WE ARE SORRY in Awalakenis II (2014)

WE ARE SORRY in Awalaskenis II is collaborative piece with artist and hereditary Chief from the 'Na̱mg̱is First Nation, Beau Dick. 

Following its display at the Belkin Art Gallery for Witness: Art and Canadian's Indian Residential Schools (2013), Beau, who was a colleague and studio neighbour, asked if he could have the large piece of the WE ARE SORRY vinyl for Awalaskenis II: Journey of Truth and Unity, a Caravan that would take place in July 2014. I was happy to comply with this request. The Caravan's journey culminated in a copper-breaking ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa performed to draw attention to the federal government’s lack of followthrough on the promises of Truth and Reconciliation, embedded in the 2008 apology. WE ARE SORRY provided a ground-cover and framework for the pounding of the copper, and then was presented as the support for a broken piece which was solemnly left on the steps of the Parliament Building's Centre Block.