Each design represents a different aspect of Indigenous culture. From left to right Top: Owl, Wolf, Every child matters. Bottom: Turtle, Eagle, Bear. (Rachel May/ northeastNOW staff)

By Rachel May

Showcasing indigenous culture

Nipawin showcases indigenous artwork

Dec 10, 2021 | 1:00 PM

Nipawin’s main road is now decorated with the artwork of a local Indigenous artist.

Horton Severight, with the help of Reconciliation Nipawin, unveiled six paintings on Dec. 9 that represent different components of indigenous culture.

Severight, the artist behind the paintings, said this was his biggest project yet but that didn’t stop him from finishing the project with time to spare.

“They gave me a year to complete the paintings but I ended up finishing them in six months.”

Each painting represents a key takeaway from indigenous culture that Severight want to share with all who see his artwork.

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Indigenous culture used the owl to symbolize a messenger. In some versions of the story, the owl is a messenger of death but in others, he is a messenger of the night.

“The owl has a lot of knowledge of death. They can warn you that something could happen to your friend, family or pet.”

The wolf represents strength and courage. The wolf also represents togetherness as they are not solitary animals.

“Wolves always travel in packs which today is fitting with how the community came out to see the paintings.”

The Every Child Matters painting represents the children that were buried in unmarked graves at residential schools across Canada. Severight used his son’s handprints in the painting.

Mother Earth is represented by the turtle. In indigenous culture, the turtle dug underground to find mud to create the earth and carries the world on its back.

The eagle represents love, respect, pride and strong medicine. He is seen as the all-seeing watcher as he is up in the sky overseeing everything.

Severight said the last painting holds the most significance to him as the bear represents strength, courage and power.

“The bear is the protector of the family and I am the protector of my son.”

After unveiling the paintings, a smudge was done using tobacco, sage, cedar and sweetgrass to cleanse the paintings and Severight to allow for positive energy.

Denise Blomquist, co-chair at Reconciliation Nipawin, said they are hoping to add more artwork around the town.

“We want to get the buffalo done but in this particular area, it wasn’t facing north,” Blomquist added. “Horton wants it to be properly placed in town so that is a future project and I am sure we will be doing more.”

Blomquist said she hopes that the mural helps Indigenous people feel they are part of the Nipawin community.

“Our main goal is to make indigenous culture more visible. We want everyone to feel welcome and we were noticing a lack of Indigenous representation visually in town. So we wanted to bring it right downtown.”

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM