Amidst debate and discussion about what to do with art that reflects an imperialist history, the University of Manitoba is working to decolonize its art collection by replacing problematic paintings and sculptures with contemporary Indigenous art.Jory Thomas and C.W. Brooks-Ip look at some of the Indigenous art in the University of Manitoba's collection.
The move comes amid a larger debate about what to do with art that reflects a colonial and imperialist history.The committee has received $30,000 from the school's Office of the Vice-President . It's submitted 24 proposals for paintings, prints, physical pieces and an etching, by artists including Jackie Traverse, Christi Belcourt and Kent Monkman.
The painting shows Upper Fort Garry on one side of the river, with an Indigenous person sitting outside a teepee on the other shore. While the depiction may be historically accurate, it wasn't created from an Indigenous perspective of cultural understanding, respect and gratitude for the animal's sacrifice, said Thomas, whose clan animal is the buffalo.
"And when it's ready, it'll go to its new home and then it'll sit and give off that energy to whoever is around it." "We do need to put things away to make space for other voices to be heard and seen. Sometimes we need to put things away because they're traumatic, because they are harmful ... especially to our Indigenous visitors and audiences," she said. "And we don't want to instill more trauma on our communities."