Manitoba to conduct review of Indigenous-themed art after sculpture in premier's office deemed inappropriate

The province is conducting a review to ensure all Indigenous-themed artwork displayed in ministers' offices is created by Indigenous artists.

This comes after CBC News inquired about a statue that had been in the Manitoba premier's office for decades, but has since been removed and will not be placed back there.

Art experts criticized the porcelain figure titled Blackfeet 'Beaverhead' Medicine Man for cultural appropriation and depicting a stereotypical image of Indigenous people.

In a statement Monday, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Obby Khan said "we take concerns related to issues of cultural appropriation very seriously and will respect the advice of experts when it comes to the appropriate display of Indigenous art." Khan also indicated a review would be taking place.

The sculpture created by Winnipegger Helen Granger Young had been on display in the Premier's office since at least 1988, based on historical photos.

"These kinds of works are not shown publicly and they're not appropriate for public office," said Gerald McMaster, a professor at OCAD University, formerly Ontario College of Art and Design.

The day after CBC News inquired about the statue in January, the province's visual art consultant removed it from Premier Stefanson's office, according to records obtained through an access to information request. The premier's spokesperson said the visual art consultant is not considering getting rid of the piece altogether at this time, a decision McMaster agrees with.

McMaster says curators do keep historical pieces in storage so they can be studied to better understand the way groups were represented in the past. 

Scholars may want to look at a piece like Blackfeet 'Beaverhead' Medicine Man to shed light on "stories of stereotypes, stories of appropriation, stories of voice," said McMaster. 

"In terms of putting them in public display without the appropriate associated information to it around these issues, then I would say it shouldn't be put on public display."

According to government policy, the purchase, maintenance, placement, disposal, storage and security of artworks making up the Government Art Collection are the responsibility of the department of Sports, Culture and Heritage.

The province's art consultant — who works in the department of Sports, Culture and Heritage — briefed Premier Stefanson's staff about the sculpture, but a spokesperson for the premier wouldn't say exactly what was discussed. 

McMaster says this sculpture, which was designed by a non-Indigenous artist, brings up many issues such as cultural appropriation and potentially depicting a spiritual ceremony without permission.

McMaster is Plains Cree from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation and a citizen of the Siksika Nation in Alberta, which is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. There are no First Nations that are part of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Manitoba.