In Lethbridge, the celebration of Blackfoot culture and language continues with the announcement of three additional Oki signs installed in the region.
Previously, the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone unveiled an Oki sign in Festival Square.
The City of Lethbridge has partnered with Lethbridge Airport, the Helen Schuler Nature Centre and McCain Foods to create a custom Oki sign for each organization.
According to the City, the customization of each placemaking sign comes from the bespoke Indigenous artwork wrapped around each one.
A selection committee, comprised of the partner organizations and facilitated by the City’s Public Art Program, met and selected four pieces of art by Indigenous artists.
The pieces chosen for the project were created by:
• Mariah Gladstone – Helen Schuler Nature Centre and Lethbridge Airport
• Wayne Provost – Downtown Lethbridge BRZ
• Serene Weasel Traveller – McCain Foods
“The Helen Schuler Nature Centre is a place where people gather with the intention of creating and continuing a relationship with the place where we live,” says Manager Coreen Putman. “Mariah Gladstone’s artwork ‘Gathering Together,’ so beautifully acknowledges the land that sustains us.”
Gladstone’s design for the Nature Centre’s artwork includes a variety of native plants that highlight the interconnectedness of all living beings.
“Just as the Blackfoot people gather to celebrate their cultural heritage, so too do the plants and animals of southern Alberta,” adds Gladstone. “(They) gather in symbiotic harmony, creating a vibrant ecosystem that sustains life.”
Recognizing the important role ‘Oki’ has in the community as a symbol of respect, understanding and reconciliation is one more way to celebrate Blackfoot culture and language.
“The new Oki sign at the Lethbridge Airport welcomes travellers and honours the Blackfoot people’s rich cultural heritage, while complementing other Indigenous art around the terminal building,” notes Manager Cameron Prince. “As a gateway to the region, the airport proudly showcases these elements, reminding travellers to celebrate our diverse roots from the moment they arrive.”
