Winnipegosis-born artist Val T. Vint’s new sculpture shows us a different perspective on the history of this country.
The sculpture, titled “Education is the new Bison”, was blessed on Friday in a ceremony conducted by elders Barbara and Clarence Nepinak.
"Educating doesn’t mean go to school — it means you self-educate. So here’s a list for people to look to get views of a wide range of indigenous people and allies.”
Now on display at the Forks in Winnipeg — the piece is 12 feet from nose to tail, and weighs in at 2,400 pounds.
Vint explains the bison is made of 200 replicas of books, and 100 videos, predominately by indigenous authors and artists — but also by allies.
The renowned Indigenous artist says that history is written by the victors, and believes the books infused into the bison sculpture will help “people will find more truisms of who we are, and how we got here.”
She says the purpose of the sculpture is to be a resource for educators, researchers, and “anyone wishing to educate themselves on the true history of our country.”
All of the books and videos on the bison sculpture will be listed on a website shortly.
The piece is part of a larger series of artwork at the Forks, in collaboration with the Winnipeg Foundation.
“It’s just about looking at all our views and finding a middle ground to move forward in a peaceful manner. I think that happens through educating people. Educating doesn’t mean go to school — it means you self-educate. So here’s a list for people to look to get views of a wide range of Indigenous people and allies.”
The official unveiling of the sculpture will be Thursday, June 25th at 10:30 a.m. at the Forks in Winnipeg.
"My people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back." - Louis Riel
