I’ve been processing the discovery of all the unmarked graves of Indigenous children buried at different Residential Schools across Canada: Painting.

I volunteered at the Shingwauk Residential School Survivor Gathering in high school. I’ve always done my best to volunteer, present/speak at or simply attend these gatherings. They would also be a place of affirmation, when it came to being 2Spirit and LGBTQ+. Some family members would tell me stories of the 2Spirit children who also attended these schools. In some cases, survivors would come out/come into themselves (Cree teaching first learned by Laureen Blu Waters) at these residential school gatherings. They are stories that I still carry today.

The Shingwauk Residential School Gatherings would also become a place of unknown healing that I would access later on in life. More information can be found here shorturl.at/yzVX5

I decided to donate proceeds of my paintings to the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association via Facebook group. It was supposed to be a simple gesture. Then a friend offered to donate to the art auction I’ve had in mind. Now it has grown with several friends, artists and peers who have also shown support by contributing prints, pieces of art and digital portraits to raise more proceeds to the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association.