Crosswalk installed on Dal’s Truro campus embodies Indigenous teachings

A crosswalk installed on Dalhousie's Truro Campus last fall does more than just provide safe passage for pedestrians — it also serves as a powerful symbolic reminder of lands on which the campus is situated.

The crosswalk, located adjacent to Cumming Hall and Sipu Awti, consists of an illustration of seven white eagle feathers on a light-orange background. Suitably, it bears the name Seven Feathers Crosswalk, or Lluiknek Pi'kunk Assokma'timk in the Mi’kmaq language.

“Diversity is our strength. This beautiful crosswalk helps to acknowledge that strength and that our Agricultural Campus sits on the ancestral unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw people,” said Dr. Gefu Wang-Pruski, acting campus principal and dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, during a dedication ceremony held last Friday as part of National Indigenous History Month.

The eagle feather is a powerful symbol for many Indigenous peoples that signifies the honour and connection between the owner, the Creator, and the eagle from which the feather came. Each feather featured in the crosswalk is meant to represent one of the Seven Sacred Teachings — love, respect, courage, honesty, humility, truth, and wisdom — embraced by many Indigenous communities and organizations as guiding principles.

Dal President Kim Brooks joined Dr. Wang-Pruski, Chief Robert Gloade of Millbrook First Nations, and others for the dedication ceremony.

L-R:  Dal President Kim Brooks, Indigenous graduate student Staci Morgan, Don Julien, Chief Robert Gloade of Millbrook First Nation, Elder Tom Christmas, Acting Agriculture Dean Gefu Wang-Pruski and Keah Gloade, manager of Indigenous students in Truro.

'For everyone to see'

Dal's colourful crossing is the second such installation in Nova Scotia (the other is in Mahone Bay) and is also meant to provide a welcoming environment for all learners.

“It is meaningful to have these teachings instilled in this crosswalk as a way of sharing and encouraging diversity for everyone to see in their daily routine on campus,” said Chief Robert Gloade of Millbrook First Nation at last week's event. 

“It is also very important for our Indigenous population to see these installations where they go to school, work, and walk every day.”

The installation of the Seven Feather Crosswalk marks another important step Dalhousie has taken towards reconciliation in the face of the legacy of residential schools in Canada. Last fall, Dal added seven circular paintings to the exterior walls of the Killam Memorial Library in Halifax — also symbolizing the seven teachings.

Next winter, the Faculty of Agriculture will introduce a new course on Mi'kmaw Natural Resources as part of Dal's ongoing efforts to Indigenize curriculum.

Learn about more steps Dal has taken in recent years with the stories below.

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