Art is a gift we can give ourselves, our communities, and future generations. A powerful means of self-expression and communication, art gives form to ideas and can help us imagine new ways of being, and being together in the world.  As we engage in the process of reconciliation, we recognize that Indigenous art is a particularly valuable gift, transmitting stories and perspectives that will collectively lead us to a more equitable and sustainable decolonial future. While there has been increased visibility and support for Indigenous art, many Indigenous youth face barriers that prevent them from recognizing their gifts and developing their artistic potential.

In response, the School of Art Gallery presents Kiskithihta Mīthokwesowin: Discovering our Gifts, an Indigenous youth summer program that seeks to inspire and activate the next generation of Indigenous artists by instilling confidence and providing opportunities to explore art-making as a means of telling their stories. Working in partnership with community partners at Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., Marymound Inc., Willow Tree Action Therapy Youth Services, and Rainbow Resource Centre, the program offers a series of art workshops focused on cultural themes, led by professional Indigenous artists and developed in consultation with Elders.

Artworks produced by outreach program participants will be exhibited at SoAG during the first two weeks of the Fall semester, giving new and returning students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to see what invigorates and inspires the next generation of Indigenous artists. In turn, these emerging artists will be invited to visit campus and to see their work on display during the most vibrant and exciting period of the academic year.