The painting “No pride in the genocide” presented on the occasion of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Content of the article

As more and more bodies of lost Indigenous children are found at the sites of former residential schools in Canada, people are starting to wake up and take notice of this dark side of our national history. For the first time, many are learning of the horrors involved and perpetrated against Indigenous peoples, and they are looking for ways to first recognize and eventually correct some of this tragic inhumanity. A step in this direction was the creation of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, held on September 30.

Content of the article

“Gananoque will be holding a small ceremony at Town Hall for Truth and Reconciliation with the presentation of a painting by Corey Ceccarelli,” said Councilor Dennis O’Connor. “(The painting is called) No Pride in Genocide, (and) will be on display from September 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, until October in honor of that day. “

The exhibition is courtesy of the O’Connor Gallery and Ceccarelli, the artist. The gallery described it as “a moving testimony to the fate of residential schools.”

“Like many other countries in the world throughout history, the Canadian state has perpetrated genocide against Indigenous peoples,” Ceccarelli said on his website, www.ancientgrotto.com/ . “Bringing the news has been devastating for our nation and for me on a personal level. I am part of the Abenaquis Indian Nation and I have the distinguished and proud genetics running through my being, this from my mother’s side of the family.

Ceccarelli expressed his feelings about the genocide through art. He mixed painting with period photographs to create a powerful expression of some of the elements of tragedy. Faces appearing on the web, captured by photographers to show the world what was being done “for” the children who had been rounded up and placed in these institutions – photos of children in classrooms run by nuns in schools. habits teaching them to abandon their native culture, children lying in rows of iron beds instead of living at home with their families, first communion to indoctrinate them into the Roman Catholic religion and keep them away from the beliefs of their people , and children whose native clothes had been stripped and replaced by the more “civilized” clothes of white society. They are surrounded by orange paint with crazy dashes and streaks of other colors. The words “No pride in the genocide” are boldly etched on the canvas.

Content of the article

“I decided to choose orange as the main canvas background,” said Ceccarelli. “This color was naturally chosen to represent the natives of many cultures. There is a plethora of other colors crisscrossing the canvas that also symbolize the unity among humans around the world, and more specifically indigenous peoples in reclaiming their respective cultures.

The Gananoque Indigenous Circle is a city-appointed committee made up almost exclusively of Indigenous members of the local community, with the exception of Councilor O’Connor who is their primary link to Town Hall and helps fulfill wishes. of the First Nations community through policies. and procedures in town hall.

“The Indigenous Circle of Gananoque successfully passed two motions in council, one being the land recognition reading before every council meeting and special occasions and the second council reserving the area at the end of Stone Street on the St. Lawrence as an indigenous person. space will be named in the near future, ”said O’Connor.

The “Land Reconnaissance” will be delivered to start the event and will be followed by speeches and light refreshments. No more than 25 people are allowed to be present due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“I would like nothing more than for art as this piece shines a light of love, respect and tolerance for all,” said Ceccarelli.