by S.M.
The first portion of my canvas is used to describe all the emotions I felt surrounding the systemic racism in health and social service settings. It also can represent the oppression, discrimination, and racism endured by Indigenous peoples, and the harm that has been done. The deep black bleeds from the top, showing how this oppression and racism spreads and engulfs the figure. This colour palette is bleak and represents the continued colonial approach used in issues of Indigenous Peoples.
Yet, under all this deep black, there is red illuminating from the chest. This represents the continued hope and resiliency within Indigenous individuals. It shows no matter how much darkness is on the canvas, the red continues to shine through. As I begin to describe resiliency, the video is flipped so the focus is no longer on the dark, oppressive side of the piece. Instead, the focus is now on the bright, bold side, focusing on strength and hope. These colours are to represent hope, resiliency, and resurgence. All the colours emanate and expand from the middle of the canvas – showing these feelings develop from within. It shows strength, and enduring resilience. This colour palette is bold, hopeful, and resilient. It represents what will occur with reconciliation and the implementation of Indigenous social justice visions.
This art piece is a collaboration of my feelings about systemic racism against Indigenous peoples in the health care system, the oppression endured, and the continued resiliency. This art allows the expression of the words I cannot verbalize.
When you change the colour palette, the whole piece shifts.
When you change the colour palette, the narrative changes.
When you begin to focus on reconciliation and implementing Indigenous social justice visions, everything changes. It is time to change the colour palette
