Indigenous artwork captures passing of knowledge

March 11, 2024

Anishnaabe contemporary artist Robert (Rob) Henry used to spend winters camping in the Blue Mountains as a child. He drew on those memories and other experiences on the four-season land as he created new artwork reflective of Georgian’s seven campus communities.  

Named Wisdom, the artwork highlights the importance of passing knowledge and teachings from Elder to student. At the centre of it is an Eagle Feather, which carries wisdom and is being gifted to the student to help them on their life journey.  

“To cherish knowledge is to know wisdom,” says Visiting Elder Ernestine Baldwin, who was asked to name the piece. Ernestine spent a great deal of time and thought considering what the name should be. Every time she looked at Rob’s painting, she saw something new, or it spoke to her in another way. 

Rob has been an artist for many years. He’s influenced by the traditional Woodlands style known for its bold colours, rich symbolism, and focus on transformation. His work also blends other traditions and he’s developed his own recognizable technique. 

An Elder shared with Rob a long time ago that he was going to paint in a very particular way. It was only years later, when Rob spilt water on a piece and was wiping it up with a towel, that he realized they were right.  

I didn’t understand it at the time, but they were sharing knowledge about my future, says Rob. The spilt water became a process I repeated and has become a signature look in all my pieces.

As a member of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Rob proudly identifies with the Bear Clan and carries the spirit name Sagajewaygeezhik, which translates to “coming from the sun.” His artistic journey reflects a deep connection to his cultural heritage and a profound exploration of contemporary themes through traditional artistic expressions. 

Georgian has been unveiling Indigenous artwork across our campuses as part of commitments in Maajiishkaadaa (Let’s Move Forward Together) – our Indigenization strategy – to enrich our physical and virtual spaces with increased Indigenous representation. We want to create a welcoming environment where Indigenous histories, values, knowledge and traditions are honoured.