(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

truth and reconciliation

Indigenous mural unveiled at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School

Apr 18, 2019 | 1:29 PM

One of Alberta’s most prominent Blackfoot artists has left another permanent work of art at Red Deer’s St. Francis of Assisi Middle School.

Red Deerian Ryan Jason Allen Willert said being asked to create the piece represents a big step towards truth and reconciliation.

“It’s especially important for me to be doing it in a community of mostly non-Indigenous students who are learning this. Back in my dad’s time and even further back, this knowledge was not accessible, and in some cases it was illegal,” Willert said.

“People were incarcerated or completely persecuted for practicing this way. This is traditional Native artwork, not contemporary, so I’m doing something that was illegal at one time.”

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He added that the project takes on more significance given the ties between the Catholic church and residential schools.

“I’m the first generation of my family that didn’t go to residential school, and they’re not just letting me put this art on the wall,” he noted. “I went to every individual class and did traditional ceremonial Buffalo teachings as a knowledge keeper, and then sang Sundance songs.”

On Thursday, Willert joined an elder and the student body in the school’s main foyer to do a smudge and ceremonial song to dedicate the piece.

He’s now working on another piece at St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School.