In August, our team started talking about how we wanted to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. After open discussion we decided to honour its intention as described in the 80th Call to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report:

“We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”

The RMG will be closed to the public on September 30.  The staff team is taking the day to learn, to participate in commemorations, and to continue our commitment to support the self-determination of Indigenous communities. This is what felt right for us organizationally; we wanted to participate in group learning together and to make time to focus on self-education.

We’re grateful for the list of resources generously offered by two members of our team, Samuel Powless (Manager of Visitor Engagement + Facilities) and Erin Szikora (Assistant Curator, Indigenous Projects) which we are sharing with our community. We hope that it provides a starting place or place to continue your own learning.

Miigwech,

Lauren

 

If you want to learn more about the land we are on

James Whetung Talks About Canada (3:19)

https://decolonialatlas.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/the-great-lakes-in-ojibwe-v2/

https://decolonialatlas.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/haudenosaunee-country-in-mohawk-2/

https://native-land.ca/

 

If you want to learn more about Indigenous culture + teachings

Founding of the Rotinoshón:ni (5:52)

Rotinoshón:ni Governance + Wampum Belts  (39:39)

What Does Rotinoshón:ni Reconcilitation Look Like? (14:28)

Haudenosaunee Corn Soup (22:01)

Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabe (11:20)

Importance of Birch to the Anishinaabe (22:08)

Richard Hill: Voices from Here (13:04)

 

If you want to learn more about the Indian Act

What is a status card? (2:14)

The Indian Act Explained (25:35)

How to Talk About Indigenous People (2:37)

 

If you want to learn more about local treaties

Indigenous Voices on Treaties – Anne Taylor (Curve Lake) (4:17)

Indigenous Voices on Treaties – Doug Williams (Curve Lake) (7:05)

Indigenous Voices on Treaties – Maurice Switzer (Alderville) (7:02)

The Williams Treaties

 

If you want to learn more about the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous communities

https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_residential_school_system/

https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/sixties_scoop/

https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_white_paper_1969/

https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/constitution_act_1982_section_35/

 

If you want learn from some preeminent Indigenous thinkers and knowledge keepers

Vine Deloria Jr. 1972 on politics, metaphysics (51:37)

John Mohawk 2002 on environmentalism (19:47)

Leroy Littlebear 2016 on metaphysics (103:09)

Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg: This is our Territory a book on traditional Anishinaabe knowledge

 

If you are looking to learn or read more, here is a selection of websites, resources, and other programming:

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba https://nctr.ca/

A Special Report published by the Yellowhead Institute: Calls to Action Accountability: A 2020 Status Update on Reconciliation

Learn more about Indigenous-settler relations by taking a FREE course through the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta

Resources For non-Indigenous People: http://www.trc.ca/resources.html….

Assembly of First Nations – Its Our Time – Residential Schools Toolkit: https://education.afn.ca/…/learnin…/residential-schools/

An Overview of the Indian Residential School System booklet: http://www.anishinabek.ca/…/An-Overview-of-the-IRS…

 

If you’re a settler, here are some places where you can make a donation to support residential school survivors and their families:

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

Legacy of Hope Foundation

Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save the Evidence campaign

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

First Nations Child & Family Caring Society

Reconciliation Canada

Indspire

Native Women’s Association of Canada

Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

 

Follow these regionally based organizations on your social media:

Bawaajigwein Aboriginal Community Circle @Bawaajigewin on Facebook

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation @MSIFN on Twitter

If you’re a settler, start following @OnCanadaProject to continue your learning

 

“I wanted to thank the organizations who participated in this project. It would have taken some time and imagination, and it produced wonderful information for children and families. I am very grateful for the work that went into it. As a Program Coordinator I couldn’t have done it any better. A BIG THANK YOU.”

– The Salvation Army

We’re celebrating over here at the RMG!

This summer, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery partnered with 20 non-profit organizations across Durham and delivered a unique camp experience for children and youth in the region.

