Charleswood unveils "The Passage" mural

École Charleswood School’s grade 7 and 8 class unveiled a large mural representing their culminating project for their core classes. The mural was created and painted with help from mural artist, Fred Thomas by all the students in 7 and 8 and teachers Ms. M. Ferguson and Mrs. Connell.  

The mural is inspired by the class’s learning journey throughout the year. Born in part from “leaving to learn” experiences at Tom Chester Park, Assiniboine Forest, Oak Hammock March and Brokenhead Wetland. It is also inspired by knowledge gifted to them from Elders and the classroom learning of ecosystems and living things, climate change and Indigenous ways of knowing. The mural is an ode to community and the natural environment.  

If you look closely, the mural contains a series of living things, plants, animals and insects, that the students studied. It also has the four traditional medicines, sage, tobacco, cedar and sweetgrass. The seven sacred teachings, wisdom (beaver), courage (bear), love (eagle), honesty (sabe), respect (buffalo), humility (wolf) and truth (turtle) can also be found within the landscape. Every inch of the mural was created with intention and detail to reflect the learning the students engaged in together.  

The mural is titled “The Passage” which is the former name of the Charleswood area when it was a traditional Indigenous trade and hunting route. It is also located in a part of the school where all the students travel past as part of their time at ÉCS.  

This mural leaves a lasting image and powerful message of the beauty and resilience of nature and community in École Charleswood School.