Bronson Jacque, an Inuit visual artist from Postville, Nunatsiavut, was commissioned in 2021 by the Aboriginal Women’s Association of Prince Edward Island to paint a commemorative group portrait depicting family and friends of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Each portrait subject has an object that represents a missing loved one to emphasize they are not just statistics; they are mothers, daughters, aunts, cousins, friends, and family. The artist intended to shows the family left to mourn; the people impacted by the loss. Every missing and murdered Indigenous woman and girl should still be with their families, they should still be living their lives.

The artist intends for the viewer of the painting to be confronted. The eyes of the women and girls look directly at the viewer. Reversing the gaze was important in reclaiming power and standing ground. Indigenous women and girls are not exotic possessions or objects. Once people are reduced to the status of objects, it implies violence towards them is without consequences. Indigenous women and girls are targeted at high rates because the power imbalance of colonization breeds exploitation and objectification.

Each of the lives lost had value and meaning and each is a cause for change.

Patricia Voisey
MMIWG Coordinator, AWAPEI