This painting marks a significant milestone in Kevin Pee-Ace’s artistic career as it symbolizes his journey of rediscovering his past in the context of reconciliation and the trauma of the residential school system. Pee-Ace reflects, “the face is of the mothers and grandmothers who witnessed the pain of having their children and grandchildren taken away from them. Having experienced this firsthand I have come to understand that this chapter in many children’s lives would forever change. Gone are their innocence, their childhood happiness, their language, culture and traditions. The very fabric of their lives would be torn, everything they held dearest to them would be ripped away.”

Pee-Ace is a member of the Yellow Quill First Nations and the Peter Chapman First Nations. He completed a fine arts studio diploma program from University of Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia in 1993 and continued his education at Capilano College in North Vancouver, British Columbia.