For the next seven days, including National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), along the Highway of Tears and in a dozen cities across Canada, billboards by Indigenous artists nationwide will soar across the country, featuring such paintings as NOT FORGOTTEN (by Dakota Sioux artist Maxine Noel); SHE WHO LOVES THE TRUTH (by Cree artist Betty Albert); SISTERS (by Anishinaabe artist Frank Polson) as part of our historic EAGLES RISING CAMPAIGN.
“Sisters is dedicated to the memory of our missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. They were traumatized and stolen and it will continue if we do not commit to action and change. All Indigenous women and girls are sacred. We must break the cycles of violence,” says contributing artist Frank Polson.
This week-long campaign aims to both honour the memory of the more than 1000 Indigenous missing and murdered woman and girls across Canada such as Tina Fontaine (on the DAUGHTER TO US ALL billboard by Metis artist Christi Belcourt) and keep the conversation about Indigenous missing and murdered women alive following the powerful MMIW Inquiry report released last week.
“I am honoured to be a part of this project, and to donate my own art to Artists Against Racism, joining with other First Nations artists in lending our work and our voices to this desperately needed conversation and reconciliation, “ Maxine Noel (Not Forgotten).
BILLBOARD LOCATIONS
HALIFAX: 132 Main St. east of Gordon Ave.
MONCTON: Paul St. north of Kennedy
MONTREAL: Boul Rene Levesque and Delorimier
OTTAWA: Road 174 Orleans just west of Trim Road
TORONTO: Gardiner Expressway east of Islington Ave.
THUNDER BAY: Memorial Ave. north of Harbour Expressway
WINNIPEG: St. Mary’s Rd. north of Vivian Ave.
SASKATOON: Idylwyld Dr.N.
REGINA: Victoria Ave. west of Park St.
EDMONTON 50 St.south of Sherwood Park Freeway
VANCOUVER: Scott Rd. south of Larson Rd.
KAMLOOPS: Highway 5 south of Halston Ave.
