Artist Sheila Toderian works on the mural on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (Photo Courtesy Chris Brown)

By Chris Brown

Alexandra Middle School

School mural represents core values, honours Indigenous culture

Aug 19, 2021 | 4:26 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – When students return to Alexandra Middle School in a couple of weeks they’ll be greeted by a new mural that represents the school’s core values and pays tribute to Indigenous history.

The school’s core values of respect, courage and integrity were developed last year, says Principal Todd Samuelson.

Wanting the students to have a daily reminder of those, Samuelson reached out to Brooks artist Sheila Toderian to paint the mural.

She spent about four weeks planning the design and based it off the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers or Seven Sacred Laws from Indigenous culture.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

9h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

9h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

17h ago

Each of the seven teachings are represented by an animal and the three Toderian painted match the school’s core values.

“It’s the buffalo which means respect, It teaches them to respect each other, to respect everybody else, everything you live with everything you touch, to respect,” she said Thursday. “The bear means courage. The courage to get up in the morning, the courage to keep going, the courage to keep fighting through any adversity, just to keep moving forward. And the turtle represents the integrity or wisdom to take all the rules of all the seven animals of the grandfathers and use them every day. Say them every day and use them every day.”

She said she hopes it touches the students in many ways.

“It’s almost like The 10 Commandments, it’s how you’re living every day. It’s a good message and that it brings smiles. The whole thing is good, it’s all love anyway.”

Samuelson called the mural “absolutely outstanding.”

“I love it. I was telling people today that I’ve come in by myself at night and just sat with the painting, with the animals,” he said. “It really speaks to me, I just think it’s wonderful it’s amazing and I just absolutely love it.”

Toderian is also going to incorporate a tribute to residential school survivors into the mural.

Earlier this summer Alexandra student Jayda Grunewald painted a mural in Samuelson’s office that also reflects the school’s core values.