repeated. be never will they ensure National Aboriginal Day, June 21, 2012 21, June Day, Aboriginal National
- The Hon. Senator Vernon White, White, Vernon Senator Hon. The - resolve to learn from these tragic events to to events tragic these from learn to resolve
reconciliation and respect. and reconciliation
legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Residential Indian of legacy
non-Aboriginals.” Canadians’ underlined Apology The
on founded future a to window a
opportunities between Aboriginals and and Aboriginals between opportunities the Government of Canada to address the the address to Canada of Government the
also is it healing, and truth of reminder
increased and relationships improved
the Churches, Aboriginal organizations and and organizations Aboriginal Churches, the
indeed, all Canadians. Canadians. all indeed,
While the stained glass window is a visible visible a is window glass stained the While
toward forward step a and Canadians
students, former between reached was
responded directly to Parliamentarians and, and, Parliamentarians to directly responded
all for reconciliation for time rather but
Agreement Settlement historic an 2006, In
on the floor of the House of Commons, Commons, of House the of floor the on
Development. Development. argue, would I process, Aboriginal
for the first time in history were seated seated were history in time first the for
Northern and Affairs Aboriginal of an not is process reconciliation “The
Legacy of Hope Foundation Hope of Legacy
They watched as their own leaders, who who leaders, own their as watched They
Minister Duncan, John Honourable the by
exhibit Children?” the are “Where -
across the country to watch the Apology. Apology. the watch to country the across
Commons, of House the of Speaker contribute to a stronger Canada for all of us. of all for Canada stronger a to contribute
well as the lives of their descendants…” their of lives the as well
in their homes and community centres centres community and homes their in
ented to the Honourable Andrew Scheer, Scheer, Andrew Honourable the to ented will together forward move to desire
there left its mark on their adult lives, as as lives, adult their on mark its left there
On that day, Aboriginal people gathered gathered people Aboriginal day, that On
In November 2012, the window was pres- was window the 2012, November In of our shared past, mutual respect and the the and respect mutual past, shared our of The abuse and neglect they suffered while while suffered they neglect and abuse The
Knowledge renewal. and reconciliation of their childhood in residential schools. schools. residential in childhood their of
Schools, their families and communities. and families their Schools,
First Nation children spent the greater part part greater the spent children Nation First School students. School in play to role a have Canadians All
to former students of Indian Residential Residential Indian of students former to
“Many generations of Inuit, Métis and and Métis Inuit, of generations “Many art experts and former Indian Residential Residential Indian former and experts art
generational damage caused by this policy policy this by caused damage generational
mittee comprised of leading Aboriginal Aboriginal leading of comprised mittee Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, June 11, 2008 11, June Kanatami, Tapiriit Inuit
inter- the acknowledged that Apology
and United churches. United and
rmer President, rmer fo Simon, Mary - - com selection a by unanimously chosen
an offer to Commons of House the
and First Nations.” First and Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian Presbyterian Anglican, Catholic, Roman The artist’s design for the window was was window the for design artist’s The
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood in in stood Harper Stephen Minister Prime Métis, Inuit, with relationship new a of religious organizations including the the including organizations religious of
commitment to reconciliation and building building and reconciliation to commitment Government of Canada and all Canadians, Canadians, all and Canada of Government
nearly every school jointly with a number number a with jointly school every nearly students of those schools and their families. their and schools those of students
a by heralded day new a dawned, has
the of behalf on 2008, 11, June On The Government of Canada operated operated Canada of Government The former to Apology historic Canada’s of
“I am filled with optimism…a new day day new optimism…a with filled am “I
Residential Schools and the Prime Minister Minister Prime the and Schools Residential
Indian of legacy the commemorates Prime Minister of Canada of Minister Prime the late 1990s. late the
hope for the future is building. is future the for hope
window the Studio, Glass Stained Harper, Stephen Hon. Right The - in closed school run federally last the
revitalized, and a sense of optimism and and optimism of sense a and revitalized, Mamiattugut”
and translated into glass by Vision Art Art Vision by glass into translated and
mid-1970s, the by operate to ceased
Niminchinowesamin being are languages and practices Cultural Designed by Métis artist Christi Belcourt Belcourt Christi artist Métis by Designed
While most Indian Residential Schools Schools Residential Indian most While
Nimitataynan
We are sorry are We
window. and reconciliation activities. activities. reconciliation and
them into the dominant culture. culture. dominant the into them
Nous le regrettons le Nous
Ottawa is a commemorative stained glass glass stained commemorative a is Ottawa are participating in truth telling, healing healing telling, truth in participating are
part of a government policy to assimilate assimilate to policy government a of part
failing them so profoundly. so them failing
Canadians, other alongside Métis, and Inuit in Buildings Parliament Canada’s of
from their families and communities as as communities and families their from
for country this of peoples Aboriginal
Nations, First country, the across Today, Block Centre to entrance west the Above
150,000 Aboriginal children were separated separated were children Aboriginal 150,000 apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the the of forgiveness the asks and apologizes
Over the course of a century, more than than more century, a of course the Over “The Government of Canada sincerely sincerely Canada of Government “The
and Renewal and Future the to Window
Healing, Reconciliation Reconciliation Healing, Schools Residential Indian Past: the Remembering Canada’s Apology Canada’s
Design Within the Design: Mother Earth Mother Earth is the foundation of the stained glass design, represented by the shape of a woman. Many Aboriginal traditions, culture, ceremonies and even way of life are based on connection with the land and interconnection with the spirit of the Earth.
