University uses art to Indigenize campus

The University of Manitoba opened its campus up to showcase three extraordinary Aboriginal sculptures this month that represent core Inuit, First Nation and Métis culture.

In an effort to have more Aboriginal representation on campus, the university sent out a call nationally for art proposals and selected three professional artists to accomplish the work.

“The sculptures are beautiful and help Indigenize the campus by having something visibly identifiable as Aboriginal centrally located on campus,” Kali Storm, Aboriginal Student Centre director, told Windspeaker.

On April 4, the sculptures were unveiled on the eastern side of the Aboriginal House and a ceremony helped to celebrate the artists, culture and story behind the work.
“The statues are symbolic of the Métis, First Nations and Inuit communities who call this place home,” she said.

“Not only do they depict how we value education, they add to the beauty and spirit of the building that we lovingly acknowledge as Migisii Agamik. We have a strong and vibrant Aboriginal community here on campus and the energy of these statues welcome all who want to learn, teach and share here.”

Miguel Joyal, Abraham Anghik and University of Manitoba graduate Wayne Stranger were the three selected artists who also attended the celebration.

Stranger calls his sculpture The Buffalo. He is an artist, musician and educator of Cree and Ojibway descent.
The former U of M student describes The Buffalo as reflecting “the nature of what it is to learn.”

“‘Ki-ken-sad-o-win,’ meaning knowledge or the accumulation of knowledge, must be acquired with discipline out of respect for the ways of the Elders and teachers, and how teaching and learning occurred in our past as First Nations.”

Joyal, a Winnipeg-born Métis artist sculpted Louis Riel, which was also his muse for his 17-foot bronze sculpture of Manitoba’s founding father at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

“It is a tribute to our forbearers, whose vision, commitment and personal sacrifice shaped the province and brought about many of the political, social and economic benefits that we enjoy today,” Joyal said in a media release.

An Inuvialuit artist, Ruben hails from the Southern Gulf Islands in B.C. He has spent the last three decades honing his work and focusing on Inuit art and culture.

“The base of the sculpture is a Shaman on one knee, holding up a boy flanked by a bear and a raven,” he said. “Around them are muskox, wolves, whale and walrus. This part of the sculpture deals with the Inuit of the Western Arctic and their specific story, while the upper part of the Shaman and Sedna deals with Inuit culture as a whole—two key representations of Inuit culture.”

Along with the three featured artists, other important figures attended the April 4 celebration including the Grand Chief for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Ron Evans; Levinia Brown, Inuit elder; and David Barnard, University of Manitoba president.

“Our campus is artistically and culturally richer with the inclusion of these wonderful sculptures,” Barnard said in a media release. “We applaud the artists for their outstanding work and thank them for providing ever-present reminders of our country’s rich cultural heritage.”