To Be Seen, To Be Heard

How have Indigenous people used public events to claim agency over their representation during times of colonial oppression? How do our experiences, knowledge, and identities shape the way we interpret archival photographs?

This program is inspired by one of MOA’s past feature exhibitions, To Be Seen, To Be Heard: First Nations in Public Spaces, 1900–1965. This exhibition It explored how First Nations people represented themselves as Indigenous, self-determined and modern in urban public spaces during the period of the potlatch prohibition and other forms of erasure in Canada. Prior to this program, teachers will share excerpts from this exhibition’s documentary with students in the classroom. During the program at MOA, students will visit a selection of works by contemporary Indigenous artists and makers to expand on the ideas of To Be Seen, To Be Heard. Finally, students will participate in a reflective art making activity using mixed media self-portraiture to explore themes of representation, agency, and futurity.

Please note: Teachers must facilitate a pre-visit activity in class to introduce key concepts for the To Be Seen, To Be Heard program. Please refer to the accompanying Teacher’s Notes for instructions and complete the lesson prior to your visit.

• Teacher’s Notes: To Be Seen, To Be Heard
• MOA Field Trip Information + Guidelines

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