The NWT government has begun asking for expressions of interest in the creation of a residential schools monument.
In a statement shared to Meta’s channels, the GNWT said it is seeking “Indigenous artists and Indigenous artist-led groups from the NWT or Nunavut” to help create such a monument.
On its website, the territory said the monument would be “publicly accessible, highly visible” and located in Yellowknife.
The project was described as a “survivor-led initiative” that will honour individuals who attended residential schools, including those who didn’t return, and people experiencing intergenerational trauma.
“It will be a place to remember, honour, heal, educate, and reconcile, as called for in Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 82,” the territorial government stated.
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Similar monuments have been installed or are in development across Canada as a result of the same TRC call to action.
Among other things, people expressing interest in helping to create the monument are asked to provide:
- a brief profile;
- a statement identifying the artist or group’s medium, such as visual arts, music, sound, digital arts or mixed media;
- an indication of how the individual or group meets the “Indigenous artist or Indigenous artist-led” requirement; and
- the motivation behind the artist or group’s desire to be involved in development of the monument.
“Experience in public art, community-led creative processes, or cultural design is considered helpful but is not a requirement,” the GNWT stated.
“No commitments or contracts will result directly from this request for expressions of interest. This is the first step in a multi-stage procurement process.”
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From 2020: How should we remember residential schools in the North?
The initial deadline to file an expression of interest is July 24 according to the GNWT’s procurement website, which the territory is using to receive information from interested parties.
For more details, read the full expression of interest document.
