Gilbert Kewistep Saskatoon, SK
Gilbert works for the Saskatchewan Health Region. I was introduced to him by a mutual artist acquaintance who works with patients and art at one of the local hospitals. Gilbert is another survivor involved in telling his story as a means of educating people about residential school atrocities. Gilbert spoke poignantly to me of the generational trauma and effects of his residen- tial school experience. He described a pivotal moment in his life when he was overwhelmed and had to decide in which direction he would go; deeper into a self-destructive pattern or make a conscious choice to break that pattern. He felt the future of his son depended upon his choice. He found the strength to change the course of his life and his children’s potential fu- ture, breaking that cycle using sheer will and courage. Much of this strength came through re- connecting with Indigenous spiritual traditions and rituals. Gilbert and Eugene suggested they smudge the Seeds paintings before their first exhibition, favouring the project with positive intentions, collaboration, and compassion. We gathered at my studio for this deeply moving ceremony. It was the perfect way to launch the completed project into the world.
“We are not the savages they said we were”
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