{"id":395525,"date":"2025-05-28T16:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T20:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/?p=395525"},"modified":"2025-12-11T17:32:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:32:47","slug":"new-sculpture-at-glendon-rooted-in-indigenous-culture-healing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/2025\/05\/28\/new-sculpture-at-glendon-rooted-in-indigenous-culture-healing\/","title":{"rendered":"New sculpture at Glendon rooted in Indigenous culture, healing\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new sculpture, \"Ancient Country Seat,\" has been unveiled at ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ\u2019s Glendon College<\/a>, representing a significant addition to the University's artistic landscape and a unique intersection of Indigenous culture and education. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Created by Secw\u00e9pemc artist Tania Willard, \"Ancient Country Seat\" is a flower-bench sculpture designed to engage students, faculty, staff and visitors in a dialogue about identity, connection to the land and the role of art in addressing cultural narratives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the intention to provide a space that encourages moments of reflection and engagement, Willard\u2019s art enables individuals to connect not only with each other, but also with the surrounding environment.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willard\u2019s work is deeply rooted in her experiences growing up in Neskonlith, a community located on the edge of a forest and within a reserve. Her artistic journey has been framed by a strong connection to the land and a commitment to her community.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After visiting Glendon Campus, Willard was inspired by the idea of gathering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe idea came quite early on with the site visit and understanding all the variables for the project, wanting there to be a space of gathering for Indigenous and other students, and wanting there to be a language with the colonial kind of structures that are considered picturesque on campus,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd so, this work hopefully kind of functions as a space, of coming together.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the creation process, Willard integrated materials that represent healing and medicine, such as tobacco and sage from her garden, into the concrete mix of the sculpture. This incorporation of medicinal plants reflects both the industrial nature of the sculpture and the natural elements essential to Indigenous culture, symbolizing a connection to tradition and the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sculpture was officially unveiled May 23 during an event that featured an opening and closing ceremony by Elder Philip Cote and a performance by hand-drumming group Spirit Wing. <\/p>\n\n\n