City of Waterloo unveils new mural in Waterloo Public Square by Maddie Resmer in honour of Indigenous Peoples Day

Each year, the City of Waterloo marks Indigenous Peoples Day by partnering with an Indigenous artist to create an original artwork installation in Waterloo Public Square. The mural provides an opportunity to reflect on the Indigenous lands and territories on which the City of Waterloo is located, while recognizing the histories, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.

This year’s mural, ‘wànakìwin: harmony between relations’, is created by local artist Maddie Resmer of Western Sky Designs. Maddie is a mixed-Anishinàbe, Bear Clan, and Two-Spirit artist from Pìkwakanagàn First Nation and Kitigan-Zibi First Nation, based in Kitchener, Ontario (Haldimand Tract Treaty Territory). 

The piece is inspired by the Anishinàbe teachings of kinship and interconnectedness, featuring beings that represent the many gifts, perspectives and ways of being that coexist within a healthy community.

“At a time when people are increasingly encouraged to value competition over connection, and solitude above all, this mural offers a different vision: one rooted in reciprocity, collective care, and the understanding that our wellbeing is inseparable from the wellbeing of those around us,” said Maddie Resmer of Western Sky Designs. “Like a thriving ecosystem, communities flourish when difference is welcomed, gifts are shared and everyone is seen.”

Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on June 21 of each year, coinciding with the summer solstice, the longest day of light in the year. This symbolic moment invites us to look ahead with hope, toward a future where the recognition and celebration of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and cultures continue to grow.

Learn more about the design and story behind this year’s Indigenous Peoples Day mural on the CreateWaterloo YouTube channel. 

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Media contact:
Shirley Luu
Communications Consultant
Corporate Communications
City of Waterloo
Shirley.luu@waterloo.ca