Mino-bimadiziwin, La Bonne Vie, The Good Life

Our collaborative team of artists from OV-CAOS and EDPS designed a workshop series brought to each classroom and each student made a moose track print based on their idea of Mino-bimadiziwin, La Bonne Vie, The Good Life. These tracks were then scanned and printed as decals which flow along the school hallways. The moose-tracks informed the design by lead artist, Sylvia Tennisco, of a 5′ stone mosaic that was then built with students over the spring-summer 2024 and permanently installed in the courtyard at EDPS. The mosaic was unveiled at a gathering with the whole school community June 2, 2024.

“This is the Mino Bimaadiziwin, “The Good Life” mosaic we created together as a school community. Every student placed a stone to create this incredible image of what living well means to the students and staff in our community.

The river, the hill of Eganville and the hill in our school yard are depicted in the scene, surrounded by the tall pines and beautiful wilderness underneath Grandfather Sun. The Eagle flies across the sun, and the Moose leaves tracks along the four directions of the Medicine Wheel – reminding us all that living a good life means being in balance with ourselves, with each other, and with Mother Earth.

Chi miigwetch to the team at OVCAOS, Andy, Megan, Anya, and lead artist Sylvia created the final design from our ideas. Miigwetch to Mrs. Peever and Mr. Bernard who were staff artists who helped lead this project with classes.

This mosaic will be the place where we all gather outside as a school to celebrate culture, share in joy, learning, and growth with one another. It will also be a place where we can be quiet and peaceful.

“At EDPS, we know that learning is rooted in the land, in connection, and in living a good life.”

– Kaley MacMillan, EDPS Vice Principal and lead educator on the project

Credits

Ottawa Valley Community Arts Co-Artistic Directors: Andy Trull & Anya Gansterer; Lead-Artist: Sylvia Tennisco; Mosaic Mentorship: Anna Camilleri; OV-CAOS community arts co-facilitator: Megan Spencer; EDPS educators and co-facilitators: Kaley MacMillan, Adam Bernard, Marian Peever; Photography: Maureen MacMillan & EDPS.