Through collaboration with arts, culture or heritage organizations and environmentally focused groups, we raised a total of $37,798 and assembled and distributed 500 camp boxes with art, science, food-related and physical activities, and provided essential support to families in need!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Learning and Engagement team worked incredibly hard, putting in 490 hours assembling all of the materials, all while navigating a sea of boxes that filled our corridors and gallery spaces. It was such a satisfying feeling packing up all the boxes and shipping them off to the 24 organizations for distribution throughout our community. We had a great time collaborating on this project in the spirit of giving kids and families a better summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The boxes were a fantastic way to help encourage new clients to come out to the program. Each family was able to not only receive the camp box, but also get connected with ongoing supports.”

– CAREA Community Health Centre

Recipient Organizations

Abundant Life Centre – Oshawa, Adventist Community Services – Oshawa, Autism Ontario, Bethesda House – Bowmanville, Brock Community Foodbank – Beaverton, Brock Community Foodbank – Sunderland, Carea Community Health Centre – Oshawa and Ajax, Community Living Centre – Clarington, Denise House – Oshawa, Durham Children’s Aid Society (foundation), Herizon House – Ajax, Muslim Welfare Centre, The Nourish and Develop Foundation – Cannington, The Nourish and Develop Foundation – Cannington, Salvation Army Bowmanville, Salvation Army Oshawa, Salvation Army Whitby, Salvation Army Oshawa, Simcoe Hall – Oshawa, Southside worship center – Ajax, Willow Park Cooperative – Oshawa, YWCA and Y-Whish programs

 

We could not have done this without our donors and supporters – thank you for your donation to our Camp in a Box campaign!

Cheryl Blackman, Kevin Dougherty, Derek Giberson, Lauren Gould, Roanna Green, Sonya Hill, Sonya Jones, Susan Magotiaux, Taba Merrikh, Donna Moriarty, Aleksi Moriarty, Annie Pinet, Mary Simpson, Carrie Williamson, and Kegan Winters.

 

 

The discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, which was operational until 1997, is devastating. It is continued evidence of the genocide of Indigenous peoples in Canada. We stand in solidarity with the Cowessess First Nation Community.

There will be more tragic discoveries as other sites are searched; this will not be the last mass burial site found on this land.
We encourage you to learn and read more, to donate to Indigenous-led organizations, and to support the self-determination of Indigenous people in communities across Canada.

 

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If you need support, there is a 24/7 Emergency Crisis Line available through the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) at 1800-721-0066 and the National Residential School Crisis line 1-866-925-4419.

If you are looking to learn or read more, here is a selection of websites, resources, and other programming:

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba https://nctr.ca/

A Special Report published by the Yellowhead Institute: Calls to Action Accountability: A 2020 Status Update on Reconciliation

Learn about the land where you live and its territories, languages, and treaties: https://native-land.ca/

Learn more about Indigenous-settler relations by taking a FREE course through the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta

You can make a donation to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society here: https://www.irsss.ca/donate

Resources For non-Indigenous People: http://www.trc.ca/resources.html….

Assembly of First Nations – Its Our Time – Residential Schools Toolkit: https://education.afn.ca/…/learnin…/residential-schools/

Aboriginal Healing Foundation – Residential School Resources Directory: http://www.ahf.ca/publications/residential-school-resources

An Overview of the Indian Residential School System booklet: http://www.anishinabek.ca/…/An-Overview-of-the-IRS…

If you’re a settler, here are some places where you can make a donation to support residential school survivors and their families:

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

Legacy of Hope Foundation

Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save the Evidence campaign

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

First Nations Child & Family Caring Society

Reconciliation Canada

Indspire

Native Women’s Association of Canada

Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Follow these regionally based organizations on your social media:

Bawaajigwein Aboriginal Community Circle @Bawaajigewin on Facebook

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation @MSIFN on Twitter

If you’re a settler, start following @OnCanadaProject to continue your learning

As we begin National Indigenous History Month, and look ahead to our own programming, it would be incomprehensible to not acknowledge the recent discovery of 215 children’s remains on Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation, at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in BC. The news is devastating. It is a stark reminder that the genocide of Indigenous peoples on this land is more recent than some of us may like to think.  It is not history and has a lasting impact today through intergenerational trauma, land confiscation and resource extraction, the suppression of language and culture, and limiting basic human rights to clean water, education, and healthcare.

