ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
The tribute is one of several that's listed in public art projects scheduled for 2021
Artist Kevin Wesaquate is working with Void Gallery to create a mural in memory of Neil Stonechild, the 17-year-old who died of cold exposure in a remote area of the city in November 1990. Stonechild had been last seen in the custody of two police officers.
A new mural to honour the life and memory of Neil Stonechild in Saskatoon may become a reality later this year.
Saskatoon-based artist Kevin Wesaquate is co-ordinating the project and overseeing its design, working with the Void Gallery to secure a location and funding for the project.
The mural project is one of several listed in the public art projects scheduled for 2021, presented to a Feb. 12 meeting of the city 's public art committee.
The city's community development manager, Kevin Kitchen, said in a statement that a request to consider a Neil Stonechild mural for a public property is expected; the location remains undecided.
Wesaquate said he wants to incorporate community involvement into the creation of the mural, with the opportunity for members of the public to stop by and add to it.
An image of Neil's “warm face” would be beautiful as part of a mural to greet people, and if someone who sees it doesn't recognize his image, they may ask questions and learn more about him, Wesaquate said.
Stonechild was 17 when he was last seen in the back of a Saskatoon police cruiser just before midnight on Nov. 24, 1990. His body was found days later.
A public inquiry held more than a decade after his death found that Stonechild was last seen in the custody of two Saskatoon police constables, that he died of cold exposure in a remote industrial area in the early morning hours of Nov. 25, 1990, and that his body bore injuries and marks consistent with handcuffs. The two constables were fired after the inquiry's conclusion.
Wesaquate said he was in contact with Stonechild's family late last year when he did a rendering of an image of Neil to create stickers, which were distributed at a vigil to mark the 30th year since his death. He had further conversations with Void Gallery staff about how to memorialize Neil and raised the idea of creating a mural, he said.
The Black Lives Matter movement and the recent deaths of Indigenous people during police interactions, including Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi in Nova Scotia, were weighing on his mind, Wesaquate said.
“We have to understand that the relationships between the Saskatoon city police service and Indigenous folks are not fully ... realized in the sense of healing,” he said.
Generally speaking, with truth and reconciliation, we're “jumping right to the aspect of reconciliation,” he added.
“This visual image serves as part of that truth.”
Void Gallery director Michael Peterson said the gallery has applied for grants and expects to learn the outcome in the early spring. He said the city's public art division has been “very supportive” and will be working with the gallery to find a high visibility location.
Peterson said the city provided some initial research funding, but it won't be enough to cover the full cost. An estimated $15,000 would be needed for the project.
The hope is that the mural can be installed in mid- to late June, ideally with an unveiling on June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples' Day.
The size of the mural hasn't been determined.
“There is an intention with this, while we want it to be large, something that we're also trying to figure out is ... whether there'd be the potential of there to be future vigils for Neil, or other events or ceremony taking place,” he said.
Neil's sister, Erica Stonechild, said she has no problem with the creation of a new mural. In a phone interview last Tuesday, she raised a couple of considerations, including how the project will be received.
“You have to wonder how will it be embraced — will it be embraced, will it be disgraced, will it be defaced? You have to think about all of these things that could possibly go wrong with something like this and really have good insight into what you're doing,” she said.
“You wouldn't want it to be the outlet for someone's anger or frustration for any means.”
In an email, Peterson said if the mural is placed on the outer wall of a building it will need to be placed high enough to make vandalism difficult. Another possibility is an indoor space with high foot traffic, which would discourage vandalism.
Erica Stonechild said any project completed in Neil's name should not involve a financial gain. She said her family would like any proceeds to go toward the wrestling club he belonged to as a youth.
“He was passionate about a lot of things. He had a very loving, giving heart,” she said.
Peterson noted the Void Gallery is a non-profit, and it intends to pay artists and youth involved in the project to acknowledge their time and expertise.
“Regarding the wrestling club, if there is a way to support or benefit them, that would be great, but that is still something we would have to figure out,” he wrote.
You have to wonder how will it be embraced — will it be embraced, will it be disgraced, will it be defaced?