The method that I used to create my medicine wheel began with researching aboriginal artwork and taking inspiration from each of the different art styles. I looked up the different elements that I wanted to include and researched how they were drawn traditionally and then did a rough sketch of want I wanted to draw. After deciding on the elements, I sketched them again to figure out the spacing on the medicine wheel. I chose animals for each section of the medicine wheel that they best represented. I also used symbols of the sun, moon and stars to represent different times of the day using traditional indigenous art form. The medicine wheel is also known as a sun dance circle so the sun is significant. I added flower embroidery in the middle of the wheel to tie the four sections together to show that there is a flow from one section to the next. The middle flower represents points of a compass because the medicine wheel has directions. I also researched the colour scheme to use the traditional colours. When choosing the objects and animals I related it back to their quadrant.It is important for Canadians to understand the spiritual and cultural traditions of Indigenous People so we can continue our path of healing and peace. – AVA
EVA’s Ribbon SkirtFor my painting I drew an Indigenous woman who is wearing a red dress. There is a red handprint on her face which is where her mouth should be. The words “No More Stolen Sisters” are on the side here. Instead of leaving the red dress empty, I decided to paint an Indigenous Women wearing it because I wanted to signify the Indigenous women who was once wearing the dress. The red handprint symbolizes the MMIW movement, and it is meant to represent thousands of women who have been silenced and whose voices are not heard. The red dress disintegrating represents how the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women rate is getting higher and worse especially through the pandemic. There are fewer people paying attention to what is happening, and they are not stopping these numbers from increasing even more. So, people are kind of forgetting about the issue and it is getting washed away like the dress. There is a hole in the ‘O’ of stolen because I wanted to portray the void that others felt and continue to feel when their loved ones went missing. We must do something to lower the numbers of the missing and murdered instead of only paying attention to the cause once every year. – HIUMI
DINULI – Canada’s Water Crisis
RAJVIR’s Popsicle Stick Residential School
RWB – Exploration of the Medicine Wheel Through DanceFor my Individual Inquiry Project, I decided to do an art piece. The art piece depicts the connection that Indigenous peoples have with the earth and all living things on it. For centuries, Indigenous peoples have protected the earth because they thought of themselves as custodians of the planet. In the image, you can see an Indigenous woman with an eagle beside her. It almost looks like a part of her. Many Indigenous Peoples believe that “the Animal People have spirits and enter the human world to give their bodies to supply men with food, fur and other materials. After their flesh is used the animals return home, put on new flesh and re-enter the human world whenever they choose”(Ictinc 1). Considering that, it’s not too far away from the truth. Indigenous peoples have a strong sense of place and belonging, and they regard nature with deep respect. Because of Gramma shingoose and her story about the eagles she saw in the Residential Schools and the bonfire, I decided to do my IIP about that. I found it admiring and also interesting to see how the Indigenous people get hope from animals. They have a really special connection with them and I know it has helped many Indigenous people during their hard times. For example Gramma Shingoose and the eagle in Residential Schools. I find this aspect of Indigenous culture very intriguing and hope it could be preserved for a very long time if not forever. – SUMAYAI had a burst of inspiration in a random TRC class on a sunny afternoon for my inquiry project. Originally, I was going to do something related to dance but something re-ignited my passion for painting. I wanted to create a powerful piece of art that would evoke emotion in those who saw it. I have always had a love of the art of all styles but my favorite mediums are pencil, watercolor, and acrylic or gouache. I decided to paint with acrylics because I wanted the colors in my painting to stand out. In all cultures, and especially in Indigenous cultures, different colors have different meanings. Colors can portray emotions and states of mind so I chose colors that represent specific emotions in Indigenous culture to paint the colorful parts of my piece…. We have a long way to go before we reach complete reconciliation but it is possible and like the older version of the girl in my painting, we need to grow from our past and cherish Indigenous culture. I have loved learning about the different cultures and feel very passionate about my piece and I hope you understand what I am trying to portray with it. – MIRANDA
Gr. 9 Truth & Reconciliation 