Indigenous youth art activation at the Royal Ontario Museum

By Brian Wright-McLeod

TORONTO— It’s a special initiative to have a youth-led, contemporary, and collaborative art piece set for permanent display in a renowned museum in order to create dialogue within a meaningful space. The decision to create the mural coincides with the trends occurring in the Toronto art scene where indigenous artists are reclaiming space through murals.

The youth cabinet was integrated with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth alongside an Indigenous youth intern. But, these results didn’t happen overnight.

For the past 12 years, Leslie Kachena McCue, of the Mississaugas of Curve Lake First Nation, has worked in Toronto as an installation and sound artist, and a member of the Odawa Wiingushk Collective.

Her talents extend to freelance administration for various arts organizations including the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). She began at the ROM as their Indigenous resource teacher and coordinator for the Museum’s Youth Cabinet. Going on five years, she has steered the program to success.

“The ROM Youth Cabinet originally emerged from discussions with the Indigenous Advisory Circle that oversees special projects,” McCue said. “The youth are taking on new projects, and in other capacities.”

McCue continued, “The youth have never created a mural before or have had their work in a place like the ROM with any media attention. It’s a new opportunity for them, and it builds their confidence.”

The mural was unveiled October 21, with participating youth in attendance. To honour the celebration, the festivities included a hoop dancer, audience Q & A, and local media.

The participants learn from and with one another, through in-depth experiences with established artists, knowledge keepers, and Elders who come and share their teachings over the course of the year.

“This year we had many guest artists including Jay “CHIPPEWAR” Soule, Rhonda Doxtator, Jillian Sutherland, Phil Cote and others,” she said.

Funded by the Benefaction Foundation, the Kiowa Wind Memorial is dedicated to the memory of Kiowa Wind, a murder victim who lost his life after the project started.

“He was a driving force in the development of the Youth Cabinet,” she said. “We created the youth internship position to honour his memory.”

McCue explained that, “the horse’s hair in the center of the mural represents Kiowa Wind.”

“This year’s Kiowa Wind Memorial intern is Kristy Inglese,” she said. “It’s a rewarding experience with a demanding weekly commitment.”

The Kiowa Wind Memorial Intern applications will be open soon and youth can apply on the ROM website.