On Sept. 15, Brock students will have the opportunity to take part in a rock painting event focused on commemorating The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“Rock Painting for Reconciliation” takes place on Sept. 15 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Jubilee Court. The event is a collaborative effort between Student Life and Hadiya’dagénhahs – Brock’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre. All artistic materials will be provided at no charge.
In an interview with The Brock Press, Julia Garrah, the events coordinator for Hadiya’dagénhahs, shared that the event was initially intended to be a rock painting activity planned by Student Life. However, given the timing, they reached out to Hadiya’dagénhahs to collaborate and make the event more focused on Indigenous culture and reconciliation.
“They were hoping to do a rock painting event regardless,” said Garrah. “Due to the timing of the event — [with] it landing within September [and] leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — they asked to collaborate and see if we wanted to do reconciliation artwork,” Garrah stated.
Evelyn Dilworth, Advisor and Recruiter for Hadiya’dagénhahs, added that a partnership with Student Life helps the event reach larger communities.
Coordinating “Rock Painting for Reconciliation” aligns with Hadiya’dagénhahs’ goal to provide Indigenous students with opportunities to form communities, explore their culture and connect with others.
“Historically, universities weren’t built for Indigenous students,” said Dilworth. “Spaces like this help students feel connected with [others] and address the barriers that are in place.”
Fostering engagement further aligns with what Student Life aims to do as a department.
Student Life works to create opportunities for Brock students to get involved in extracurricular and co-curricular activities while supporting student growth, success and connection.
The event will occur before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day dedicated to honouring residential school survivors and recognizing the lasting impacts of the residential school system. For Brock students, “Rock Painting for Reconciliation” provides an opportunity to learn more about this history while taking part in reconciliation on campus.
“Reconciliation means actively getting involved [and] taking steps to learn the truth of what happened,” Dilworth said. “Events like this give [students] an opportunity to learn more.”
Garrah said the event also gives students a way to unite during a month that can be difficult for many people.
“Working with your hands is medicine in itself. […] Coming together is medicine,” Garrah said.
Those who sign up are encouraged to paint one of the 94 Calls to Action, an orange shirt, Métis dot art or any form of Indigenous representation and allyship on their rocks. The artwork will have an impact beyond the conclusion of the event, as the rocks are planned to be displayed around the university.
“It’ll be great for Indigenous students to walk through Brock’s campus and see themselves recognized in some way,” Garrah said. “And it’ll also be great for non-Indigenous people to walk through Brock’s campus and know that this is a safe place for Indigenous students, and for really everybody.”
Students do not need to be Indigenous or have prior knowledge of Indigenous history or culture to participate. The event aims to create a space for commemoration while giving students an opportunity to build connections, have fun and engage respectfully with reconciliation.
Garrah said students should not feel discouraged from attending because they feel unfamiliar with the space.
“I think that it can be intimidating coming into a space that you might not feel is necessarily meant for you,” she said. “But please know that you have very kind and welcoming people waiting for you.”
Rock Painting for Reconciliation will take place Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Jubilee Court. Students are encouraged to RSVP before attending.
Students can also find other events hosted by Hadiya’dagénhahs throughout the year through the centre’s events page.