10/01/2025
Yesterday, the DFCM unveiled new murals, created by Indigenous artist Shawn Howe. See the before-and-after photos, and read about the meaning behind each.
Thank you, Shawn, and their mural assistants: Anna Jacobs, Andrea Manica, Shannon Howe, Shayla Howe Colarossi, Emilia Fazilova.
See more of Shawn's work: https://www.instagram.com/shawnhowe_/?hl=en
📸 3: In my culture, the wolf symbolizes leadership, initiative, integrity and humility. The wolf’s role is often seen as the protector of family and community, much like the work that is done here. Placing the wolf in the front was a statement and commitment to show people that this is an Indigenous-supportive space and all are welcome. The wolf’s integrity is bound in truth, and so it teaches us to walk our walk, and follow through with our words so they line up with our actions. To have integrity is to stand up, be brave, speak up for the truth and advocate for better for all. Placing the wolf in the front was intentional to ensure the space honours that commitment to Indigenous health care and traditional ways of healing and wellness within Western medicine. But most importantly, the wolf asks us to be humble, to know that it’s OK not to know everything and to trust openly as we are always guided in a good way.
📸 5: A raven's journey is not always easy; they bring the truth and knowledge, and with truth and knowledge come responsibilities. To ground the raven on its path, I surrounded it in medicines, to help it remember who it is, where it comes from and how to use its gifts. To be a changemaker in community is hard work, so this piece honours the people who use medicines—maybe a mix of both Western and traditional—and all helpers who work in health care. The raven teaches us about self-love too: how to honour ourselves, check in with what we need and ask ourselves, “What is my truth, what do I need, and how do I get there?”
📸 7: This scenic nature setting is a tribute to our ceremonies, our clans, and the ancestral knowledge that is gifted to us from the spirit world and animals. The crane symbolizes this profound role in our clan system. Many of the clans look to the crane for wisdom and leadership. They work with others and teach us about communication and how to use our voice in a good way. They are fierce and strong. They are the ones we look up to and guide us toward community change.
📸 9: The loon was chosen for its ability to help us honour our intuition, help us get to our full potential and follow our dreams in life. The loon is surrounded by the four sacred medicines: sweetgrass, cedar, sage and to***co leaf. These medicines root the loon into purpose and softness within. Because they can swim and dive underneath water, they teach us about possibilities and nuance, helping us see in complex ways that can shape our understanding and learning of the world. They lead us in how we work within the community and show us how to work through hardship with each other in good ways. They are the ones who teach us about peace.
