A new Indigenous mural was unveiled in the Okanagan College害羞草研究所檚 Health Science Building on Friday, Nov. 24.

Printed by fifth-generation residential school survivor and Sylix member Sheldon Pierre Louis, the 10x21 foot mural is to bring awareness to the impacts of the residential school system.

害羞草研究所淎s artists, we have a responsibility to use our work as a voice for those who may not have one,害羞草研究所� said Louis. 害羞草研究所淚 use my art as a platform to educate and that was the intent of making this. Every morning when the students walk into this room, I want them to be aware of our history.害羞草研究所�

A new Indigenous mural has been unveiled in 害羞草研究所檚 Health Science Building

害羞草研究所� Jordy Cunningham (@CunninghamJordy)

The mural, titled su蕯kncut害羞草研究所檚 prayers, is located in the college害羞草研究所檚 Health Science building, in front of the early childhood education room.

害羞草研究所淚mmediately, I knew that was significant and we would have to do something here to not only honour our children but to create awareness for those who are within the program and coming into our community spaces to work with our children,害羞草研究所� said Louis. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to understand that our children are unlike any other children in Canada, our children carry intergenerational trauma from the residential school system.害羞草研究所�

The nsyilxcen words 害羞草研究所渒史u swi蕯 nu虛 mtx蕯,害羞草研究所� painted on the mural, which roughly translates to 害羞草研究所渨e are beautiful.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭his is a reminder to our children that they are beautiful, and it is a reminder to our residential school survivors that they are beautiful,害羞草研究所� added Louis.

The centrepiece of the mural represents Louis害羞草研究所� son and the breaking of cycles while the orange flowers represent the 215 children from the Kamloops residential school who never made it home. The woman in the mural represents a motherly spirit and ancestor.

害羞草研究所淭he mural signifies Okanagan College害羞草研究所檚 lasting commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation at our campuses,害羞草研究所� said Okanagan College director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Rhea Dupuis. 害羞草研究所淎s a post-secondary institution, it害羞草研究所檚 important to remember that the impact of the Residential School system continues to this day, and this mural serves to remind us of that.害羞草研究所�

Okanagan College president Neil Fassina also spoke at the mural unveiling.

害羞草研究所淲e want to able to try and create that space of welcoming and space of learning,害羞草研究所� said Fassina. 害羞草研究所淓veryone that joined us today, I hope you害羞草研究所檝e taken the words that have been spoken. I would encourage you to disgust them, I would encourage you to reflect on them, I would encourage you to think about what they mean to you.害羞草研究所�

The mural was also possible because of financial support from community donors Kelly Rockvam, her daughter Sianna and the KiraGoodFund.

害羞草研究所淢any of us look at September 30, as a date on the calendar but Sept. 30, can害羞草研究所檛 be a date on the calendar. Sept. 30, is a reminder, it害羞草研究所檚 something that needs to be reminded daily,害羞草研究所� added Fassina.

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