The Salmon Arm Art Gallery is set to host "A.R.E.N.A. babies," an immersive installation by local artist Scott Kwah that explores the trauma and resilience of Sixties Scoop survivors. The exhibition's centerpiece features 18 hand-cast concrete figures seated on vintage chairs, utilizing childlike voices to create a sensory space for reflecting on the forced adoption of Indigenous children into non-Indigenous families.
This exhibition is significant for its direct engagement with the Adoption Resource Exchange of North America (A.R.E.N.A.) legacy, providing a critical platform for Indigenous lived experience within a gallery setting. By transforming historical trauma into a physical, immersive environment, Kwah’s work contributes to the ongoing cultural dialogue surrounding reconciliation and the long-term impacts of colonial child welfare policies in Canada.