Postville artist's work among Indigenous pieces to hang on Confederation Building walls

Work by a Postville artist will hang on the walls of Confederation Building as part of an effort toward reconciliation and celebrating Labrador's Inuit population and culture.

The first of six pieces of Indigenous-made art procured by the province, a painting titled The Journey by Bronson Jacque, was unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday.

Jacque says the painting was inspired by the desire of youth in his community to connect with their culture.

"Growing up, I always felt that there was a negative stereotype toward being Indigenous, and I always felt like I had to be someone else," Jacque told CBC News.

"There was a shift, and we were all on this journey back to ourselves, back to our communities."

Jacque says they wanted the painting to evoke the feeling of being embraced by nature — shown through a circular formation of a caribou, polar bear, minke whales and seals.

They hope it will also help people embrace their Inuit culture while resonating with others.

"If you're not from the community, or not from a place where these things are familiar to you, I do hope that you feel a familiar feeling. I hope you feel a welcoming feeling," they said.

"For the people who do see things in the painting that they can relate to, I hope that they're able to see themselves in a place where they weren't necessarily going to feel the most welcome before."

Among the speakers during Wednesday's unveiling was Indigenous Affairs Minister Scott Reid as emcee, who has served in the portfolio since July.

On at least two occasions, Reid referred to the Inuit of Nunatsiavut as Innu. In speaking to the crowd that had gathered, Reid said the province was "honouring the Innu people of Nunatsiavut through the expression of art."

Later, when introducing two singers and dancers who told the crowd they were from Nunatsiavut, Reid referred to them as "the Innu performers."

Each of Newfoundland and Labrador's five Indigenous governments and organizations — the Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation, NunatuKavut Community Council, Qalipu First Nation and Miawpukek First Nation — will be represented in time, along with a statue to honour the culture of the Beothuk.

Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe called the sharing of artwork an important tool to showcase the Inuit culture of Labrador.