Corner Brook celebrations honour lost Indigenous women with new community garden

Two new symbols to honour and recognize Indigenous peopleof the past, present and future were unveiled in Corner Brook on Friday

TheMikwite'tm Garden the name translates to "I remember" are meant to serve as a tribute and memorial in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across the country.

Qalipuartist Jenny Brake's work,a painting created in honour of women both lost and currently struggling. was selected as the centrepiece of the garden.

"The circle of women represent people that I know and I love and I've lost," Brake said Friday."Women from all over Newfoundland and Labrador.

"I'm really happy for my children and my children's children and all of our children's children, because the ones that are lost can't be here today. It means a lot to put this there for them to share and be proud of."

The opening of the garden was commemorated with a ceremony that included Miawpukek First Nation Chief Mi'sel Joe, and Labrador MP Yvonne Jones. The park was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting by Glenda Buckle, who lost her sister,Janet Louvelle.

It's a symbol of love. It's a love of every culture around us.- Kaylee Sullivan

AtMemorial University's GrenfellCampus earlier in the day, acrowd gathered to celebrate the raising of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council flag.

Kaylee Sullivan,a historical and English studies student at Grenfellwho worksfor Qalipu First Nation, helped raise the flag. She sees it as a tribute to remember all past and present Indigenous students, along with those who will attend in the future.

"It represents our culture. It represents the people that are here on this nation and in the Grenfelluniversity campus," Sullivan said.

"As a student, it means I can come to campus every day and be proud of my culture, and be proud to show who I am and what I represent. And the history of these people here."

Sullivan said the flag also serves as a symbol of acceptance and compassion for other students who travel to the region to study.

"It's a symbol of love. It's a love of every culture around us," she said.

"We are an international campus with a lot of international students. So this shows a love of the people that were here, the people that are still hereand the love that we share today."

Memorial president Vianne Timmons, who is Indigenous and had family grow up in the region, said the move is the first of many in an effort to make sure the stories of Indigenous peoples "aren't invisible" on campus.

She said support could come through added supports for Indigenous students, bringing more Indigenous elements like paintings into the school, and more.

"We can think of Indigenization as a lenswe look at everything we do through," Timmons said.

"There's a lot more we can do, and there's a lot more we will do."

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