A new mural at Saseenos Elementary School, called River Runner, now also serves as the schoolB次元官网网址檚 new logo. It was created by Indigenous artist Jordanna George, a member of the TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke Nation and a former Saseenos student.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice the school chose a TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke artist for the mural, and I hope that inspires other people to listen to Indigenous people, to respect our way of life and the traditions we still carry today,B次元官网网址� George said. B次元官网网址淚t still seems crazy (to me) to represent the school I grew up going to.B次元官网网址�
George, who earned a degree in visual art from the University of Victoria, has been involved in art since she was a young child.
B次元官网网址淚 always wanted to be an artist and study art in school,B次元官网网址� recalled George, a Burnaby resident who works illustrating comics and does some writing as well. She recently completed A Howl, a comic anthology to be published this month by Native Realities. A focus on LBGT+ issues plays an important role in her work as well.
SOOKE HISTORY:
B次元官网网址淚 chose salmon as the theme for the mural because itB次元官网网址檚 such an important part of TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke life,B次元官网网址� George explained. B次元官网网址淚 went with basic black because of its simplicity. Learning about the salmonB次元官网网址檚 life cycle made quite an impression on me. It was one of the cooler things you get to do in elementary school, interacting with real animals. I also found a bit of humour in it, too, with a group of fish being called a school.B次元官网网址�
The idea to change the schoolB次元官网网址檚 art first surfaced about a year ago, said Cameron Meiklejohn, vice-principal at Saseenos Elementary.
B次元官网网址淥ne of our teachers pointed out that the old logo, the Sea Wolf, is more typical of the northern part of Vancouver Island,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e talked about doing something that was more culturally appropriate with a local Indigenous theme.B次元官网网址�
After consultations with NaB次元官网网址檛suB次元官网网址檓aht, the Indigenous Education branch of the Sooke School District, the decision was made to involve local Indigenous artists in the project.
B次元官网网址淲e reached out to the TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke Nation last spring to submit art and ideas that would be meaningful to the community and received three submissions,B次元官网网址� said Meiklejohn, in his third year at Saseenos. B次元官网网址淓very school has a team that focuses on truth and reconciliation to raise cultural awareness, and we asked NaB次元官网网址檛saB次元官网网址檓aht to help with the selection in the fall.B次元官网网址�
Although they havenB次元官网网址檛 been able to plan an event for an official unveiling because of COVID restrictions, the logo is already on the schoolB次元官网网址檚 website, letterheads, and clothing.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e also working with some local organizations to get it displayed in the community to build school pride and awareness,B次元官网网址� Meiklejohn said. B次元官网网址淥ur long-term goal is we want the TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke Nation to feel that weB次元官网网址檙e honouring their traditional local culture and territory. They do a lot for us, including letting us use the forest land behind the school for learning opportunities.B次元官网网址�
For more information, visit .
Check out jordannageorge.com for more on the artist and her work.
Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.
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