Open: October 23 – November 13, 2021. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 12-18, Saturday 12-16. Friday November 5, 12-16. Closed Saturday November 6.

Whitewash
Short film 6.20 min

“Whitewash” is an expression for transforming the “other into his own image”.

Antonie Grahamsdaughter’s family has a background in Metis / Oijbwe, Canada. For several years, Grahamsdaughter has been working on a documentary based on the fate of her family. A culture beaten to pieces. Who constantly was hidden due to racism and shame. Intensive work is now underway to take the culture back.

Film and art explode in different expressions. Many people want to tell their stories.

Do we have the right to transform the others into the culture of the majority? Where is the limit for integration? The discussion is lively and many voices are raised about total assimilation into the majority culture. There are several issues that are affected in our own society. Today, Canada has changed its view of integration and is very cautious about its integrationpolicy. All in order not to make the same mistake again.

The work is a film that depicts residential schools for indigenous children in Canada. There were about 136 schools across the country. The question is relevant as anonymous mass graves have been discovered outside several of the residential schools. We know today that approximately 6,000 children have disappeared without a trace from these institutions. Assimilation of the indigenous people was very consistent and carried out by a harsh assimilation policy. The architect of assimilationpolicy was Duncan Campbell Scott. He advocated the eradication of indigenous culture and pushed the issue of banning language. The assimilation to the “white” society was many times total. Most often with the consequences of severe trauma from abuse, violence and hunger.