About the Artist Christi Belcourt (b. 1966) is a Métis visual artist with a deep respect for the traditions and knowledge of her people. Like generations of Aboriginal artists before her, she celebrates the beauty of the natural world while exploring nature’s symbolic properties. Following the tradition of Métis floral beadwork, Belcourt paints in dots and uses the subject matter as metaphors for human existence to relay a variety of meanings that include concerns for the environment, biodiversity, spirituality and awareness of Indigenous cultures. For more information on the artist please visit www.christibelcourt.com.
For more information, visit www.aandc.gc.ca/window or scan the QR code with your smart phone. www.aandc.gc.ca 1-800-567-9604 TTY only 1-866-553-0554
QS-1012-000-EE-A1 Catalog: R3-172/2012E ISBN: 978-1-100-21413-9 Stained Glass Window in Parliament Commemorating the Legacy of © Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, 2012 Indian Residential Schools This Publication is also available in French under the title: Vitrail au Parlement commémorant les séquelles des pensionnats indiens The window tells a story. It begins in the bottom left corner of the glass, moving upwards to the top panel and flowing down through the right panel. The title, “Giniigaaniimenaaning,” includes the idea that we are all looking ahead for the ones unborn.
This section commemorates the June 11, 2008, In this panel, symbols representing Inuit (the ulu), Apology offered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, First Nations (the eagle feathers) and the Métis in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Nation (the infinity symbol) are featured alongside Government of Canada and all Canadians. the iconic maple leaf.
The shattered glass represents the breaking of the silence in the 1980s as survivors from all over Canada began to speak openly about what happened to them at the schools. The broken glass The story continues in the top also represents the shattered lives, panel. In this panel, the jingle families and communities that dress dancer is an Elder who is a resulted from the government former student of an Indian Resi- policy of forced assimilation. The dential School. She is dancing for Inuit drum dancer sounds the be- the healing of all the people and ginning of healing. The dove with for future generations. the olive branch brings an offering of hope for the beginning of rec- onciliation and the renewal of the relationship between Aboriginal people and other Canadians.
In the middle panel, which rep- resents present day, the young mother embraces her baby in a traditional moss bag. The child is The middle section of the back with her mother, represen- window depicting the children ting children being raised by their represents the “sad chapter” of parents and the breaking of the the residential school era, where cycle of abuse. Within this panel more than 150,000 children were are the words “I love you” and forcibly removed from their “I love you my child” written in homes and often subjected to Cree, Inuktitut, Anishnaabemowin physical and sexual abuses. and Mi’kmaq. The child’s grand- father sings a traditional song signifying the restoration of songs, dance, ceremonies and languages.
The bottom section represents the time before residential schools existed. An ancestor smokes in the sacred lodge. From the west Returning to the bottom, the cir- (represented by the button blan- cle is complete. The grandmother ket motif) to the east (represented sits in the lodge smoking her pipe by the sky dome motif), Aborigin- for her grandchildren. Ceremo- al ceremonies, languages and nies are being practiced and trad- traditional knowledge were intact. itional knowledge about medicines Important ceremonies marking is being taught. There is hope and the transition from childhood to a new respect for Aboriginal cul- adulthood, such as the strawberry tures within Canada as Aboriginal fast, were taught and practiced. people are witness to their own Harvesting blueberries, learning strength and resilience. about medicines and knowledge of plants and animals were passed from one generation to the next.
Giniigaaniimenaaning (Looking Ahead)