The Nature Playground is home to a beautiful new mural that tells a story of growth, the matriarchy, and our interconnectedness. It’s all in celebration of this year’s Indigenous Youth Storytelling Program.

Since the program’s inception in 2021, the Park has been proud to work with the Seven Oaks School Division’s Mino Bimaadiziwin program (Anishinaabemowin, meaning “The Good Life”) to host a group of Indigenous high school students from West Kildonan Collegiate, Collége Garden City Collegiate, Maples Collegiate, Seven Oaks Met School, Exchange Met School, and Maples Met School almost every Thursday afternoon in July and August.

During their time at the Park, students have the opportunity to learn from elders and knowledge keepers, exploring their history and culture, while connecting (or reconnecting) with nature and their Indigenous identity.

This year’s mural emerged through collaboration between the students and artist Nova Courchene, who was excited to contribute to their education through art.

L: Artist Nova Courchene working on the mural. R: Courchene with the final mural at the unveiling.

“It was great to work with the students this year,” said Courchene. “I had them all paint a tile that would help inspire the final mural. We discussed the Seven Sacred Teachings, and I was able to introduce them to different Indigenous artists and connect the art to their education. The best part was putting all their ideas together to create the final piece.”

The completed two-paneled mural includes elements such as a buffalo, representing the respect element of the Seven Sacred Teachings, a teal wave to symbolize water, a woman with flowing hair representing the significance of the matriarchy, and constellations in the sky, reminding everyone that all Indigenous people are made of stars.

“It’s so important to have these kinds of programs to uncover this knowledge. It’s essential for our kids to learn their history and culture so they can pass it along and integrate it into their everyday life,” said Courchene.

This year’s program featured a special focus on our connection with water and the matriarchy, with all sessions facilitated by women. The programming included a painting workshop with Kisa MacIsaac, a medicine walk with Sarah McIvor Prouty, and a singing workshop with Raven Hart and Ivana Yellowback.

“In Indigenous cultures, women are the heads of everything, so it’s been very valuable to have lots of women coming in to teach the students this year,” said program coordinator Jaidyn Gosek-Lazinski. “We look up to our women because they carry the house, they make the decisions, they keep the knowledge – so this incorporation this year was really beautiful.”

Images: Details of the 2025 Indigenous Youth Storytelling Program mural, painted by Nova Courchene

Jaidyn started with the program as a student and graduated to mentor last year. This year, she was asked by the Park to come back to help coordinate the program.

One of the things she’s noticed over the years is an increased curiosity and engagement from both the students and community.

“The evolution is more focused on reconciliation. People in the Park have walked past us during a session and asked what we were doing, showing their curiosity. I’ve noticed this in the students as well,” said Gosek-Lazinski. “Usually the group consists of kids entering Grade 12 or having just graduated, but we had students in Grades 10 and 11 this year.  It’s been nice that there’s more interest in wanting to learn about their culture, from students to random people. That’s the most hopeful part about this program—that more people want to be connected.”

That enthusiasm is shared by the students, including 2025 student Mya Geswein.

“I loved being in touch with my culture and this program this summer. With all the generational trauma we’re still trying to overcome, it was nice having a program where you can be in tune with your culture and have some of those modern twists,” said Geswein “We learned so much this summer, but we also had a lot of fun.”

Geswein said this year’s theme resonated deeply with her, and she plans to continue advocating for the community beyond the program.

“Having the themes of water and the matriarchy this year made me want to show up in the program more and take it all in. In the future, I hope to become an advocate and leader in the Indigenous community. I want women’s voices and experiences to be heard.”

We want to thank all those who have helped make this mural and program possible, including the students of this year’s program, artist Nova Courchene, and all the facilitators who came to share their knowledge.

The Indigenous Youth Storytelling Program is made possible with support from the Tachane Foundation Inc, Manitoba Blue Cross and community donors.

Follow Nova’s art on Instagram: @artwork.by.njrcourchene and @nova.baby.says.