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EDMONTON, AB – “For far too long the painful story of Residential Schools went untold and countless Survivors quietly suffered. Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools draws much-needed attention to a Canadian tragedy,” said Hon. Robert A. Wanner, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. “Through the Legislative Assembly Visitor Centre we aim to educate Albertans on not only parliament and democracy but also significant historical and cultural issues. Education leads to understanding, and in that spirit I encourage all Albertans to visit this exhibition.”

The exhibition aims to assist with the healing and understanding required for reconciliation and provides a wide range of perspectives, from stories about the children who never returned home to contemporary Indigenous role models. Through Survivor stories and archival photographs and documents the exhibition covers over 125 years of history, transitioning from a child leaving home to arriving at school and participating in class activities.

This powerful travelling exhibition explores the damaging effects that the nationally run Residential School System, operating in Canada between 1831 and 1996, has had on Indigenous communities. The schools have been recognized as a deliberate attempt to assimilate Indigenous children with a view to eradicating the culture, language and way of life of all Indigenous peoples. This tragedy has been described by many as cultural genocide.

Iroquois artist Jeff Thomas curated this exhibition, which was created by the Legacy of Hope Foundation, an Indigenous-led charitable organization with the exclusive goal of educating and raising awareness about Canada’s Residential School System, in partnership with Library and Archives Canada and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools will show at the Borealis Gallery from May 16 to September 2. The Borealis Gallery is located in the Legislative Assembly Visitor Centre on the main floor of the Edmonton Federal Building. For further information please visit: assembly.ab.ca/visit/visitor-centre/borealis-gallery.

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Media Inquiries:
Tracey Sales, Communications Consultant
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Tel: 780.415.9584 I E-mail: tracey.sales@assembly.ab.ca