Katie Wilhelm

Visual Land Acknowledgement Mural at Matthews Hall Independent School

About the Indigenous and Donor Recognition Mural at Matthews Hall Independent School

SOURCE: Video and images are used with permission from Matthews Hall.

Every Child Matters: a Visual Land Acknowledgement

This mural is a visual land acknowledgement for Matthews Hall Independent School. It was created to artistically share information about the physical space and its relationship to the land. This mural aims to educate by sharing the stories and ongoing history of the local Indigenous people.

Artwork Features

• The artwork features a tree growing with leaf shapes to match those seen in the space

• The leaves represent the students, who are growing and learning alongside traditional knowledge

• Donor Societies list is included in the “Water Area”, which is printed and adhered to the acrylic

Land Acknowledgement

• A land acknowledgement is included in the “Water Area”, the foundation for life

• A green symbol for the ‘Dish with One Spoon Wampum’ (Treaty from this area) is included at the base - green for growth, growing out from the Water Area

• Water lines design (behind acrylic) symbolizes a Two-Row Wampum Treaty 

• Language greetings of local First Nations communities along the top

• Orange leaf to symbolize Indigenous residential school survivors at top-left, in the same line as the languages

Application Features

• Digitally printed wallpaper and application

• Acrylic Leaf shapes, adhered with a peg to give a distance, and a see-through reflection in direct sunlight

• Acrylic rectangle with a “wave” edge adhered with removable pegs, see-through, dark blue colour

• Text printed on a separate adhesive that can be easily removed and updated

About the Artist
Katie Wilhelm (RGD) is an award-winning designer and marketing consultant. Based in London, Ontario, Katie is a proud Indigenous woman from the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. www.katiewilhelm.ca

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