Strong as a Forest (Corona Station)
Many early Ukrainians relied on their networks of family and fellow immigrants to keep their children immersed in the culture, language and traditions. Choirs, Ukrainian dance, faith and coming together to share a meal, were central to Ukrainian life and continue to be hallmarks of community identity.
Shumka dance has been a point of pride for Edmonton’s Ukrainian community for many years.
“Alberta has a history of being a very conservative province that has not always been open to outsiders and The Francophone community is no exception. (We) had to work hard for language protection through the supreme court.” - heard from the Francophone community
It took 10 years of fighting to get the right to Francophone language instruction in Alberta schools. This right was won in 1994.
La Survivance was a weekly Franco Albertan newspaper, founded in 1928 - it still survives, and is now known as Le Franco.
Another important story, was that of students in Franco-Albertan schools when asked for their primary language on government forms, they would write French instead of the expected English. When told to correct it, they refused. This was a symbol of the value to them of language, one important connection to identity and culture - the teachers would secretly teach more French than prescribed by the Anglophone government, and the students would learn in French language workbooks that they’d hide when the inspectors came.
Over time, local Franco-Albertan demographics have changed and now include Francophone newcomers from Africa and around the world.
The Ukrainian bookstore, founded in 1914, helped protect the language by supplying Ukrainian newspapers, books, music, but also evolved into a hub for the intelligentsia of the Ukrainian community, a space for discussion, debate, and sharing. It gave a safe space for first language speakers to hear news from Ukraine and keep track of relatives, current events and community news. The Ukrainian Bookstore, became a beacon for identity and community for newcomers to Canada who came from Ukraine.
“New immigrants arrived downtown and it was their lighthouse; this is how many would find a doctor, lawyer, land agent and connect to the local community” - heard from the Ukrainian community
The Men’s Choir was important in Edmonton for keeping Ukrainian culture strong through generations.
Laurent and Eleanor Garneau participated in Métis Rebellion that spread across the Prairies. Here, Eleanor is depicted washing away a letter from Louis Riel, before the RCMP arrive. She was doing laundry on a washboard when she heard, quickly grabbed the letter, and washed the message off, removing the evidence. Laurent was still arrested, but this clever act of resistance symbolized the vigilance required when working to make change.
Louis Riel led the North-West Resistance in 1885, seizing a parish church in Batoche, Saskatchewan after believing a petition the Metis people sent to the federal government was not being taken seriously. Unlike his previous resistance efforts, Riel’s demands were not met and he was hanged in November of 1885. The displacement caused by incoming Canadian populations forced many Métis to migrate. In the mid-20th century, Louis Riel was resurrected as a symbol of Western alienation and resilience.
Daniels Decision April 14th, 2016: The Supreme Court of Canada rules that thousands of non-status Indians and Métis are under the federal government’s jurisdiction and considered “Indians” under the 1867 Constitution Act.
The ruling, known as the Daniels Case will give approximately 400,000 non-status aboriginal people and 200,000 Métis access to funding for services, programs and benefits that they were once denied.
The Sixties Scoop refers to the mass removal of Aboriginal children from their homes into the child welfare system by Indian Agents. In the majority of cases, children were removed without the consent of their bands or families.
Interpretive Panel / Artist Statement: Strong as a Forest
This mural, ‘Strong as a Forest’ is the fourth in a family of murals. We worked with partners from the Métis Nation of Alberta, Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts and Francophone Historians and Educators.
We heard about the importance of language protection when it comes to community legacy and community identity. We witnessed the important role of song, dance and celebration as markers of resistance and resilience. We learned about the humour, collaboration and perseverance that has defined each community as they’ve fought for recognition and belonging on the Prairies.