UVic research collaboration with First Nations part of historic event

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is holding its closing events May 31 to June 3 in Ottawa during which it will issue a report on its findings on Indian Residential Schools.

Andrea Walsh (Anthropology), who researched children’s residential school art in collaboration with First Nations on Vancouver Island, is part of the closing events. Walsh, along with 12 Alberni Residential School survivors, will display seven of their paintings created when they were children that reflect their experiences at the time. Walsh can speak about the collection of children’s artwork created in 1958-60 at the former school in Port Alberni. She can also speak about her role in the TRC as a honourary witness. She is an expert in visual anthropology and contemporary aboriginal art. Walsh can be contacted at 250-216-2924 or awalsh@uvic.ca. Walsh is interviewed about her residential schools art research in the Ring and on a Faces of UVic video.

Wally Samuel (Ahousaht First Nation) is one of the Alberni Residential School survivors attending the TRC closing event with Walsh and can be contacted at 250-731-7599 or wsamuel@telus.net.

Matt James (Political Science) studies reparations for historical injustice, political apologies, truth commissions and social memory. He has written two recent articles on the TRC in Canada and can comment on the commission’s work and implications of the final report for Canadian politics. He can be reached at mattjame@uvic.ca.

Val Napoleon (Law) is the Law Foundation Professor of Aboriginal Justice and Governance and established the Indigenous law research clinic. Napoleon, a member of Saulteau First Nation, is an expert in Indigenous legal traditions, Indigenous legal theory, Indigenous feminism, citizenship, self-determination and governance. She can discuss the TRC’s findings and how they will affect Indigenous communities. She can be contacted at 250-721-8172 or napoleon@uvic.ca.

Hamar Foster (Law) is an expert in Aboriginal law and was a member of the Akitsiraq Law School faculty in Nunavut. He can discuss the TRC’s findings and how they will affect Indigenous communities. Foster can be contacted at 250-721-8178 or hamarf@uvic.ca.

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