Yellowhead Institute published the special report “A Culture of Exploitation: ‘Reconciliation’ and the Institutions of Canadian Art” in August 2020. The report addresses the contentious relationship between Canadian cultural institutions (art galleries, museums, funding agencies, collections, etc.) and Indigenous Peoples, which has been beset by tokenism and inequality. The report lays out standards of achievement for the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and cultural institutions in Canada and recommends repatriation of bodies of Indigenous ancestors, increased transparency, growth of Black and Indigenous cultural workers into senior positions and greater accessibility of cultural supports.
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Recommendation 16:
For the foreseeable future, the acquisitions budget of Canadian art institutions must be solely dedicated to the acquisition of Black and Indigenous art. This acquisition campaign must not be merely history art about Indigenous and Black peoples; even if this means collecting primarily contemporary artists.
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Recommendation 17:
The executive, governing and advisory boards of cultural institutions in Canada must restructure to include diverse members of Black and Indigenous communities.
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Recommendation 18:
Cultural organizations should respect the basic human rights and occupational health of Indigenous and Black artists during COVID-19. Arts organizations may consider shifting to a service provision model at this time. But also accepting that artists may not be able to travel in the upcoming months (years even). Organizations should find alternative ways to feature and service the artists they represent.
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Recommendation 19:
Canada needs to develop its own federal, provincial and territorial repatriation legislation, drawing from the shortcomings of NAGPRA and led by communities of Indigenous artists, curators, cultural administrators, Elders, and other respected Indigenous cultural leaders within Reserve and urban communities. While it must foremost be concerned with “human remains,” this legislation should expand the notion of repatriation beyond bodies to funerary objects, “sacred” objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. These laws must be meaningfully co-developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
- These “Repatriation Acts” must be passed in every province and territory within the borders of Canada, and not simply apply to federal reserve lands.
- The legislation must have extremely strong compliance measures, with an accountability provision that allows Indigenous representatives to ensure the legislation is being enforced. As Indigenous people are not flora and fauna, Parks Canada should not be involved in the implementation of the legislation. Jurisdiction over “Repatriation Acts” could fall under the Canadian Heritage Portfolio or even the Minister of Justice.
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Recommendation 20:
Indigenous peoples should have cultural sovereignty over the management of their arts and cultures in Canada.
- In addition to legislation, federal, provincial and territorial governments should work to support the creation of a network of northern, reserve-based, and urban Indigenous cultural communities that could support a self-determined infrastructure for the direct funding of Indigenous artist-run centres and spaces nationwide. This network should build upon the work of cultural communities already on the ground and doing the work.
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