A photographic mural will be unveiled at John Galt Park later this month in an effort to decolonize and retell the stories of Guelph’s waterways through a contemporary Indigenous perspective.
The piece, titled “At the river’s edge, the Grandmothers are weaving tomorrow,” will be unveiled on Oct. 18 beside the Speed River, at the site of the former Trans Canada Trail kiosk.
Created by Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) and German artist Alex Jacobs-Blum, the artwork was commissioned by the Decolonizing Place Narratives Research Collective in collaboration with the city. It was funded in part by a grant from Trans Canada Trail.
The artists of the site-specific installation ask how Indigenous relationships with the Speed and Eramosa Rivers reshape our understanding of the City of Guelph as an Indigenous place.
It depicts a trio of “Grandmothers” (and familiar faces) standing in the rivers: Indigenous elder and knowledge keeper Valarie King (Mississaugas of the Credit), U of G professor and Canada Research Chair Kim Anderson (Métis), and elder-in-residence Renée Thomas-Hill (Mohawk/Cayuga).
It’s part of a research project called Decolonizing Place Narratives: Thatinatón:ni – Where the Rivers Meet, aimed at “‘re-storying’ the erasure of Indigenous presence in settler-colonial urban spaces,” the event page reads.
The project is led by Indigenous scholars at U of G and is working to collect data from local archives, gather oral histories and is conducting site visits to “re-read” areas of historical and cultural importance, which will eventually be presented in an exhibit at the Guelph Civic Museum and along Guelph waterways.
“Positioned next to the Speed River, the mural aims to re-story the site from a contemporary Indigenous perspective, centre our relationships with the land and water in the place we call Guelph, and cultivate awareness among local residents about shared responsibilities in caring for these vital resources amid the climate crisis,” the event page reads.
Set for Oct. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at John Galt Park on Woolwich Street, the unveiling is a chance to meet the artist and members of the collective. Lanterns, lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. Snacks will be provided by the Pow Wow Cafe.
