SK Arts joins with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from across Canada in marking September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This beaded artwork is by Swampy Cree/Welsch artist Marcy Friesen. She says:

“This piece was created to honor the victims of the government, RCMP, and church-run residential schools.

"I thought about my family members who attended these places. My heart was breaking as unmarked graves were being acknowledged. Tears flowed down my face as I watched the news. I couldn’t speak.

"I needed to create what I was feeling because I couldn’t talk about it without crying. I beaded my daughter's face.  My daughter. We talked about residential schools as her face was being beaded. Bead by bead. We worked together to create this piece.”

Photo of Marcy Friesen’s "Acknowledge Me" by Susan Stewart Photography