The University of Manitoba is decolonizing its art collection and replacing some paintings and sculptures with Indigenous art. University of Manitoba Art Collection registrar and preparator CW Brooks-Ip said that the university is striving to change its art collection and to identify “artwork that is by a white settler that depicts Indigenous folks in not really an accurate way, in sort of the mythologized way, that in some ways glorifies the white settlers — or at least reinforces their white supremacy.” Some pieces that have been removed depict an “us vs them” mentality or showcase harmful stereotypes; new pieces added include a carving of a goose by Frederick Lyle Spence, who is an Ojibway carver. Brooks-Ip also created the Indigenous Student Led Indigenous Art Purchase Program, a two-year pilot project, which gives Indigenous students the opportunity to meet with artists and curators, visit studios, and make recommendations on artwork purchases with funds from the university. UManitoba’s focus on Indigenous art also includes auditing its entire collection.
