A University of Ottawa student has donated a special piece of artwork to the Timmins Police Service and its Indigenous Advisory Committee.
The gift, made by criminology student Brent Gauthier, was announced earlier in April.
In light of the National Indigenous Peoples Day, it was decided to “truly recognize” it today, said Brenda Beaven, Timmins Police community liaison co-ordinator.
“It’s an excellent representation of the relations we’re trying to build with the Indigenous people and this being the National Indigenous Peoples Day, it makes sense that we can signify it,” she said.
The donation ceremony with Mayor George Pirie, Deputy police chief Henry Dacosta and Gauthier on hand was held Monday morning.
Gauthier, who's from Timmins, created the artwork as part of his History of Indigenous, Inuit and Métis People of Canada class. For one of the final projects, students had an option to either read a book and write a report or do something more creative, he said.
Instead of writing a book report that most people wouldn't see, Gauthier created something significant that would last longer and which many people could enjoy.
Throughout his class, he was learning a lot about different Indigenous nations and he thought to make the artwork with different symbols that are significant to Treaty 9, where Timmins is located.
“We’ve seen some instances of racial bias and racial discrimination from certain police forces across Canada and North America. It’s important that Indigenous peoples and police grow a very good relationship because that’s the best way forward,” he said. “We should never forget about the past but I think this is a good way to start that healing process.”
The symbols include the Métis Nation of Ontario flag, an eagle feather, a map of Ontario with a Treaty 9 territory highlighted in black, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation logo, the Timmins Police Indigenous Advisory Committee emblem and a turtle.
Gauthier spent a total of 16 hours on the project including writing a report, finding a board for the artwork and painting with stencils.
Beaven also painted a medicine wheel with seven Grandfather teachings on the station's front window in honour of the National Indigenous Peoples Day.
