Telling their stories or opting out: Indigenous artists on Canada 150

As Canada 150 celebrations extol the glory of Canada's past and present, one group of artists is not so quick to join the party. Indigenous artists view the sesquicentennial with mixed feelings, with some using it as a platform to tell their peoples' side of the story, and others opting to boycott the celebrations altogether.

"People come out and want to hear all these stories about Canada, and sometimes they don't want to take the bad with the good," says Vancouver-based playwright and composer Corey Payette, whose new musical, Children of God, tells the story of Cree children in residential schools.

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Payette, who is of Oji-Cree background, sees Canada 150 as an opportunity to tell his side ofhistory to a larger audience. His musical is produced in collaboration with the National Arts Centre, and will be shown as part of the Centre's 150 programin Ottawa.

"For me it's about educating non-Indigenous people, educating mainstream audiences, on what would this have been like if this had been your child? What would that have done to your family and the future of their children and the intergenerational trauma of that?"

A celebration of colonialism

But photographer Nadya Kwandibensfeels the only right way to respond to Canada 150 is to boycott it.

"The way Isee it is, these celebrations are a celebration of colonialism and, as an Indigenous person, I'm choosing not to celebrate colonialism," said Kwandibens in an interview with CBC News from her home on AnimakeeWa Zhing First Nation in northwestern Ontario.

Her photos arepositive, empowering imagesof young Aboriginal professionals thriving in urban centres andof elders teaching children.But Kwandibens doesn't want to see them used in the context of Canada 150.

"I think seeing my portrait work, some people may feel compelled to use my photography and associate it with Canada's happy reconciled First Nations," said Kwandibens. "I just don't think it's fair for that to happen without first my consent, which I would never allow."

Irreconcilable differences?

The notion of reconciliation between First Nations and Canada's European settlers, which the government has designated as one of the official themes of Canada 150,troubles some Indigenous artists.

"We know that the relationship with our Indigenous groups and communities in the past 150 years has really not been perfect," said Minister of Heritage Mlanie Joly in an interview with CBC News in Calgary. "So we're committed as a government to make sure that the next 150 years are way better. So this is exactly why we made sure that in the context of Canada 150 we would celebrate the reconciliation with Indigenous people.'

But Anishinaabe comedianRyan McMahon says the reconciliation is not quite complete. The problems facing First Nations Canadians are not just in the past, but a living reality for many, he says.

"There's a national inquiry in missing and murdered Indigenous women, youth suicide, over 100 communities with boil drinking water advisories,"said McMahonin an interview with CBC News on the release of the documentary he hosted,Colonization Road.

"Canada's150thbirthday party started on New Year's Eve. They wasted no time in shooting off the fireworks and telling the world how great this place was."

As of now, he won't be partaking in any Canada 150 celebrations "Is it OK to go eat hot dogs and paint your face? it's up to you. I'm not going to."

But he says if a major organization allowed him an uncensored performance in front of a large Canada 150 audience, he'd do it.

"If I'm at the National Arts Centre andthere's 1,800 privileged people that can afford $130 ticket to go to NAC on an evening to watch me do stand-up comedy to gently spank them about the past 150 years, then I'm in."

Platform to educate

Artist Kent Monkman agrees. He's been "gently spanking" his audiences for years now, creatingprovocative artwork that mocks the traditional Euro-centric perception of Indigenous people.

His new exhibit, Shame and Prejudice, continues on that mission, but he feels the message is especially powerful given the spotlight of Canada 150.

Kent Monkman's inspiration

8 years ago

Duration 1:45

Cree artist talks about what inspired his take on Canada 150, Shame and Prejudice

Flanked by a large canvasdepicting children being torn from their mothers' hands to be sent to residential schools, and a cheeky diorama of a mannequinbearing his own face decked out in a Chicago Blackhawks jersey, Monkmancalled his exhibit "a critical perspective on Canada 150."

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He said he understands Indigenous artists who just want to opt out of any associations with Canada 150, but that wasn't the right choice for him.

"I'm one voice representing one perspective, but I felt to not say anything would really miss this opportunity for people to really reflect on the experience of Indigenous people," said Monkman. And despite the horror of historical events depicted on many of his canvases, Monkman hopes the exhibit provides an education about who Canada's First Nations are today.

"I want people to come out of this with a better understanding about Indigenous people and how we are resilient and we will continue to make an effort to participate and thrive in this country."