I found the conference very exciting because many of us got to present or show something we’ve done in CAP that we are proud of. It was a great idea to have at the end of the year because most of us are eager to show the knowledge we’ve produced from our different CAP streams. Evan Aluyen and I presented our finding aids website in the showcase for the CAP conference. It was really interesting to see the people around us and what they were presenting. Many of the presentations were interconnected. It was interesting to see Arantxa and Bea’s presentation on being an “other” and then listening to Margot’s presentation about Colin Upton’s comic book collection and his desire to represent the countercultural population and create a marginalized group. Arantxa and Bea’s presentation reflected upon individuals who feel marginalized due to certain aspects of themselves that are different. For example, homosexuality, nationality, and hobbies. Individuals that have these aforementioned characteristics are sometimes judged by the dominant group that have the same characteristics. Arantxa and Bea explain that these individuals feel victimized because they feel excluded like an “other”. On the other hand, Margot explains that Colin Upton’s comic book collection describes individuals that are different than the dominant group but are purposely creating these marginalization. They do this to resist from authority and to gain personal freedom.

Jay’s presentation on archival power could very closely be related to Evan and I’s topic. When speaking of archival power, she was talking about highlighting certain narratives and excluding certain voices. Although our website is concerning finding aids and the presentation of archival collection, it also could demonstrate hierarchy’s of power. For example, archival collections that are not well supported could be a form of excluding voices because it is more efficient to research on a collection that has a finding aid and is well organized. Thus, archival collections that have extensive finding aids, such as Chung Collection, could be considered a collection that is being highlighted because it is well supported.

After watching the Through A Blue Lens document, there were several things that I found that were interesting. However, there was one issue that I hadn’t thought of before. One of the police officers mentioned an idea that drug possession is a social not criminal issue. This really struck me because I would usually consider drug abuse as a criminal issue enforced by the law. Criminalization worsens the wellbeing of drug users, increases risk behaviors, drives the spread of HIV, encourages other crime and discourages people who use drugs from seeking treatment. When people first use drugs, they should be seeking help, not branded as criminals. The prohibition of drug abuse should not come from law enforcement agencies. Instead, the environment and society that we live in should be in conditions that won’t tempt and lead them into a destructive addiction. For example, family life, school, friends, etc. should be stable and not directing them to drug abuse. Although I am aware that this idea seems far-fetched, it would be a better approach. For instance, in the documentary, Randy, one of the elder drug abusers on Vancouver’s downtown Eastside, started to sober up because his family reached out to him. The social and environmental aspects pushed Randy to stop drug abuse and the criminal laws failed to do so. Through A Blue Lens had good motifs in educating people about drug abuse. It is a better approach to educate and create awareness instead of making people feel threatened and feel like criminals. Another interesting thing that the police officer wondered was when drugs would become unpopular. Growing up in a society that has been so accustomed to drug usage, I haven’t known or thought of a society where drugs aren’t popular. For drugs to become unpopular, we need to be conditioned to think that way through the surroundings that we live in, not from the law enforcement agencies.

In efforts to eliminate the Indigenous people’s culture, the Canadian government was creating a gap in society by silencing them. As Angel mentions in her article, many children were removed from their families and forced to attend Indian Residential Schools across Canada. In these schools, children were “forbidden from speaking their Indigenous languages and practicing their traditional customs, beliefs and religions” (Angel 200).This relates to Carter’s paper which explains “how the powerful can introduce silences into the archives by denying marginal groups their voice” (Carter 217). However, there was a change that occurred in 1991 to 2013. In 1991, victims often preferred to be anonymous when speaking of their experiences. In 2013 victims were more willing to be named. This shows the development of the TRC because Indigenous people feel less threatened or ashamed to be identified. They are an example of marginalized people that went “against the grain” (Carter 224) because of their refusal of staying silent. This testimonial act is an important aspect towards moving forward for multiple reasons. Indigenous people that were victims of this tragedy are able to tell their stories which is part of the healing process. Also, it is an important step towards justice. Lastly, putting a name to a face of the children that have been victimized creates a stronger bond. It allows for people to sympathize on an different level. As Angela mentioned in her response to our trip to the Museum of Anthropology, knowing the name of the students and possibly reading one one of their quotes on their experience at the residential schools make a greater impact than simply looking at a photograph of a bunch of school kids.

Since the first day of school several of my professors have constantly brought up “the TRC”. Everybody seemed to know what they were talking about. Coming from Indonesia, I had not heard of “the TRC” and I was so confused (and afraid to ask). So, when I got back to my room I went on Google to check out what it is and I am so glad I did that. It made me feel much more interested to look at the exhibition and find out more about what it was like for the Indians not too long ago. To give off a brief summary, until 1991 Aboriginal children were forced to go to residential schools set up by the Canadian government to conform to the majority culture. They were forced to forget their origins and be westernized. I decided to go to the exhibition in the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. After going to the exhibition, I realized that it is so much more emotional and has a much greater impact to actually see the artwork of victims of this tragedy.

Overall, the exhibition consists of art works of many artists expressing their horrific memories. Gina Lowing was one of the artists that kept me coming back to her paintings. Her paintings were detailed enough for the viewer to see flashes of what she had experienced in the Regina Indian Residential School. I find it very brave of her to be able to paint her experiences of sexual abuse rather than trying to forget it. The way she portrays her artwork was also interesting to me. She really tried to make her artwork as realistic as possible by showing her full perspective as a child. Her artwork seemed like it was for a comic strip or it was animated. Which is what most children look at or how most children draw.

Another artist I found interesting was Gina Laing. Similar to Gina Lowing, she was sexually abused and painted many pictures of her abuser. Gina Laing also had a lot of eyes drawn onto her paintings. It represents her feeling of constantly being watched and made sure she is conforming to her new culture. It goes to show that anything she does to remind herself of her origins, someone will know and she will be punished. I believe that the drawing of the many eyes also gives off a message of how she is seen today. She could feel as if she is looked at differently when people know what she has been through.

This dreadful past is something we need to learn from. Personally, it really made me reflect on my Indonesian morals and beliefs. I have realized that I should appreciate the opportunity of having a western education but still stick to my roots. It reminded myself that I should be proud of who I am and I shouldn’t have to conform to the majority to fit in. I have the ability to do that, whereas many people, like the artists in this exhibition, did not have that option.