Indigenous Art Unveiling at our Worley Sudbury Office

沃利 Canada continues on our Reconciliation Journey honoring TRC’s 94 Calls to Action including #83. As a long-term commitment on Worley’s Reconciliation Journey, we are engaging with Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, and Inuit) artists from across Canada to visually represent local Indigenous cultures unique to the regions and Traditional Territories where we operate.

Rob Hepburn , Richard Fiorante , and the Sudbury team joined me at Worley’s new Sudbury, Ontario office to participate in a blessing ceremony and unveiling of a beautiful two-piece mural by Conrad Bobiwash .

Conrad Bobiwash is a member of Mississauga First Nation, 1850 Robinson-Huron Treaty, Blind River, ON and is considered one of the most innovative Contemporary Indigenous Artist in North America. Bobiwash’s water media works, and a variety of compositions are developed with acrylics and specialized papers. Because of the constant innovation of paint application and compositions, his creativity is engaged to create works that transcend his label, first abstracts, then Indian art images, then petroglyphs and the land in all its serenity. It is this extra experimentation that creates unique compositions fill with arresting color layouts that has created attention in Santa Fe Indian Markets and the Autry Museum Markets. Most recently he has gathered all the mythology and petroglyphs of the Algoma region and from his travels to start to draw and paint imagery that engages the memories of the Great Lakes Anishinabek. They denote that all things are animate with life and personify the sacred power in everyone and everything.

Message of the painting:

Conrad shared his vision for the mural of harmony that included the union of the Medicine Wheel’s 4 colors of White, Yellow, Red and Black along the spine of an Eagle Feather and the teachings of the 7 Grandfathers representing:

·?????? Truth: The Turtle carries truth

·?????? Honesty: Honesty is carried by the Sabe (Sasquatch)

·?????? Wisdom: The Beaver carries wisdom

·?????? Humility: The Wolf carries humility

·?????? Respect: Respect is the gift from the Buffalo

·?????? Love: Love is the gift from the Eagle

·?????? Courage: The Bear carries courage

Indigenous art forms not only represent Indigenous culture but also maintain the connection between past and present generations. Conrad’s art depicts the balance of nature and spirituality in healing which is vital for all Canadians as we understand the intergenerational effects of the Residential Schools in Canada.

We are all on a journey of collective healing in Canada.

I hope you will find ways to explore our beautiful country for the richness of Indigenous cultures through art.

Quyanainni,

Maxine

沃利 Advisian Worley Canada Construction #Reconciliation