Georgian College unveiled a significant work of Indigenous art at the Owen Sound Campus today coinciding with the launch of a new Indigenization strategy.
A release says, the newly commissioned artwork by Anishnaabe artist and visual storyteller Emily Kewageshig now hangs in the main entrance of the campus.
The title of the artwork, Across the Horizon, speaks to transcending barriers we each face in our educational journeys. Kewageshig said the painting is a representation of taking the talent, knowledge and traits that we individually carry within us and applying them to our futures.
Georgian says, Indigenous-focused education and support services have been in place at Georgian since 1995. While the scope of Indigenization work has grown immensely over the last 30 years, through the new plan the college is committed to continuing to deepen and enhance this work across the entire Georgian community.
Mary-Anne Willsey, Vice Chair of Georgian’s Board of Governors and Chair of the Anishinabe Education and Training Circle, said the strategy will provide direction on ways in which all college departments and academic areas can work collaboratively on new initiatives that will benefit not only students but the communities in which they live and work.
Willsey says it will be a guiding document.
The release says the priorities identified in the strategy titled Maajiishkaadaa (Let’s Move Forward Together) is focused on six pillars: Truth and Reconciliation, leadership, representation, community engagement, curriculum and pedagogy, and cultural enrichment.
It says, “Using these six pillars, the image of an arbour emerged as a visual representation for the framework. The arbour is often the central area of the Pow Wow arena where drummers, singers and the master of ceremonies are situated, and is a familiar structure for Indigenous people across Turtle Island. Since many Indigenous cultural traditions and Pow Wows were once banned, the arbour serves as a powerful symbol of Indigenous resurgence.”
President and CEO of Georgian College Kevin Weaver says, “We’re very grateful to Emily for sharing her story and beautiful art with us,” adding, “We’ve been unveiling Indigenous artwork at each of our campuses as just one part of ongoing efforts to Indigenize the college. It’s important to me that reconciliation isn’t a performative act but an authentic step forward. We expect to see more positive and mindful changes across the college as we launch this new Indigenization strategy, and move forward on the journey of Truth and Reconciliation. Georgian is a learning institution and we’re here to grow – both students and employees. Together, with Indigenous people, we’ll continue to learn and unlearn.”
With the support of the board of directors and senior team in implementing the new strategy, the college hopes to achieve a number of initiatives, including establishing an E-Zhinoomaagejig Reconcili-action Guiding Circle, rolling out a 4 Seasons of Reconciliation learning module for employees, a revised recruitment plan that increases self-identified Indigenous college employees, meaningful integration of Indigenous content across all academic areas, and an increased physical and virtual presence of Indigenous languages, values, peoples, ways of knowing, symbols, esthetics, and procedures.