As a settler on this land, I have a responsibility to understand the ongoing impacts of colonialism and to support the self-determination of Indigenous peoples. There are 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) completed in 2015, with actions 67-70 specifically for Museums and Archives. As a gallery, the RMG is committed to social change and redressing the very real imbalance perpetuated through our organization as a colonial construct. We play an integral role in sharing Indigenous stories through art and programming, as we work towards justice.

I encourage you to read the TRC Calls to Action.  If, like me, you are a settler it is never too late to learn and never too late to take action towards real change.

Miigwech,

Lauren

 

If you need support, there is a 24/7 Emergency Crisis Line available through the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) at 1800-721-0066 and the National Residential School Crisis line 1-866-925-4419.

If you are looking to learn or read more, here is a selection of websites, resources, and other programming:

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba https://nctr.ca/

A Special Report published by the Yellowhead Institute: Calls to Action Accountability: A 2020 Status Update on Reconciliation

Learn about the land where you live and its territories, languages, and treaties: https://native-land.ca/

Learn more about Indigenous-settler relations by taking a FREE course through the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta

You can make a donation to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society here: https://www.irsss.ca/donate

Resources For non-Indigenous People: http://www.trc.ca/resources.html….

Assembly of First Nations – Its Our Time – Residential Schools Toolkit: https://education.afn.ca/…/learnin…/residential-schools/

Aboriginal Healing Foundation – Residential School Resources Directory: http://www.ahf.ca/publications/residential-school-resources

An Overview of the Indian Residential School System booklet: http://www.anishinabek.ca/…/An-Overview-of-the-IRS…

If you’re a settler, here are some places where you can make a donation to support residential school survivors and their families:

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

Legacy of Hope Foundation

Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save the Evidence campaign

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

First Nations Child & Family Caring Society

Reconciliation Canada

Indspire

Native Women’s Association of Canada

Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Follow these regionally based organizations on your social media:

Bawaajigwein Aboriginal Community Circle @Bawaajigewin on Facebook

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation @MSIFN on Twitter

If you’re a settler, start following @OnCanadaProject to continue your learning

While the RMG could be open to the public now within current public health and Provincial guidelines, we are taking this opportunity to undergo some essential and critical maintenance to our building.  We know many folks are anxious to visit once again, however the work is necessary for the ongoing health and safety of our collection and visitors.

We appreciate your understanding and hope to confirm our opening date by the end of March.

In the meantime, please check our Virtual RMG and a special series we’re launching with our cultural partners in Oshawa, Culture Chats @ Lunch.

Take care,
Lauren

As of February 16, Durham Region was placed in the Red – control category of the provincial framework. In this stage, and within the provincial framework, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) can reopen with restrictions and appropriate health measures in place. At this time, we are staying closed. The City of Oshawa recreational facilities remain closed and we are awaiting their reopening date in order to align with their plans.

We are all looking forward to having visitors back in the gallery to experience our exhibitions in person. In the meantime, I encourage you to check out Virtual RMG and our upcoming live digital programming and weekly Friday Frames for schools.

Take care of each other,

Lauren Gould, Chief Executive Officer

Dear RMG Community,

We all have a part to play in dismantling systemic racism.

We must do more than simply watch what’s happening in cities around the world and feel shock, disbelief, and outrage at the anti-black racism that has continued for hundreds of years.   We must ask ourselves, what is our role? How can we invite dialogue and conversation that isn’t hollow?  We have work to do and need to take concrete actions supported by our values.

