City of Waterloo commissions new artwork for National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day coincides with the summer solstice, which has long been significant to Indigenous peoples for honouring the sun and celebrating the warmth, crops and plants it gives us.  

The City of Waterloo has been marking this occasion for the last several years by partnering with Indigenous artists to create original artwork on the surface of Waterloo Public Square. The artwork serves as a visual reminder of the territory and land on which the city was founded. 

This year, Maddie Resmer (she/they) of Western Sky Designs created a mural based on the Algonquin word “ànikobidigàn”, which means both ancestor and descendant, translating to “they are strung together”. The mural equally honours those who’ve come before us, as well as those who will come after. Maddie discusses the significance of this year’s mural design and reflects on Indigenous Peoples Day in a video shared online.

The City also recently commissioned three replica Wampum belts. The artist who created the belts, Kahlunyunti (Martin Powless) of Oneida Nation of the Thames, presented the belts to Council at the June 3, 2024 meeting and provided some teaching on their history. These belts are a physical representation of the oral history of treaties and settlement of the area around the Great Lakes Region extending along a portion of the St. Lawrence River, which we all call home. These are significant representations of our colonial history and are a reminder of the responsibilities we hold as treaty people.

On this Indigenous Peoples Day, we acknowledge and celebrate the heritage, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Through action, we can create a community where Indigenous knowledge is valued and respected, and where all Indigenous people belong and thrive.

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