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For the first time, there is a piece of Indigenous artwork inside the chamber of the Ontario legislature.

The sculpted panel depicting animals representing the Seven Grandfather Teachings of wisdom (beaver), love (eagle), respect (bison), courage (bear), honesty (raven), humility (wolf) and truth (turtle) was created by Garrett Nahdee, an artist from Walpole Island First Nation. It has been given a place of prominence above the chamber’s main door.

The panel had been sitting unnoticed in the chamber behind a curtain for weeks ahead of Thursday’s unveiling ceremony, which was attended by dignitaries, including Indigenous officials and Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell. Notably, Premier Doug Ford was not present.

The ceremony included an opening prayer and a grandfather song, delivered by Indigenous elder Valerie King, who also performed a smudging ceremony, where gathering participants are anointed with the smoke of burning sage.

“What’s happening today is historical,” said King. “I never thought I would see anything like this.”

The sculpted panel depicting animals representing the Seven Grandfather Teachings was created by Garrett Nahdee, an artist from Walpole Island First Nation. (Photo by Alan S. Hale)

The artwork’s real benefit, said Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Chief Stacey LaForme, will be to work done in the chamber, saying the philosophy of the seven grandfathers should guide decisions made there.

NDP Indigenous and Treaty Relations critic Sol Mamakwa told Queen’s Park Today it meant a lot to him to have the seven grandfathers included in the heart of “colonial” power, agreeing their influence will be good for the legislature.

“To hear the drum here was amazing. It makes you feel like home,” said Mamakwa, who was a member of an all-party panel that had been working on the piece’s installation for five years. “I remember the first day I was here it was very intimidating the way people went after each other. That’s not who we are. It’s good to see a non-colonial sculpture here … it gives me comfort.”

Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford called the gesture “long overdue.”

“It’s bittersweet and unfortunate that it’s taken so long,” Rickford told Queen’s Park Today. “Hopefully its physical presence here will help preside over the things we do here and make us all better.”

 

Editor’s note: This article previously misidentified Indigenous elder Valerie King, who performed a smudging ceremony at the unveiling. We regret the error.