Art is everywhere 鈥� from paintings and sculptures to dance and music, in clothing, perfumes, and cuisine. It defines and shapes our sense of place, in architecture, green spaces, furniture, and decorations.听听
At pilipili漫画, you don鈥檛 need to go far to find all of the above.
To celebrate National Indigenous History Month 鈥� a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis 鈥� this self-guided walking tour will guide you around some of the campus buildings and spaces that pay tribute to Indigenous artists, ceremonies, and stories.听
In Halifax
Starting at the Henry Hicks Building.
Stop #1: Pollinator Garden outside the Henry Hicks Building
6283 Alumni Crescent
Designed by guest curator Frances Dorsey, in consultation with Mi鈥檏maq artist and scholar Michelle Syllliboy, the garden centres around an ancient Mi鈥檏maq glyph (a symbol or readable character) that means 鈥淟isten to us.鈥�
The garden also features two commissioned benches by Jim and Cheryl Walsh, installed at pilipili漫画's 2023 Mawio'mi.听
Learn more:听Indigenous pollinator garden honours community figure while adding natural appeal to Dal campus
Stop #2: Welcome Circle on the Studley Quad
Painted in 2019, the Welcome Circle is part of a broader project and legacy for Dal鈥檚 200th anniversary. The circle was repainted in 2023 ahead of the North American Indigenous Games.
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Stop #3: Sacred Teachings outside the Killam Library
6225 University Avenue
Created by Millbrook artist听, known by his Mi鈥檏maw name, 鈥淲arrior on the Hill," the circular paintings symbolize the Seven Sacred Teachings of the Mi鈥檏maq or L鈥檔u鈥檏.
On Dal News: Sacred Teachings showcased in new public art on Killam Library
Stop #4: Peaked Hats exhibit at the Killam Library
6225 University Avenue,听Ko鈥檍ua Okuom, first floor
An exhibit from Wapna鈥檏ikewi鈥檚kwaq ~ Women of First Light, the Peaked Hats were created family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
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Stop #5: Collection at the Killam Library
6225 University Avenue,听Ko鈥檍ua Okuom, first floor
Catherine Martin, director of Indigenous community engagement at pilipili漫画, has generously loaned three display cases of pieces from her personal collection.
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Stop #6: Portrait of Elder Daniel Paul in the Marion McCain Building
6135 University Avenue, first floor lobby
Painted by Alan Syliboy, commissioned by faculty and staff in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with support from the Office of Advancement and a campaign through Project Dal.听
On Dal News: Influential Mi鈥檏maw historian honoured with special Dal鈥慶ommissioned portrait
On Dal News:听Friends, family and community gather to honour the late Elder Daniel Paul
Stop #7: The Journey so Far exhibition at the Dal Art Gallery
6101 University Avenue, downstairs
Curated by Pamela Edmonds, this survey exhibition (on display from May 9 to August 11) unveils the extraordinary creative odyssey of artist Alan Syliboy, born and raised on Millbrook First Nation.听
On Dal News:听Alan Syliboy exhibition offers 50鈥憏ear retrospective on one of the region's defining artists
Stop #8: Tutini inside the Dal Art Gallery atrium
6101 University Ave, atrium
Tutini is a contemporary representation of carved burial poles sacred to the Indigenous peoples of Australia's Tiwi Islands installed in the听Dalhousie Art Centre's Sculpture Court in 1974.
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Stop #9: Indigenous masks & more at Weldon Law
6061 University Avenue, second floor atrium
Created by artist Ned Bear, Sug-a-lug-bet听(One Who Does Not Listen) and Kisu-westu听Won-nee-aah-kin (He Who Speaks from the Head) are Indigenous masks from the Dal Art Gallery permanent collection.听
Other pieces found in the lobby and second floor atrium of the Weldon Law include:
- Plamu (b锚-ka-mu) 鈥� Salmon听by Mark Sark (1963-2019)
- Matjoqtellgn (mat-chohk-te-ll-g锚n) 鈥� Arrow听by Mark Sark (1963-2019)
- Untitled听by Tayla Paul
On Dal News:听Indigenous artwork illustrates diversity
Stop #10: Collection at the Indigenous Student Centre
1321 Edward Street, throughout the first floor
Pieces designed by students, faculty, staff and Mi鈥檏maq artists are hung throughout the Indigenous Student Centre.
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Stop #11: Mural in the Dentistry Student Lounge*
5981 University Avenue
By artist Tonya Sam鈥橤wan Paris, the mural is symbolic of a strengthened focus on reflecting and increasing the diversity听of the students in the Faculty.
On Dal News:听Renewed Dentistry student lounge reflects a new focus on inclusion
*Not publicly accessible; a stop for students, faculty and staff in the Faculty of Dentistry.
Stop #12: Peace Through Knowledge in the Richard Murray Design Building
Morris Street,听John Lindsay Sr. Design Commons, second floor
By artist Tonya Sam鈥橤wan Paris, the circle is symbolic of equality and signifies family ties, closeness and protection. One side is traditional (Mi鈥檏maw hieroglyphs) while the other features a Medicine Wheel.听The two Mi鈥檏maw stars听hold the names of 64 ancestors.听
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In Truro
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Stop #1: Campus mural inside the Cox Institute
21 Cox Road
Designed by Mi'kmaw artist from Millbrook First Nation, Lorne Alexander Julien, the mural showcases elements of Indigenous culture including a medicine wheel, whale (putup), eagle (kiptu), hummingbird (militaw), and moose spirit (tiam), among other elements.
On Dal News: On Truro campus, vibrant new murals serve as a simple act of reconciliation
Stop #2: Campus mural in the Student Learning Commons
135 College Road
Created by local artist and previous Manager of Indigenous Students at Dal AC, Art Stevens, the mural marks the history of the Mi鈥橩maq and acknowledges the campuses student diversity.
Read more: New Student Learning Commons a unique addition to Dal Ag Campus
Stop #3: Mi鈥檏maw Lunar Cycle outside the Haley Institute
58 Sipu Awti
Based on a concept by Han Xie (Class of 2019) and configured and installed by Victoria Moffat (Class of 2022), this landscape installation听represents the Mi鈥檏maw lunar cycle and is organised to showcase educational knowledge of the 12 months and moons within the four seasons.
On Dal News: Landscape art installation at Dal shines a light on Mi'kmaw lunar cycle
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In the master plan
The vision for Dalhousie's physical spaces is layed out in Dalhousie's Master Plan documents, and encourages creating and identifying opportunities for art.
On the Truro campus, art is often tied to the development of the Landscape Architecture program through garden walls, sculpture, kinetic sculpture, and environmental art through plant and tree species.
"It would be wonderful to get more pieces around campus. Art is integral to creating a climate of belonging," says Sherida Hassanali, assistant dean for equitiy, diversity, inclusion and accessibly in the Faculty of Engineering.
Collections on campus
The permanent collection contains over 1,400 works including contemporary and historical paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography, mixed media works, and artifacts. These pieces are displayed through exhibitions at the gallery, across campus, or in the vault.听
The exists as a way to place pieces in offices, meeting rooms, and public spaces such as libraries, learning commons, study spaces, and foyers.听
鈥淥ne of the reasons I got into curatorial practice was to support the work of artists from diverse communities and to recognize the importance of regional makers,鈥� says听Pamela Edmonds, director and curator of the Dal Art Gallery.
"Over the next five years, it's a priority for me to add both Indigenous and African Nova Scotian pieces to our permanent collection."听
听with questions about sourcing or commissioning a piece. 听