A portrait of an unidentified child drawn by George Littlechild is one of 22 such portraits that make up the 'Here I am – Can You See Me?' exhibit, on through Aug. 17 at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

george littlechild

Exhibit at Red Deer Museum highlights unidentified, yet unforgettable faces of Ermineskin residential school

Aug 1, 2024 | 6:30 AM

A travelling exhibit now at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) entitled ‘George Littlechild: Here I am — Can you see me?’, which is on until Aug. 17, aims to shine an even brighter light on the horrific realities of the residential school system.

The exhibit’s 22 pieces are by well-known Cree artist George Littlechild, who is from the Maskwacis area, where the Ermineskin residential school was situated. The exhibit was curated by M.J. Belcourt, a traditional Métis artist working in the Edmonton area.

The display’s pieces are primarily of children who passed away at the residential school in Ermineskin, though the individuals remain unidentified.

Kim Verrier, MAG exhibits coordinator, says many visitors have shared how powerful the exhibit’s message is.

“It’s important for people to know that there are still people who went to these schools who are still alive, and that this is part of modern history. It’s not so deep in the past,” says Verrier, noting Littlechild’s mother attended the Ermineskin Indian Residential School, which didn’t close until the mid-1970s.

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“There are people with these lived experiences whom we had at our opening, and it was so powerful to have them in the room and hear their voices.”

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

Verrier admits the exhibit has a palpable sadness.

“Everyone wants to be remembered, especially in a good way,” she says. “George worked on this project while reconnecting with his culture. He was raised in foster care after being taken from his parents at four-years-old.”

Littlechild is a victim of the infamous 60s Scoop, and went back to the residential school site for added inspiration to be infused into his art. His two uncles, Louis and Alfred, also passed away at the residential school.

Verrier notes the exhibit is accompanied by beautiful but haunting music, and in the centre of it is a ‘Spirit House.

A type of burial structure utilized by Indigenous people, the Spirit House’s inclusion was an idea of Belcourt, who explains that the structures typically have an opening so loved ones can return and present gifts, such as tobacco, to those who’ve passed.

“It was upon George’s approval that we could have the Spirit House in the centre as a symbol of letting the spirit breathe, but also for people to recognize that Indigenous people have gone through so much. It’s been a genocide of people,” says Belcourt, harkening back to the quote, “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man,” stated by R.H. Pratt, an American military general who founded the Carlisle Indian Residential School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

A Spirit House is a symbol in the centre of the exhibit. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“The fact is that this exhibit brings us to a place where we can see that Indigenous people have gone through things, and that the current generation is the fallout of that. It’s very person to me because it’s also within my family.”

Belcourt says mainstream society should understand the importance of knowing and accepting these things.

“We’re still working through it and trying to make the best of our lives,” she says. “When you come from that traumatic experience, even indirectly, you have to live with it still. We’re still here though.”

George Littlechild has honorary degrees from Red Deer Polytechnic (2024) and University of the Fraser Valley (2013), as well as a diploma in art & design from Red Deer College (1984), and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1988).

Littlechild could not be reached at this time for an interview due to personal reasons, but on the MAG website, he is quoted as saying in his work, he is committed to righting the wrongs that First Nations peoples have endured by creating art focusing on cultural, social and political injustices.

“It is my job to show the pride, strength and beauty of First Nations people and cultures, and contribute to the betterment of mankind,” he says.

More about the exhibit is at reddeermuseum.com.

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