On May 27, 2021, Canada watched in horror as news spread about the confirmation of more than 215 unmarked graves on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, located on the lands of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. This discovery was a painful reminder of the ongoing history of colonial violence inflicted by Canadian educational institutions—institutions that have long been complicit in their harm towards Indigenous peoples.

Closer to home, at UVic, the response across the campus community was an overwhelming: What can we do? How can we support Indigenous students, staff and faculty, as well as Elders, knowledge keepers and others from our community? How do we recognize the children who never came home and the Survivors who continue to be impacted by their past experiences at residential schools?

Very quickly, the campus came together to create an action plan, including lowering the university flags, lighting a Sacred Fire and installing memorial banners on light standards across the UVic campus designed by UVic Impact Chair in Indigenous Art Practices and Fine Arts professor, Kwakwaka’wakw/Coast Salish artist Hayalthkin’geme, Carey Newman. The artwork, titled “Hearts and Hands”, was a design to honour the children who never returned home from the residential schools.

“Universities aren’t often known for their nimbleness; however, UVic’s response to this discovery was an example of what’s possible when everyone is pulling in the same direction. Frankly, the response was refreshing,” says Newman.

Moving from initial response to committed action

After flying for more than three years, the 215+ banners began showing signs of wear and tear, and it was time to consider replacements or to look for space for a permanent recognition on campus. During the 2023 Orange Shirt Day ceremony, Survivor and Elder Klith-wii-taa, Dr. Barney Williams, gifted President and Vice-Chancellor Kevin Hall with a Survivors’ Flag, which will now have a permanent home outside the Mearns-McPherson Library and adjacent to the area where previous National Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day ceremonies were held.

The flag will permanently honour the strength, courage and perseverance of Survivors who fought with determination to carry on their cultures, traditions and languages and knowledge systems for generations to come. Now, the 215+ banners will come down to make room for the installation of new Indigenous artwork by internationally renowned Lək̓ʷəŋən master carver and artist Dr. Butch Dick.

“The 215+ banners were never intended to be a long-term visual acknowledgement of truth and reconciliation,” says Newman. “They were part of an immediate and collective reaction to a moment in our history. With the raising of the Survivors’ Flag on campus, the work of the banners has concluded, and I like to think that they held space until this more permanent response could be found.”

Read the full UVic News story here