Robert Burke, former residential school student, paints to tell the story

Robert Burke's paintings are bright, vibrant and full of activity: colourful canvasses that depict a part of Canada's history that has been called "our darkest chapter," and more recently, "cultural genocide."  

"When you are a kid, there are also moments of happiness," he says.

"I use the bright colours because I try to put a positive experience to my experience that was lousy." 

Burke is holding his third art show at the Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith, N.W.T. starting this weekend.

Burke spent 10 years at St. Joseph's School in Fort Resolution, N.W.T., before going to B.C. to train as a heavy machine operator.  

A man of few words, he describes the experience in very plain language: "They weren't positive. They weren't the happiest times. I didn't particularly like my years there."

Burke said he wants his paintings to speak for themselves. 

"I am not much of conversationalist," he said. "I paint, and that's basically how I express or tell a story. That's the gift I have as an artist. I am able to say things without having to actually say things."

But Burke doesn't want to speak for other residential school students.

"You can actually look at that imagery and determine 'Well, that's good or that's bad,' depending on how you're feeling."

The work is being displayed alongside artwork produced by students in the Northern Studies classes at Paul William Kaiser High School in Fort Smith. 

The exhibit runs until August.