Picton church’s Indigenous mural a call for friendship, healing

Wisdom of the Universe by Métis artist Christi Belcourt was the chosen piece for the mural at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Picton. Photo by Syerra Turry, QNet News

By Syerra Turry

PICTON – A Picton church is now home to the largest Indigenous mural on a church in Canada.

As of Monday, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church‘s north exterior wall hosts a replica of a piece by Métis artist Christi Belcourt.

The mural measures about 11 by 11 metres and was produced by Toronto muralist Jason Rouleau and his team, who spent six days on the project.

Rev. Lynne Donovan, the minister at St. Andrew’s, said the idea for a mural was sparked a few years ago and evolved into something bigger after hearing the calls to action set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

The leadership and elders of the congregation decided it was time to reach out and take the initial steps toward mending broken relationships with the Indigenous community, said Donovan.

Lynne Donovan, minister of St. Andrew’s, said that Wisdom of the Universe is a “profound invitation to reconnect with life itself.” Photo by Syerra Turry, QNet News

She received permission to use one of Belcourt’s pieces after deciding to go knock on the door of Belcourt’s mother, who lives in the Picton area.

“Whenever I go about doing things, I think, ‘What’s the door?’ and I thought, ‘OK, I knew where Christi’s mother lived and there’s a door there. I’m just going to knock on the door. What’s the worst that could happen?’ ”

Belcourt’s mother was thrilled at the request, Donovan said, and texted her daughter soon after.

Belcourt gave permission to use her artwork and recommended her painting Wisdom of the Universe, which was voted first in the Art Gallery of Ontario‘s People’s Choice awards.

The mural represents a call to shift western culture’s approach from dominating the natural world to reconnecting with it, explained Donovan.

She described 2018 as the year the congregation began to take “baby steps” to begin forming and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities.

It cannot be approached as a to-do list or a one-size-fits-all approach because friendships need to come before projects, she said.

“When we annihilated Indigenous culture, we killed something in ourselves too.”

It’s time for churches to begin being a part of the solution instead of the problem, she said.

“We wanted to do that with humility and respect, recognizing the complexity of the history and recognizing the arrogance of the Christian tradition throughout the centuries.”

Because the congregation was symbolically connecting with the wider Indigenous community through the mural, Donovan said, she knew she had to reach out to her neighbours in Tyendinaga as well.

The sanctuary of the church is currently being used to display Indigenous artwork by local Mohawk artists Rebecca Maracle, Doug Brant, Janice Brant and Steven Loney.

Maracle, a traditional medicine healer and feathersmith in Tyendinaga, says she thinks the recent work at St. Andrew’s is a good first step.

“When (Donovan) approached me about this, I was really humbled and appreciative of the invitation to create the awareness for wanting the healing, for understanding an Indigenous perspective and being willing to take those steps forward in some way,” she said.

Donovan’s reaching out and sharing her vision for the church was the first step in a process of healing, she added.

Maracle spoke at St. Andrew’s a few years ago, but said no one from the church had reached out to her again until now.

From this second outreach, “what I’d like to see continue is that outreach of friendship. But how that looks, I don’t know,” she said.

It will be a process of healing, and then of building friendships, which everyone does in different ways, she added.

Rebecca Maracle, a feathersmith and traditional medicine healer in Tynedinaga, said she’s noticed a shift in awareness and wanting understanding and friendship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities – which has been represented by St. Andrew’s art project. Photo by Syerra Turry, QNet News

“If we want that healing, we have to walk with intention. Then that’s exactly what we’re going to get, because that’s exactly what we asked for.”

Donovan says she recognizes the responsibility to maintain a conversation within the church and is planning for guest speakers from Tyendinaga to present regularly.

St. Andrew’s, at Belcourt’s request in lieu of a commission for the piece, has raised $2,000 for the Onaman Collective to help Indigenous youth connect to traditional knowledge.

Loney, a Mohawk sculptor in Tyendinaga, said he loves the mural and the idea of connecting people through artwork.

“The purpose behind the mural is a positive one, not only just for the aesthetic appeal but the purpose to connect Indigenous youth with their culture. I personally can relate as I grew up in the ‘white man’s world,’ ” he said in an email to QNet News.

He wasn’t able to attend an Indigenous school or participate in a lot of tradition because he didn’t have a status card, he said.

Because of that, he said, he felt there was an empty space in his life – not having the knowledge or direction to find out who he was.

But he was able to find his calling and purpose in life through sculpting, he added.

Donovan said she recognizes that the mural signifies the beginning of a journey, not its accomplishment.

“I’m grateful that art has provided the catalyst to building the relationships. But now that the door is open, it’s up to us.”

Belcourt is expected to appear for an official unveiling of the mural sometime in January, she said.