Dynamic mural sparks conversation
A large section of wall outside of the Dean’s Office and Student Services on the main floor of the Price Faculty of Engineering has been transformed into a piece of art. This 9×40 ft wall has been covered by a dynamic mural by Mike Valcourt, a local Indigenous artist.
The call was put out to artists for submissions on the theme of ‘Truth and Reconciliation and Engineering’. Valcourt has been painting professionally since 1995 and uses his position as an artist to engage and educate people with Indigenous knowledge, so this project aligned with his values to create dialogue through art. Indigenous Peoples are the first engineers and this mural illustrates the connection between engineering and Indigenous innovations and ways of being.
“The mural is about acknowledging the past and focusing on reclaiming that which was lost, using traditional methods”. – Mike Valcourt
The mural was officially unveiled during the Price Faculty of Engineering’s Homecoming Reception on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 where alumni came together to reconnect with each other and visit the halls that they spent so much time in back when they were in university. For some, it was only a few years ago, for others it has been 60 years! Mike Valcourt sat down with Dean Marcia Friesen during the formal program of the event to discuss the imagery in the mural.
The mural is divided into three different sections, representing the past, present and future. The left side is filled with a hydro-electric dam with buffalo jumping off it which represents how Indigenous communities have been negatively affected. Dean of the Price Faculty of Engineering, Marcia Friesen, comments that, “The engineering profession has been central to the development of Manitoba and Canada, bringing European settlers’ visions of energy, infrastructure, agriculture and other elements of economic development to life. Over time, we have come to understand the tremendous social and cultural costs of these approaches to many Indigenous communities. It is important for engineers and engineering students to tussle with this history and understand a better way forward for a future that includes everyone’s health & prosperity. This mural is visually striking and intellectually challenging. It is an important way to reach people and to display our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and Engineering.”
Water is emphasized throughout the mural, starting with the hydro dam on the left, flowing on a background of bright turquoise to the center section, where a canoe takes center stage. The canoe is a great example of Indigenous engineering, where a fisherman is joined by a crow, bear and eagle. The crow is wearing an iron ring, which is a symbol of becoming an engineer. Valcourt explains that the crow is the lone wearer of the ring which brings to light the need for inclusion in the industry and that Indigenous People are underrepresented in engineering occupations.
The right side of the mural is about the future. It shows the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which is being reclaimed by beavers building their own dam. Rebuilding their home on the land that was once theirs, at the fork in the rivers.
The theme of the mural, ‘Truth and Reconciliation and Engineering’ aligns with the UM Strategic Priority to advance commitments to anti-racism and Indigenous engagement and was supported by the Provost’s Strategic Initiatives Support Fund. This theme also aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, which include Education and Business for Reconciliation, which has spurred reconciliation efforts in post-secondary engineering education and the engineering profession.