Two exhibitions share one message at Swift Current Museum

Through a combination of art and language, a pair of exhibitions at the Swift Current Museum tell the history of Metis people in the southwest. 

Melissa Shaw, general manager of cultural and aquatic services for the City, said that both works focus on Metis history in the southwest. 

“It was such a beautiful partnership to bring it in and show it at the same time,” she said. “It was almost like perfect symmetry that we couldn't have designed ourselves. So, we're quite excited that they work so nicely together to tie a little bit of the southwest history in with learning a little bit more about the Metis culture in Canada.” 

Photo by Kash Knight

Akin to the Land is a travelling collection of paintings developed in partnership with the Swift Current Museum and the Gabriel DuMont Institute, by Saskatoon artist George Gingras. 

Each piece showcases the vast palette of colours in the southwest prairies, with white shadows of buildings and figures as history beautifully haunts the present. 

The creation of Akin to the Land was made possible by funding from Canadian heritage, Sask Culture, Metis Cultural Development Fund, and the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation.

Photo by Hayden Michaels

Also presented on the museum’s walls are photographs and written narratives that make up Hiding in Plain Sight: Discovering the Metis Nation.  

Presented by the Métis National Council (MNC), the exhibit was created in collaboration with Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in 2016. 

“The Hiding in Plain Sight exhibit gives a really good look at some of the different people who are influential in the Metis culture as well,” Shaw said. “It gives some information about different symbols within Metis culture and gives you a little bit of education. 

“You are going to see some information, unfortunately, not all of it pleasant. You see some of the history that we need to learn so we can do better and move forward from.” 

She added her excitement about the written information presented in both English and French.  

“I'm excited about giving different groups, different families, the opportunity to come and learn about something new, perhaps,” Shaw said. “Or something that they may have only heard parts of the story, and this kind of helps give a little bit more information. We're really excited to have people come check this one out.”