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Kent Monkman’s new exhibit offers powerful view of Indigenous history

| juliatramontin

Monkman’s alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, takes visitors on a journey through time.

By Julia Tramontin

Two paintings on a wall
Two paintings depicting the creation of Miss Chief with We Are Made of Stardust on the left and I Come From pâkwan kîsik, the Hole in the Sky on the right at the ROM in Toronto on Nov. 6. (TMU/Julia Tramontin)

Entering Cree artist Kent Monkman’s new exhibit, visitors are greeted by two large acrylic paintings depicting people floating in the universe. In one of them, multi-coloured dinosaurs soar through space in a Michaelangelo-esque style. One of the figures appears in both paintings, posing ethereally with long flowing hair and high heels.

Monkman’s exhibit, “Being Legendary,” which opened at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on Oct. 8, contains much more than physical objects. Rather, Monkman gives visitors a space to bear witness to history not taught in schools.  

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Schoolhouse turned upscale eatery offers quaint escape with delicious food 

| juliatramontin

The trip to this small-town restaurant is well worth the drive.

By Julia Tramontin

Entering Mrs. Mitchell’s restaurant on a cloudy, blustering day feels like a refuge. As soon as you walk in, you are surrounded by what can only be described as a charming English cottage. On one wall, there is a large open fireplace. Odd antiques and knickknacks dot the wooden shelves and cabinets around the two intimate rooms serving as the dining area. 

The dim lighting and hardwood flooring lend a cozy atmosphere to the space, harkening back to a bygone era, which is not surprising considering its rich history. The woodwork and elegant tables are far from what used to be there: chalkboards, desks, and students. 

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