Bluewater Health unveiled a large-scale commissioned piece of Indigenous artwork Monday.
The artwork, depicting Indigenous culture, reconciliation, and healing, will be centrally-located in the Sarnia hospital’s main floor atrium.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation artist, John Williams, told Sarnia News Today the thunderbird, prominently displayed, embodies power, protection, and strength in Indigenous culture.
"It's called The Children of the Thunderbird," said Williams. "It's all to do with residential school, a dedication to the survivors, the kids who didn't make it home, and many aspects of that all played into this. It's a very emotional piece."
At the centre of the piece sits a drummer in mid-ceremony.
Williams said his son, and other children in his family, helped create the Indigenous children on the thunderbird's wings – representing the children and families impacted by residential schools.
"I thought it was appropriate to have the children do the paintings of the children themselves on the piece. It seemed fitting," he said.
Dragon flies can be found throughout the piece, representing what Indigenous people believe to be the only living thing that can travel between the physical world and the spirit world.
Williams now has several of his pieces on display across Sarnia-Lambton.
"It feels nice to bring some awareness. They're commissioned pieces and different places ask for different things. This one is acknowledging truth and reconciliation for that movement," Williams said.
He said for a long time Indigenous people were unable to express their stories, culture, and knowledge through language, song, or art.
“Seeing our artwork displayed largely in the institutions we receive care in – where in the past, we have experienced racism and cultural oppression – demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to Indigenous culture, reconciliation and healing, as well as mutual respect,” he said in a statement released by the hospital.
Bluewater Health President and CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer said the hospital is committed to improving Indigenous health outcomes and experiences, and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities.
“John’s artwork is an impactful, daily reminder – for all of us – of what Indigenous peoples endured, and continue to endure, as a result of residential schools,” Reaume-Zimmer said.
A copy of the commissioned piece will be installed in the emergency department at CEE Hospital in Petrolia in the coming weeks.
The project was made possible thanks to a $10,000 Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage Funding grant – through the government’s 2023 Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation program.