New Spirit Bear art exhibit highlights Indigenous children’s rights and issues

These days, Spirit Bear is a national symbol for Indigenous Children’s rights and issues, but his roots are actually right here on Carrier Sekani land. In 2007, Teegee gifted Spirit Bear to Dr. Cindy Blackstock prior to Blackstock’s appearance before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal addressing inequalities in Indigenous children’s services. Since then, Blackstock wrote several Spirit Bear books, and four stop-motion films were made as well.

“It means a lot to all of us. This is her (Blackstock) life’s work and her passion, and just to see the beautiful displays, it’s phenomenal,” Teege said about the exhibit.

The exhibit features scenes and topics addressed in the books and films, which takes complex social issues and presents it in an easy to understand way for children. Teegee says educating children about some of the darker aspects of Canadian history is important not only to understand some issues we face today, but also to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

“If we’re educating the youth and they know what injustices have happened to Indigenous children and Indigenous nations across this country, then you’re least likely to perpetuate that same discrimination or that same injustice,” she said.

“It’s definitely geared towards children, but I learned a lot from Spirit Bear and watching the Spirit Bear movies,” added Exploration Place’s Assistant Curator Chad Hellenius.

Topics addressed include things like orange shirt day, truth and reconciliation, and many more. One exhibit focuses on the story of Jordan River Anderson, a five year old boy in the hospital who was supposed to go home to receive medical care. However, due to a jurisdictional dispute between the federal and the Manitoba government, he never returned home and tragically died in the hospital. Teegee says Spirit Bear helps raise awareness for issues like this, but also show that there is hope, as Anderson’s situation led to creating accessible healthcare for all children so this same situation wouldn’t repeat itself.

“There’s been so many youth and our children that have benefited from Jordan’s legacy. And so when you look at that, that tells us the story that there is hope, that there is a way forward where we can actually stop all the injustice,” Teegee said.

Exploration Place says the exhibit will remain in Prince George until September, and at that point it will travel across the entire country. Given that Spirit Bear’s roots are on Carrier Sekani land, Hellenius says it’s quite special that Prince George got to be the inaugural opening of the exhibit.

“Being involved in such an important national issue and important national human rights case, it just it connects us to the rest of the world,” he said.

The Exploration Place giftshop has some Spirit Bear merchandise, and half the proceeds from those sales go towards supporting the Skai Zeh Yah Youth Centre.

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by Tommy Osborne

New Spirit Bear art exhibit highlights Indigenous children’s rights and issues

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