Drawing

About this object

Narrative

From a collection of Northwest Coast inspired artwork produced by First Nations children at the Alert Bay Residential School during the 1968 to 1969 school year. The works were also part of an exhibition of student drawings, displayed at the Charles Sanderson Library in Toronto during 1970. They were also featured briefly by a local television station. Residential schools were operated by religious organizations and followed the regular provincial curriculum. The Alert Bay Residential School was operated by the Anglican Church of Canada. According to the Van Drielens, art was discouraged at the School because 'they couldn't make a living at it'.

Cultural context

student art

Physical description

Profile whale facing to the right with three rows of black and red dots extending from the spout. A series of green and black split u's around the top and the back of the head; green and black eye circular eye in a tapering oval with a black eyebrow. Mouth has white teeth, then yellow and black u forms, then red and black split u's. Black u forms on the body and a black split u on the dorsal fin with green and black dots on the belly. Red and green shape by the spout and a green circle with red semi-circles on the tail. In green felt pen, at the top left: 'Robert King'; in the bottom left: 'KILLER WHALE'. The drawing is on a horizontally rectangular, white paper piece that is glued to green card stock covered with clear plastic.