Kwakiutl First Nation master carver Stan HuntB次元官网网址檚 in remembrance of all the Indigenous children who were abused, murdered, and died while attending residential schools has taken shape and is nearly ready to be painted.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in the planning stages now of how this will roll out to the public, and weB次元官网网址檙e working with several people from the private industry, as well as with support from the Canadian Coast Guard and other government agencies,B次元官网网址� Hunt said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working on a communication strategy to get the word out to tell the story, and weB次元官网网址檙e planning the logistics of the tour and visiting key areas for the monument to stop for families that have been affected by residential schools.B次元官网网址�

Based in Fort Rupert on northern Vancouver Island, Hunt confirmed the monument will be traveling a long distances before settling in at an as-yet-undisclosed permanent location.

B次元官网网址�(It will be) moved about the 18th of June so it will be in Victoria June 21 for National Aboriginal Day, and then we want to be in our destination on Sept. 30 for Truth and Reconciliation Day, where it will be unloaded and then placed where it should be.B次元官网网址�

The 18-foot tall, four-feet in diameter monument features a giant raven on top of it that has the seed of life in its beak, and there are traditionally carved childrenB次元官网网址檚 faces going all the way to the bottom. The monument will only have two stark colours, black and orange.

Hunt noted the raven holds special meaning to Indigenous people.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 our creator, and this raven is on top of these children because heB次元官网网址檚 asking for these childrenB次元官网网址檚 spirits to come home - they belong at home and they need to be found.B次元官网网址�

Hunt said he is hopeful that all of the childrenB次元官网网址檚 remains are not just found, but that theyB次元官网网址檙e all able to be named as well.

B次元官网网址淭hey have to have names,B次元官网网址� he said, his voice breaking as he pointed out there should be a special memorial park created for all of the Indigenous lives that were lost.

Above all else, Hunt wants everyone to know that this monument will B次元官网网址渢ell the truth about what happened, and as soon as you get to see it when itB次元官网网址檚 finished, youB次元官网网址檒l recognize what itB次元官网网址檚 for B次元官网网址� This is for the residential school kids.B次元官网网址�

- with file from Megyn Williams

editor@northislandgazette.com
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