215 Remembrance Project
At the end of May 2021 an announcement that the remains of 215 Indigenous children were discovered at the site of a Residential School in Kamloops shocked the world. I found this discovery very upsetting and felt compelled to something to acknowledge this unimaginable tragedy. Unfortunately there will be more heartbreaking discoveries as there are many more Residential School sites.
A red Maple Leaf is recognized as a symbol of Canada. Residential Schools were mandated by the government of Canada and run primarily by the Catholic Church. Orange has become the colour associated with Indigenous issues surrounding abuse at residential schools.
On July 1, 2021 I started my 215 Remembrance Project. My plan is to make 215 orange Raku Maple Leaves to recognize the 215 children found at the site in Kamloops. These leaves will be placed in quiet, natural settings in the lower mainland and on Vancouver Island over the next year. If you come across one you are welcome to keep it. My hope is that the leaves will provoke thought surrounding issues of racism in the people who find them.
