Saskatchewan·NewThe North Central Strong youth advocacy committee came together earlier this month at the mâmawêyatitân centre for an ink press workshop where they created linocut pieces that were pressed onto orange poster board cut into the shape of shirts.’We’re working on figuring out how to make it better for the future,’ says participantDarla Ponace · CBC News · Posted: Sep 27, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoSome of the pieces of art created by members of the North Central Strong youth advocacy group in Regina who took part in a truth and reconciliation workshop at the mâmawêyatitân centre earlier this month. (Darla Ponace/CBC)A group of Regina youth is using art to express what truth and reconciliation means to them.The North Central Strong youth advocacy committee came together at the mâmawêyatitân centre for an ink press workshop where they created linocut pieces that were pressed onto orange poster board cut into the shape of shirts.The workshop took place last weekend during the lead-up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, also known as Orange Shirt Day. Youth committee member Jada Ballantyne said for her, the concept means working together to uncover the truth of the past. “We’re trying to figure out the truth of our ancestors,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out how we can work together as one, not two. Because of the past, there’s a lot of trauma, a lot of hurt and abuse.” She said each youth in the workshop expressed themselves uniquely through their individual pieces, reflecting what the day signifies to them. Creating safe spaces to talk about the past and uncover the truth together helps everyone heal, she said. “I believe that the future is going to be better for us,” Ballantyne said. “Orange Shirt Day is for the people and the children that have gone to residential schools and survived.” Jada Ballantyne says creating safe spaces to talk about the past and uncover the truth together helps everyone heal. (CBC News)And for the children who didn’t survive, she said wearing an orange shirt in remembrance of them helps to keep their memory and stories alive. “We know what happened in the past and we’re working on figuring out how to make it better for the future,” she said. Jo Sheppard, the workshop facilitator, consulted with colleague Claire Tuckanow, the program co-ordinator with Growing Young Movers and supervisor of the North Central Strong youth group, to create the workshop. Tuckanow said she saw the workshop as a vital way for youth to honour their ancestors and loved ones who were residential school attendees.”We really wanted to create this workshop to involve them and to involve their voices and their stories as they honour Orange Shirt Day and observe it,” she said.A sample of some of the linocut pieces created by the youth. (Darla Ponace/CBC)Tuckanow said for Indigenous people, truth and reconciliation is not confined to Sept. 30; it is a lived experience every day. “We want to be able to always honour them every day, and it starts with us in our communities to make those spaces happen so we can share these stories and let them never be forgotten because they were children,” she said. “Doing things like this, we’re honouring their voices. We’re honouring that little spirit. I really appreciate having opportunities to sit with the young people as well, and hear their stories.” WATCH | Regina youth commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with special art project: Regina youth commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with special art projectA linocut workshop is giving youngsters in Regina a chance to express their personal visions of reconciliation through art.Emily Weber said she joined the youth advocacy group to bring awareness and change to her community. She said it is important to never stop talking about the history of Canada, about what truth and reconciliation means, and about why commemorating Orange Shirt Day will always matter. Her art piece features a tree, with the words “Every Child Matters” above it. She said it is a symbolism of growth. “I put the tree, as in growth, because there is constant growth within our people and the children that are in this community,” she said. “Especially the Indigenous peoples, and I just think we’re always constantly growing and making a difference and evolving from what people perceive us as.”Emily Weber’s artwork features a tree, which she said symbolizes the ‘constant growth within our people.’ (CBC News)ABOUT THE AUTHORDarla Ponace is a Saulteaux woman from Zagime Anishinabek First Nations. She started as an associate producer in the Indigenous Pathways program at CBC. She is currently working with CBC Saskatchewan as a reporter. You can email her at darla.ponace@cbc.ca with story ideas.
Regina youth use art to express meaning of truth and reconciliation
