Arts·ARTS X RADIO

'I don't remember breathing the whole time': A child's experience of the Oka Crisis

This watercolour animation of a clip from CBC Radio's Campus podcast will plunge you into a child's experience of conflict.

This watercolour animation will plunge you into a child's experience of conflict

'I don't remember breathing the whole time': A child's experience of the Oka Crisis

7 years ago
Duration 2:58
Dr Kona Williams shares her memory of the Oka Crisis in this animated clip from CBC Radio's Campus podcast.

In this clip from CBC Radio's Campus podcast, forensic pathologist Dr. Kona Williams tells the moving story of her family's escape by boat during the 1990 Oka Crisis in Quebec. Williams' experience was frightening and also eye-opening for her, as she describes: "It was just kind of a sinking feeling when you realize other people don't like you because you are Indigenous."

Vancouver-born illustrator Gracey Zhang (who is now based in New York) animated the clip for our Arts x Radio series. She uses her signature watercolour and pencil style to interpret the story.

(CBC Arts)

You can listen to the full episode of Campus here.