Group gathered in the Indigenous Student Space, standing around a table beneath a colourful mural during opening remarks.
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
School of Art

Indigenous Student Space Opens at the School of Art

A new hub at 491 Taché Hall welcomes Indigenous students with room to gather, study, and connect—marked by a smudge, beading circle, and the unveiling of a mural by artist Mike Valcourt.

Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes

Last week marked an important milestone for the School of Art with the opening of the new Indigenous Student Space (ISS) at 491 Taché Hall—a long-anticipated project shaped by collaboration, care, and community. Created to be a welcoming and supportive hub within the School, the ISS offers Indigenous students a place to gather, study, rest, and connect with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, while also providing a foundation for future programming that centres Indigenous ways of knowing, making, and being.

The opening gathering brought together students, staff, faculty, and community members to mark the occasion and to celebrate the years of work and consultation that helped bring the space to life. The afternoon began with opening remarks and a smudge led by Knowledge Keeper Barb Blind (Brandon University), creating a meaningful start that grounded the event in intention, respect, and community care.

Following the opening, guests were invited to take part in a community beading circle. Tables filled quickly as participants shared stories, exchanged techniques, and spent time together in a way that felt both simple and significant—an invitation to connect through making, conversation, and presence. For many, the beading circle captured what the space is meant to hold: community-building, mutual support, and the everyday moments that help students feel rooted and seen within the School.

Indigenous Student Space (ISS)

491 Taché Hall
University of Manitoba
soaindigenous@umanitoba.ca

Students and an Elder seated together at a table in front of the mural, chatting and working with craft materials.
Close-up of a table with snacks and craft materials, including beadwork pieces, small trays, and a tin of supplies.

The afternoon also included the unveiling of a new mural by artist Mike Valcourt. Bright, expansive, and full of movement, the mural adds a powerful visual presence to the room while reflecting the values of creativity, storytelling, and cultural continuity. As a permanent feature of the ISS, it also signals the importance of Indigenous visual culture within the School of Art’s shared spaces.

Designed with student needs in mind, the Indigenous Student Space is intended to support both day-to-day student life and longer-term community-building. The ISS offers a dedicated place where Indigenous students can take a pause between classes, work on projects, meet with peers, or simply spend time in a space that is explicitly theirs. The School looks forward to welcoming additional gatherings, visits, and programming in the months ahead, including opportunities to connect with Elders and Knowledge Keepers and events that support creative practice, learning, and community care.

The ISS came together through the efforts of many contributors across the School of Art and the broader university community. Special thanks are extended to Katherine Boyer, Dr. Suzanne McLeod, and Lori Blondeau for their leadership, guidance, and sustained commitment throughout the development of the space. The School also thanks everyone who contributed time, planning, support, and energy to make the opening event possible—and to those who have championed the vision of the ISS over the long term.