Kwécte-kucw te sḱwiyūsems: Take Our Grief

artist bio

Brittany Cherweniuk is a Métis fine craft artist and instructor, working in textile and fiber arts, endeavoring to create cultural connections and to tell multigenerational stories. She has built her career as an Arts Administrator working in museums, galleries, and non-profit organizations—focusing on curation, program development, youth leadership, traditional Indigenous arts, and sharing Indigenous authentic histories. She currently resides in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Beaver Hills House), commonly known as Edmonton, in Treaty No. 6 Territory. 

• Instagram: @Bcherweniuk_art 

Artist statement

In the spring of 2021, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemcs Nation (Kamloops Indian Band) confirmed 215 unmarked graves at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, now referred to as Le Estcwicwe̓y̓ — The Missing 

This project began with prayer and meditation, and with ideas brought to me in dreams. Upon this reflection, it came to me to use sewing as a tool to channel grief and other inarticulable feelings into a tangible object, while creating something beautiful and impactful, and baby moccasins were the natural fit.  

I wanted to make something with all the love and care that you would give to sewing a pair of baby moccasins for a new cherished family member. Each piece is done with the specific intention of capturing these tiny beings at a point in their lives before the trauma when they are filled with endless potential. The finished piece has 215 pairs of baby moccasins, made from rainbow felt. 

As an outsider to the community, it was important that I introduced myself to Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Nation and offer appropriate protocols before proceeding with the work and ongoing guidance. Thank you to Jessica Arnouse and Ted Gottfriedson, Diena Jules, and Knowledge Keeper Rhona Bowe for being so welcoming and hospitable during my visit to Kamloops in August 2021. With guidance and assistance from the nation’s Elders, we named the project Kwécte-kucw te sk̓wiyūsems, which means “take our grief, sadness, suffering.” 

In this iteration of Kwécte-kucw te sk̓wiyūsems; Take Our Grief, patrons will have the opportunity to tie ribbons with the piece as a respectful way to interact with the work. The act of ribbon tying itself is an acknowledgement, and can be an internal reflection, a prayer, or a promise to actively participate instead of idly standing by, ensuring that we are lifting voices up and joining others in conversation. This action can take as long or as little time as you feel is necessary.  

After the exhibition the tied ribbons will be sent back to Tk'emlúps te Secwépemcs Nation (Kamloops Indian Band) for proper protocols.  

Please note: we both do not have the capacity and have decided it is not our place to take other memorial pieces that visitors may like to leave. Please respectfully encourage those desiring to contribute to the memorial to do so through ribbon-tying.