Press

Written by Trey Turner – MikwChiyam Student at Voyageur Memorial School in Mistissini, Quebec.

On June 24, the MikwChiyam Arts Festival was held in Chisasibi. This event was the first-ever end-of-year gathering of all the students enrolled in the MikwChiyam Arts Concentration Program in Eeyou Istchee. Students from Mistissini and Waskaganish traveled to the James Bay Eeyou School in Chisasibi to display some of the artwork they created during the year.

Written by Francine Cunningham – MikwChiyam Artist – Voyageur Memorial School in Mistissini, Quebec.

I had the privilege of being an artist in residence in Mistissini, a community in northern Quebec, this February and March. The community was small and welcoming; the snow, on the other hand, was otherworldly. There were mountains of it piled and strung along the road to the school, like a miniature version of the Rockies I am used to.

Arts Education for Social Change – Civil disturbance and unrest are global realities that necessitate constructive action. Paolo Freire argued that education is vital in developing the critical consciousness needed to take action against oppressive structures. By providing meaningful aesthetic experiences, arts education can illuminate unjust circumstances, empower populations, and inspire change. (Mentioned on Page 13)

Many of the students in the Mikw Chiyam program didn’t want to spend a second more than they had to at school. But because of the opportunity to work in partnership with professional artists, some of the students have been voluntarily staying at school to work on murals until late in the evening.

While teaching photography in the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, in Quebec, I learned about the traumatic impact of residential schools on younger generations. I decided to visit the elementary school to photograph today’s students who will be tomorrow’s leaders.

When it comes to high school funding, the arts aren’t often considered a priority. But the James Bay Cree of Quebec are bucking that trend. All in the hopes of keeping teenagers from dropping out.

This follow up report of the CEA’s ‘First Nations Schools First!’ Symposium includes presentation recaps and videos of Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, administrators, scholars, Elders, parents, and students – who shared their stories of success during 12 concurrent sessions over two days, putting forward replicable classroom practices for engaging Indigenous learners.