May 2021

On May 27, 2021, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were detected, children who had been buried on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.

TRCB decided to commemorate these lives as well as many thousands more with the “215+ Taken” Art Installation. River stones were painted orange in the spirit of the “Every Child Matters” orange t-shirt campaign. Over 50 community members joined us in painting each of the orange stones with a heart, keeping in mind that each stone represented a child – one who walked on this Earth, loved, played, one who had a long life ahead of them, a life that was taken early. They were then numbered from 1-215.

The suggestion of placing them on the land across from the Bobcaygeon Library, known as the Boyd Property to local residents and as a Mishkodeh to local Indigenous people, led to an interesting conversation with one of the owners of that land. ‘The Mishkodeh Centre for Indigenous Knowledge’ was born from that conversation. It was decided, however, that it would be best to set the stones up on the wall around the library.

June 2021

On June 16^th, 2021, the art was installed. The stones immediately started to attract attention. Even as we were placing them, people were stopping to look and ask questions. That afternoon, standing in circle with those who gathered to begin the exhibition in a good way, Michi Saagiig Language Activist Anne Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation shared difficult stories of how the Indian Residential School system has impacted her and her family and friends. In fact, as Anne says “There is not an Anishinaabeg person who has not been impacted by the residential school system in some way.”  

July 2021

 On July 16^th the art installation went on the road, travelling to the Maryboro Lodge Museum in Fenelon Falls where they continued to share their story for the month. They returned to Bobcaygeon on August 16^th and remained there until September 20^th when they went on their next journey.

September 2021

The stones were brought to the stairs of the Kawartha Lakes City Hall in Lindsay  and arranged beautifully along with the children’s shoes and boots that had been dropped off at City Hall soon after the 215 unmarked graves had been detected. At 11 am on the 21^stof September, they were officially welcomed to City Hall. The Mayor and several Councillors were in attendance.

National Day For Truth and Reconciliation

The art installation then returned home to Bobcaygeon for September 30^th’s honouring of the first National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. At 5 pm, over 200 people gathered by the orange stones to pay respect, to learn, to drum and sing.

Winter 2021/22

As winter drew near, the 215 orange stones were gathered up one more time for 2021 and taken to Fenelon Falls Secondary School where they will continue to share their story.