Submitted by: Cheryl Ring, SCC juried Professional Craftsperson
A Saskatchewan artist, who created an exhibit to remember and honour Canada’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, has been recognized outside of the Canadian borders.
Created by Saskatchewan-based artist Cheryl Ring, the exhibit is a sampling of 1,200 clay hearts created through the full Heart Spirits project. Each heart honors a missing or murdered Indigenous woman or girl. The number of hearts created through this project was set at 1200 to closely coincide with the 1181 identified missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The additional 19 hearts were created to represent those women who have not been counted, on any list or database. Each heart has been named for a missing or murdered woman.
“The clay hearts create a narrative that crosses cultures. The project tells a story of intention, community, commitment and hope,” said Ring.
Ring worked with individuals and organizations in her home community of Prince Albert to create the clay hearts.
Those who took part in the project included: local businesses, groups from Gabriel Dumont Institute, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology, the YWCA, several high schools and elementary schools, and individuals involved in the health care and social services sector. A local Indigenous elder attended workshops, facilitated sharing circles, smudged the workspaces, and blessed the project throughout.
During these workshops, the community members shared stories and memories, weaving meaning and understanding into the clay hearts as they were molded. The process intended that the hearts would be filled with love, and hope for the future.
As a non-Indigenous artist, Ring believes everyone has a part to play in recognizing and remembering the Indigenous omen in Canada who were murdered or are missing.
“What I know for sure is that the issues associated with missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls are not solely Indigenous issues, and they’re not solely women’s issue – they’re human issues and Canadian issues about which we all need to care,” said Ring.
The Heart Spirits project was selected for an exhibition by the Arts@MSP program, which is located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
The Arts@MSP program works to enrich the public’s experience and promote a sense of place through arts and culture. Working in partnership with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), the Airport Foundation MSP began administering this program in 2008.
“I am very proud and honoured to have this project recognized internationally. This is a gift from the citizens of a small-town city in central Saskatchewan. It is a gift of healing and a step in the process of recognition, awareness and remembrance,” said Ring.
Cheryl Ring is a professional ceramic artist from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The Heart Spirits exhibit will be on display in the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport gallery from February 1 to February 2022 to February 2, 2023.
