan, Shayla Etienne, Destinee Hester, Shevaun Jacobs, Phoenix Lahache, Shaylene Louttit-Rupert, Wes Masty Roussel, Melissa Matoush, Stacey Matoush, Zye Mayo-McComber, Demma Montour-Diabo, Lauri Mulucto, Mark Neacappo, Shirleyann Rabbitskin, Faith Shecapio, Tapisa Tulugak, Kiva Williams, and Jade Whitebean. (Vanna Blacksmith/CBC)

Lickers says being part of the Vernissage: Living Perspectives art exhibit will make it easier for those students to apply for grants, if they choose to pursue an arts career.

"Indigenous art is always functional. Like pack baskets, moose hide or fish skin leather are all such a beautiful, delicate art form," said Lickers.

"They're practical tools that are very useful. So for us, art is animate," said Lickers.

The art exhibit is open for everyone until May 18, at Dawson College's Warren G. Flowers art gallery.