Moccasins and Meditation

A Reflective Week for the University of Guelph-Humber

Man with orange shirt looking at display of orange rocks on gallery floor

Early Childhood Studies (ECS) program leads activities for students and employees to honour Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

“Pause and Reflect,” a poster outside Guelph-Humber’s art gallery entrance gently encouraged those who walked by an immersive art exhibit on display this week. “These rocks commemorate the children who were lost to residential schools,” ECS Department Head, Dr. Nikki Martyn wrote. “Take a moment to walk through the labyrinth…There is no right or wrong way to feel or experience this.”

The Walking Meditation Labyrinth consisted of hundreds of orange rocks painted by members of the ECS program. Participants agreed this was an impactful way to represent more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children who were taken from their families and communities and forced to attend Canadian Indian Residential Schools. 

A table set up outside the gallery offered an opportunity for passersby to paint their own rocks to add to the display. Thanks to Humber’s Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, the rocks will eventually find a home in the campus gardens and in the Humber Arboretum. 

“Experiences like the events of Orange Shirt Day provide an opportunity for our Indigenous community to feel seen, heard and loved,” said Dr. Martyn. “For me, this is a day of sharing love, kindness and understanding; a day in which we can open our hearts and allow ourselves to see and experience other perspectives.”

As part of the week-long activities, participants had the opportunity to learn from Elder Carolyn King, recipient of the National Order of Canada and founder of “The Moccasin Identifier”. Elder King joined students as they used stencils to adorn Guelph-Humber’s front steps and walkways with moccasin designs representing the Anishinaabe, Cree, Huron-Wendat, and Seneca people. Elder King explained the idea behind the stencils is that an individual would see it on the ground, be curious and ask, “What is that?”, opening the door to important discussions.

“National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day are significant for Canadians across the country, and something the Guelph-Humber community takes seriously,” said Melanie Spence-Ariemma, Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer. “Publicly commemorating the painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools is an important part of reconciliation.” 

Throughout this week of reflection, a mural of orange butterflies appeared on a wall in the atrium, filled with thoughts and feelings from the Guelph-Humber community. “Welcome whatever thoughts or feelings emerge, acknowledge and accept them,” Dr. Martyn encouraged. 

“To end our week, we are going to allow the butterflies to fly freely,” Dr. Martyn explained, “to encourage the children (rocks) to transform and allow their loving energy to emulate throughout our institution and community.”

Visitors to campus are welcome and encouraged to experience the Walking Meditation Labyrinth, on display until Sunday, October 1st. 

 

Jason Seright designing a orange painted rock

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Two students reaching down to add an orange rock to the labyrinth made up of orange rocks

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A wall with orange butterfly-shaped paper with written words and orange butterfly origami

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A table with orange butterfly-shaped papers and markers spread across with one paper that writes, 'Every Child Matters'

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A person places an orange butterfly-shaped paper on a wall amongst other similarly shaped paper and origami

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A group of individuals sitting in a classroom listening a person at a podium, with a screen that has 'If we, as First Nations People, don't get a marker on the ground todya, we will be lost forever.' Carolyn King' projected on it

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A pile of coloured moccasin stencils surrounded by paint trays, paint rollers, and a box of paint tubes

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Someone rolling red paint on a moccasin stencil with a paint roller

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A red paint-stencilled moccasin with two students in the background stencilling another moccasin.

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Elder Carolyn King looking on as students stencil moccasins.

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One student rolls paint onto a moccasin stencil with blue paint while another is watching with a smile

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A group of students are adding a third moccasin stencil onto a concrete wall while the first two painted stencils are in the foreground

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A student is lifting up their fourth moccasin red painted stencil on the bottom of concrete steps outside the University of Guelph-Humber building.

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A student holding up a moccasin stencil casts a shadow in the foreground while a another rolls paint onto another stencil

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A group of individuals are simultaneously stencilling moccasins in green and red paint while another individual is holding down the stencil

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A close up of a moccasin stencil while someone is rolling red paint over the stencil

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Someone is rolling brown paint over a moccasin stencil while another person holds down the stencil with both hands

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A red painted moccasin stencil is on a wall of concrete

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Published Date
Monday, June 10, 2024