Sho Sho Esquiro: Doctrine of Discovery at the Bill Reid Gallery

By Jaclyn Hayward

Whether you’re committed to learning the truth or you’ve known, and lived the truths your whole life, Sho Sho Esquiro: Doctrine of Discovery provides a powerful and emotional experience at the Bill Reid Gallery.

The Doctrine of Discovery facade, sheer and weak like a nylon stocking, was placed over the proverbial Canadian’s head for years, acting like a mask to shield from the real truth of what “we” are; Sho Sho Esquiro opens it to expose and free a truth. Through various forms of art and artifacts, an exciting tale of strength and beauty is told alongside another tale of trauma, injustice and resilience. Esquiro’s pieces come together like a puzzle and highlight the real story of the land; the real story of a people using assorted mediums.

The exhibit is carefully configured with items from her life and hometown, like a photo of an uncle holding pelts. The tale told feels deeply personal; rooted geographically in a place, but felt like ripples as present day stories are weaved in. You see smiles and frowns of activists, smiles and frowns of family. Relatable images; or as a settler: earnest and vulnerable ones. Esquiro masterfully stitches and sews together new fabrics of reference – fashion – some in the form of couture gowns that are captivating and made ethereal but tough, representative of the strength and beauty in the matriarchs that might wear them; some in the form of statement pieces marked with powerful paradoxical images and messages.

Memorably, a vest is seen etched with a message that reverberates loudly in our brains: “they took the children from the land, they took the land from the children” – particularly because the words are true, painful, reprehensible, deplorable, enraging; but also timely because we recently passed September 30th and this marked day for listening and learning.

As usual, this exhibit like others held at the Bill Reid Gallery is a must-see as you #SupportIndigenousArtists and experience a tale told in high fashion about collectivity, resilience, and home. Catch the exhibit now before June 2022 and follow the Bill Reid Gallery for information about this exhibit and more.

*Photos shared with permission from gallery

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