Mural honouring residential school survivors up at Okanagan College

The Kelowna Campus of the Okanagan College has a new tribute to survivors of residential schools.

A new mural, designed and painted by Sylix artist Sheldon Pierre Louis, was unveiled Friday, Nov. 24.

Titled suʔkncut’s Prayers, the acrylic latex mural was painted on the first floor of the Health Sciences Centre, which houses the Early Childhood Education classrooms.

“With the location of this mural being near the Early Childhood Education classrooms at Okanagan College, I wanted to take the opportunity to bring awareness to educators about the legacy of the residential school system,” Louis said, adding on the mural are the nsyilxcen words “kʷu swiʔ nu̓ mtxʔ,” which roughly translate to “we are beautiful.”

“This is a reminder to our children that they are beautiful, and it is a reminder to our residential school survivors that they are beautiful,” Louis added.

Featured in the mural are orange flowers, a woman and a child.

The flowers are intended to represent the children who never made it home from residential schools. The woman, representing a motherly spirit or ancestor , is in the background looking over a young child, who represents the future and the breaking of cycles.

The suʔkncut’s Prayers mural by Sheldon Pierre Louis has been installed at Okanagan College (photo courtesy of OC)

The mural, which is also located near the Four Food Chiefs sculpture created by Clint George in 2021, aims to raise awareness of the legacy and long-term impacts of the residential school system.

“The mural signifies Okanagan College’s lasting commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation at our campuses,” Rhea Dupuis, Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation at the College, said.

“As a post-secondary institution, it’s important to remember that the impact of the Residential School system continues to this day, and this mural serves to remind us of that.”

OC President Neil Fassina, Sheldon Pierre Louis and his son suʔkncut estíkʷ Manuel, Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis, and Rhea Dupuis (photo courtesy of Okanagan College)