Artist, Que Rock, from Nipissing First Nation, created this mural in honour of the 215 children found in May 2021 by Tk’əmlúps te Secwépemc First Nations in Kamloops, B.C., and the many more graves that continue to be found across Turtle Island. 

On the left, the sun symbolizes the Seven Grandfather Teachings of humility, courage, honesty, wisdom, truth, respect, and love. On the right, Grandmother Moon with the colours of the traditional medicine wheel represents the connection to Turtle Island, the water nation, and Mother Earth. In the middle, eagles carry children to the spirit world, holding fish for the healing journey. 

The project was started by Elder Whabagoon, the First Peoples Leadership Advisor to the Dean, and supported by the Daniels Art Directive (DAD), a student-led group, with the Office of External Relations and Outreach. 

In August 2021, an open call for proposals was issued for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists living in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Que Rock’s proposal was selected by the Advisory Panel of five UofT Indigenous community members: James Bird, Melissa Deleary, Jaime Kearns, Robin Rice, and Brenda Wastasecoot. 

The Daniels Mural Project is part of UofT’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, specifically Call to Action #2: a strategy for the funding and placement of more Indigenous public art across all three campuses in close consultation with local Indigenous communities. 

This project wouldn’t be possible without our supporters: University of Toronto Post-Secondary Fund for Aboriginal Learners and StreetARToronto (StART). 

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Talk: ‘Past, Present, Future’ 

Join us online Tuesday, January 25 from 12-1pm EST to learn how this collaborative project was created. Speakers include Elder Whabagoon, the Artist, Que Rock, the Daniels Art Directive, and more.