We believe that none of our goals are achievable without diversity, equity, and inclusive practice.  As an organization we acknowledge our inherent bias and that not knowing is not an excuse.

We need to do the work, the research, and to listen and learn. These are necessary, uncomfortable conversations.  We hope that by continuing to engage in this work we can confront and break down the structural inequity that creates barriers to the inclusion we want to nurture.

Museums are not neutral. Art has the potential to ignite social change and we empower artists as essential communicators and navigators of our complex times.

We will continue to make missteps on this journey, but if we don’t keep moving forward we risk standing still and not doing all that we can to amplify Black artists and community members.

On our website, we’ve posted links to Black-led organizations you can support and resources we’re turning to on our learning journey.

Take care of each other.

Cheryl Blackman, Chair, Board of Directors                  Lauren Gould, CEO

 

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Here are a number of Black organizations and anti-racist groups whose work you can support:

We acknowledge that this list may be incomplete. Please email [email protected] if there are any resources/links that you would like to see added or changed. We welcome all feedback, comments, and conversations.

 

Local Organizations (Durham Region)

Durham Black Educators Network

Durham Black Students Network

Womxn of Colour Durham Collective (WOCDC)

Black Queens of Durham

Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham

 

Ontario/Nation-Wide Organizations and Opportunities to Show Support

Black Health Alliance

Black Led Mental Health

Black Legal Action Centre

Black Lives Matter Toronto

Black Liberation Collective

Black Youth Helpline

Food Share – Not Another Black Life

Justice for Regis

Freedom School

Nia Centre for the Arts

Toronto Black Film Festival

Black Women in Motion

Canadian Anti-Racism Education and Research Society (CAERS)

Federation of Black Canadians

Black Artists’ Network in Dialogue

 

Canadian Authors on Anti-Black Racism

Until We Are Free, edited by Rodney Diverlus, Sandy Hudson and Syrus Marcus Ware

 

 

#blacklivesmatter

 

 

The RMG family was saddened to hear of the passing of its former Executive Director, David Aurandt. David led the gallery from 2000 to 2010.

David was a scholar, a Latin-speaking intellect who was deeply generous. His passion was education and he epitomized the maxim “lifelong learner.” His was the unique gift of being able to share from his vast well of knowledge on any number of subjects, and he loved nothing better than the art history classes he taught at Oshawa’s Senior Community Centre, and leading discussions with the RMG’s docents about the exhibitions and gallery collections.

He was a story-teller extraordinaire and you knew if he started one of his tales with “when I was in Thunder Bay,” you may as well make yourself comfortable. Never one to take himself too seriously, he had the ability to tell eye-ball rolling puns and loved people’s reactions to them.

For David, art was a journey of discovery through looking at painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, and anything else one might consider art. He helped so many appreciate our world more completely through that enthusiasm for the visual.

We offer our deepest condolences to David’s wife Anne, his children, grandchildren, and many friends.

The RMG Team

 

 

 

 

For those who were unable to attend the Ideas Digital Forum held at the RMG on October 12 and 13, captioned videos of each session are now available for your viewing pleasure!

The symposium, which was supported by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund, was organized by the RMG and the Ontario Association of Art Galleries. Our original question was “how do we effectively use digital technology to help create, engage, and deliver on the core business of public art galleries? ”So we brought together 18 speakers from across Canada, as well as international speakers from England and Germany.

Over sixty people came together to listen to and engage with curators, artists, and educators about the history of digital technologies, what the field looks like today, and where we think things will go in the future. Empty Cup Media was there through it all, deftly recording so that each sessions would be available on line. Feel free to take the opportunity to learn from the experts, share in the conversations, and be inspired!

[button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjOf7MV1Idw&list=PLLVBChnMQPdyQ9WhINfxHUW5dzraRzmuB” new=”true”]Watch Videos Now[/button]