NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE
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Brent Gauthier, a second year Criminology Student at Ottawa University, stopped by the Timmins Police Service on Thursday, April 8 to present the Timmins Police Service - Indigenous Advisory Committee with a special gift.
During his class, History of Indigenous, Inuit and Metis People of Canada, Brent discovered a great deal about the history of Indigenous people in Canada.
From the time of First Contact with the Europeans to today, a considerable amount of events with historical significance regarding Canada’s Indigenous population have occurred.
As a culminating assignment for the end of the semester, Brent completed this project along with a 5000-word essay discussing each of the symbols as they relate to the Indigenous community here in Timmins.
The process of creating this culturally significant artwork has allowed for this young man to adopt a personal takeaway based on his studies and experience.
At the bottom is the Turtle representing Turtle Island which represents the North American continent for the Indigenous community.
Above that is an image of the Treaty 9 area within the Province of Ontario which is where Timmins is located.
Next is the symbol representing the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation which covers much of Treaty 9 territory.
Next is the Timmins Police Indigenous Advisory Committee emblem indicating the work being done to improve relations between police and Indigenous partners as we work towards reconciliation in the City of Timmins.
The feather is a symbol of the eagle which is often described as the messenger between the creator, spirits, and the world in which we live.
It is also known as one of nature’s most powerful and majestic birds.
The feather is used during smudging ceremonies and in Indigenous headdresses.
At the top is the symbol representing the Metis Nation of Ontario as we have many Metis members living with in our city.
The Timmins Police Service graciously accepted the artwork as a gift designed to acknowledge the cultural significance of local Indigenous populations in our area.
This art work will be placed on prominent display in the Timmins Police station to serve as a symbol of community unity among various Timmins agencies and the local Indigenous population.
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