Seeing histories of forced First Nations labour: the 'Nii Ndahlohke / I Work' art exhibition
The exhibition brings together artists from the communities whose children attended this institution, and it runs until June 24, 2024.
- The exhibition brings together artists from the communities whose children attended this institution, and it runs until June 24, 2024.
- It emerged from the Munsee Delaware Language and History Group, a community-based language and history learning project.
Manual labour demands
- Their labour was invisible within the school budget.
- However, the Indian department was aware that Mount Elgin students were not given progressive training in skilled trades and that manual labour demands on students kept them out of the classroom and therefore compromised their education.
Farm labour, domestic service
- Manual labour prepared students for limited work opportunities: farm labour for boys and men, and domestic service for girls and women.
- Significantly, forced labour was a key issue in student resistance at Mount Elgin including running away, setting fires and attempting to ruin farm equipment.
Labour as central theme
- Nii Ndahloke / I Work, addresses histories of student labour at Mount Elgin but also its larger impact on reserve and settler economies of southwestern Ontario in the era.
- The show also addresses histories of gendered experiences of Indian education, racism, student illness, intergenerational collaboration and the preservation of different forms of labour and the stories and metaphors that accompany them.
Artists’ own histories
- The artists’ resulting works range widely and meaningfully address the artist’s own histories.
- As part of the exhibition design, a red line along the wall follows visitors around the exhibit.
Community-based approach
- The exhibition reflects a different approach to both history and curation.
- We hope people will leave with is a better understanding of the residential school system in Canada as a shared history.
- Mary Jane Logan McCallum receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and The Social Science Research Council of Canada, Heritage Canada, Ontario Arts Council.
- Julie Rae Tucker receives funding from the Social Science Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Arts Council.