Indigenous Mural Depicts Nature around All Saints Catholic Secondary School

Three Grade 12 students at All Saints Catholic Secondary School are working together on an Indigenous mural that depicts nature surrounding the school’s community. The secondary school is located between Lynde Creek and Otter Creek in Whitby, which is home to lots of wildlife such as a wide variety of birds, fox, deer and rabbits.

“We want the mural to accurately represent our native land in the neighbourhood around the school,” said Julia, an All Saints CSS student.

Grade 12 student Kaitlin added, “We approached the board’s Indigenous Education Advisory Circle who put us in touch with Circle member, Karli Robertson. Ms. Robertson has been helping us to better understand the native plants and animals that would have lived in the area around our school.”

Using all the colours in the medicine wheel, the mural illustrates the progression of the seasons and the cycle of the moon. Water is another main feature in the mural, along with a canoe which was one of the main modes of transportation for Indigenous people.

“The mural will also incorporate native plants and animals seen in the surrounding area,” noted Genevie, student. “Plus, we plan on adding the seasons in Ojibway and the land acknowledgement.”

The three students started painting the mural located beside the school’s front entrance in October, as part of their Grade 12 Visual Arts class. “The mural is a way for us to share our knowledge of Indigenous culture with fellow All Saint students,” added Julia. “While acknowledging and respecting Mother Earth.”