Sudbury Aboriginal youth explain in acrylic why they dropped out of high school

Morning North5:05Dropouts speak through paintings

A Queen's University education student asked eight aboriginal people from Sudbury to explain through art why they dropped out of high school. Now that art is on display at the university. Amber White spoke to Markus about the project.For eight Aboriginal high school drop outs in Sudbury, a painting is worth a thousand words. 

The youths, who spend time at the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre in Sudbury, were approached by Masters of Education student Amber White from Queen's University to explain why they left high school — but she wanted that explanation with a twist. 

They were asked to give their reasons in the form an acrylic painting. Immediately, the youths were keen to show their stories, White said.

"They just dove right in and — within ear and eyeshot of each other — just started creating." 

White said in that process, common themes started to emerge on the canvas: racism, loneliness, teenage pregnancy and poor socioeconomic status all tended to play a part the the decision to leave high school.

What she found, though, was another common theme: self-reflection. 

"Every single participant ... took full responsibility for their actions. They didn't blame anyone for their current conditions," she said. 

Those eight paintings are now on display at a gallery at Queen's University in a show called "Speaking Through Acrylic: Potholes, Loss and Dreams."

White said she hopes school boards in Sudbury, as well as the broader community, someday see the pieces in person, and she's able to share what she learned. 

In a press release, White is quoted as saying, "I travelled to Sudbury and they trusted me ... This was a humbling experience and I hope it resonates. It's important to know why urban aboriginal youth withdraw from mainstream schools. Without their voices, there won't be change."