École publique Jeanne-Sauvé Unveils Its New Indigenous Mural
June 10, 2025
École publique Jeanne-Sauvé Unveils Its New Indigenous Mural
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, École publique Jeanne-Sauvé in Sudbury unveiled its new Indigenous mural in front students, staff members, parents, and friends of the school community. This initiative made possible through the work of painter Jessica Somers, who is of Abenaki ancestry from Odanak, reflects the school and the Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord’s commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity, respect, openness to others, and a strong sense of belonging.
“This mural is a powerful and inspiring initiative that brings our school community together and adds a lasting burst of color and creativity to our environment. Our students take great pride in what they’ve accomplished,” said Ms. Lynn Tellier, Principal of École publique Jeanne-Sauvé.
“For me, it’s a reflection of the community, a bridge between generations, and a lasting testament to the strength found in cultural knowledge, language, and collective creativity. I wanted to invite everyone who passes by to learn, to reflect, and to remember the values that guide us to live in harmony with each other and with the world around us,” explained Ms. Jessica Somers.
At the heart of the mural are the Seven Grandfather Teachings: wisdom (beaver), love (eagle), respect (bison), courage (bear), honesty (sasquatch), humility (wolf), and truth (turtle). These sacred teachings, rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, are carried throughout the mural through imagery and the spirit of collaboration that brought the piece to life.
The mural, titled The Wall of Knowledge, Guarded by the Animals, is the result of a participatory artistic process centered on active listening, valuing student ideas, and integrating their contributions into the final piece. Every child, from daycare to Grade 6, was given a paintbrush and designated section to paint. Over the course of the month, beyond the educational benefits, all students had received a cultural, artistic, and inclusive learning experience, while contributing to a meaningful work that reflects teamwork and collective creativity.
The mural’s title was chosen from a range of suggestions submitted by students in Grades 2 to 4. Families of the school, representing diverse cultural backgrounds, also contributed to the project by providing translations of the Seven Sacred Teachings in their native languages. The success of this unifying initiative was made possible through the sustained efforts of the Board’s systemic Indigenous education teacher, Ms. Natalie Breton
ABOUT ÉCOLE PUBLIQUE JEANNE-SAUVÉ
École publique Jeanne-Sauvé is in the heart of Sudbury on the traditional territory of the Atikameksheng and Wahnapitae First Nations. It is one of fifteen elementary and eight secondary schools within the Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord, which provides high-quality French-language public education in communities such as Markstay, Noëlville, Sudbury, Blind River, Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Dubreuilville, Marathon, Manitouwadge, Longlac and Thunder Bay.
ABOUT THE ARTIST JESSICA SOMERS
Of Abenaki descent from Odanak, Jessica Somers, from Lavigne, draws inspiration from her grandmother, an artist, and from her father’s woodworking craftsmanship. Jessica paints to pass on knowledge about the natural world, rooted in the teachings of her Elders and her Nation. Through her art, she honors her ancestors and keeps their memory alive. For her, art is a vital form of expression—a living language that shares stories, moral lessons, and Indigenous worldviews, while nourishing collective memory. To learn more about the artist, visit her studio at focalpointartistry.ca/.