Drawing Item Number: Nb3.1427 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Village scene drawn in pencil and coloured with pencil crayons. The scene includes four masked dancers in the foreground at the water's edge, two gable roofed houses with vertical planking in the background, three totem poles, and a row of seven trees. In pencil, at the top right, there reads 'Malcolm age - 13'. The drawing is horizontally rectangular on a white paper piece glued to green cardboard. Covered with clear plastic.

Narrative

From a collection of Northwest Coast inspired artwork produced by First Nations children at the Alert Bay Residential School during the 1968 to 1969 school year. The works were also part of an exhibition of student drawings, displayed at the Charles Sanderson Library in Toronto during 1970. They were also featured briefly by one of the local television stations. Residential schools were operated by religious organizations and followed the regular provincial curriculum. The Alert Bay Residential School was operated by the Anglican Church of Canada. According to the Van Drielens, art was discouraged at the School because 'they couldn't make a living at it'.

Cultural Context

student art