The Art of Reconciliation - Program History
2019 - In the Township of Esquimalt in March 2019, a large public art installation was proposed at the Esquimalt Town Square development by Aragon Properties. Local art therapist Debbie Douez and Tanya Claremont, Director of Management Services, from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre saw this project as an opportunity to physically embody reconciliation through the creation of public art.
Debbie and Tanya began community consultation and spoke with Mayor Barb Desjardins of the Township of Esquimalt. They then presented to Esquimalt council who approved to partner and support the project. From there, other consultants were brought together to share ideas, feedback and engage with the project.
Project Consultants
Tanya Clarmont, Project Stewart, Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Debbie Douez, Project Stewart, Art Therapist, Community Liaison
Shona Collison, Mental Health Advisor, Art Therapist, Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Mayor Barb Dejardins, Township of Esquimalt
Jane Vermeulen, City Councilor , Township of Esquimalt
Florence Dick, Songheese Nation
Darlene Gait, Esquimalt Nation Artist
Hayle Gallup, Indigenous Young Adult Representative, film maker, teacher
Tejas Collison Indigenous Young Adult Representative, artist
Gabrielle Fay, non-Indigenous Young Adult Representative, student
Michelle Sealey, Township Community Arts Council
Major Sam Seder, Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt
Grant Keddie, Curator, Royal BC Museum
Frederick Grouzet, Director, Centre for Youth and Society Wellbeing, University of Victoria
Mitzi Dean, MLA - Esquimalt - Metchosin
Luke Ramsay, Development Manager, Aragon Properties
Morlene Tomlinson, Founder, Township Community Arts Council
Ron Sandor, Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce
Patrick Harriott, Metis Nation of Greater Victoria
Barb Hulme, Metis Nation of Greater Victoria
Keith Lindner, Victoria Police Department
Vida Anderson-Wulf, MCFD
Doug Bowen, Member, Anglican Church
Zsuzsa Harsman, co-Chair Justice Team, Esquimalt United
Danielle Smith, Base Commander Chief of Staff, CFB Esquimalt
2019 - 2020 - Debbie, Tanya and other project contributors developed the concept of creating two sculptures designed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and led by a professional Indigenous artist to represent the Lekwungen Territory. Florence Dick, from the Songhees Nation, offered the idea of creating house posts, a unique practice of the local Songhees and Esquimalt Nation. The house posts would pay tribute to the Indigenous families who lived in Esquimalt prior to its being settled.
Throughout the program, young participants would be trained in the rich cultural tradition of the Lekwungen people. The participants’ journey would be documented and their changing, evolving perspectives on reconciliation monitored as part of an arts-based research project in partnership with the University of Victoria. Artwork created by participants for the research project would also go on public display for the community to better understand how their attitudes towards reconciliation changed over time.
2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic deeply impacted the feasibility of the Art of Reconciliation project and accompanying public celebrations. The project committee and consultants had to re-prioritize work and deal with the immediate needs of the crisis within their communities.
2021 - While the project was on hold, the University of Victoria received a Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant from the Government of Canada. The group re-convened and designed a program that could be safely implemented in a virtual capacity during COVID.
The latest program design will still represent embodied reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, and culminate in a public art exhibit to spark further dialogue in the community about reconciliation.