Installations
Chief Buffalo Memorial Mural
Over a hundred people, both native and non-native, of all ages lent a hand in painting a mural and observed the blessing ceremony at the Gitchi-Ode’ Akiing park. Moira Villiard, a Duluth visual artist, collaborated with descendants of Chief Buffalo to organize a community mural painting to honor his memory. The project is being led by Moira alongside primary artists Michelle Defoe (Red Cliff Ojibwe), Awanigiizhik Bruce (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), and Sylvia Houle (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe). The mural has been contributed to by many volunteers as well as received artwork contributions from Ivy Vainio (Grand Portage Ojibwe descendent), Mana Bear Bolton, and Conor Fairbanks. The community painting started in August 2019 and is an ongoing project set to be finished by the end of Summer 2022.
Food Sovereignty Mural
A collaboration between Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribe, North Dakota State University extension office, and Turtle Mountain Community College made this mural project possible. The project was lead by Anna Johnson alongside with Sylvia Houle and Awanigiizhik Bruce. They are Turtle Mountain Chippewa artists. The theme celebrates the active revitalization of cultural, ceremonial, and food sovereignty efforts found within the Tribe. The muralists portrayed the community excitement of how three white buffalo calves were born in the Tribal herd. Historic themes of food preservation, fishing, and harvesting are painted adjacent to our cultural Ojibwe floral motifs. The project was started in September 2022 and finished within eight days.