Graeme Teague Photography

Umista Door Art

Caption: Umista Door Art
Location: Alert Bay, BC
Copyright: © Graeme Teague 832-526-1123 gtphoto@shaw.ca
AGPix ID: AGPix_GrTePh23_1592
Digital Original
Comments: Phew - disturbing statement, in art, about the Roman Catholic church and it's major role in cultural genocide - this is a door saved from the residential school, before it was levelled, and is now in the Umista Cultural centre, Alert Bay, British Columbia. Opened in 1980, the Centre was part of a deal to build two cultural centres, one in Alert Bay and one in Cape Mudge, to house repatriated potlatch regalia, treasures and carvings, basically stolen by local and federal governments of Canada starting back in the 1920's! All part of a systematic cultural genocide created by residential schools, banning potlatches and ceremonies, banning native languages, mass arrests, prison terms and hangings, not to mention federal Indian Agents stealing all their possesions and shipping them to government museums and even keeping works for themselves. GTPhoto is a brilliant knowledge/photo agency with all award winning photographers, authors, filmmakers, scientists & guides covering our world - PNW coastal native culture an absolute specialty.