Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is seeking artistic submissions about the impact of residential schools. (CBC)

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools is inviting submissions of art work that relates to experiences at the schools, or to the legacy of those experiences.

The art will become part of a permanent record of what happened at the boarding schools for aboriginal children.

Some people express themselves best through art, so the commission wanted to give people an opportunity to share their experiences that way, said Marie Wilson, one of the TRC commissioners.

"Part of our mandate is that we will gather statements from survivors [of the schools] in whatever way seems culturally appropriate for them," Wilson said. "We just want people to know that art, expression through art, is an acceptable way to do that, and not only acceptable, it's a welcome way."

Aboriginal people have traditionally used art to express themselves, she said.

"I think, you know, it would be fair to say, even traditionally among the Inuit, that's the way that people have used music, through ajaaja songs, and drum songs as well, to capture experiences and feelings and emotions," Wilson said.

The theme of the request for submissions is wide-ranging. In addition to art relating to school experiences and the impacts of the schools on "former students, parents, future generations, communities" and "relationships within families and between communities," submissions can relate to "apology, truth, cultural oppression, cultural genocide, resistance, resilience, spirituality, remembrance, reconciliation, rejuvenation and restoration of aboriginal culture and pride."

Performances, video or film, visual art, written works and music can be submitted, in the form of DVDs, photos, print and audio recordings.

The artwork will be entered in TRC and National Research Centre secure databases and files and, if the artist consents, could be used as part of the TRC's education efforts. The artist will retain rights to the art, including the right to show it elsewhere.

Submissions will be accepted until 2013.

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an independent body set up in 2008 as part of a court-approved agreement between survivors of residential schools, the churches that ran them, the federal government and various aboriginal organizations.

Its mandate is to create a historical account of the schools, to help victims heal, to encourage reconciliation and to educate Canadians about the schools and their legacy.

Aboriginal residential school students were taken from their families and communities and forced to learn English and European cultural norms in an attempt to assimilate native cultures. Many children were sexually and physically abused at the schools.

The federal government formally apologized for the schools and for other assimilation policies in 2008.