THE JOURNEY TOWARDS UNIFICATION
JUSTIN OUELETTE '96 College
J
ust prior to the pandemic, I was given the opportunity to create something special for my old alma mater by Mr. Bob Forman. This piece of art was intended to be a part of the rugby jersey for the high school rugby team, and their impressive sojourn to South Africa in April 2020. After much pondering, discussion, and what I believe to this day to be a groundbreaking idea of Mr. Forman’s, was to create an indigenous piece of artwork that would be worn to represent Canada and the ideals from which it evolved many years ago. Unfortunately, the rugby team's adventure was cancelled, with the future intent for it to materialize at a later time.
In March 2020, Rundle College Senior High School welcomed alumnus and Red Pheasant First Nation artist, Justin Ouellette '96, who spoke to the artwork he created for the 2020 rugby jerseys. The assembly also provided the platform for a connection with Tsuut’ina Nation Elder Gerald Meguinis, who performed a smudging ceremony with the Senior Boys rugby team and encouraged the members of the boys' rugby team to wear the jersey with pride during the team’s planned trip to South Africa. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the trip had to be cancelled but plans are already in place for a 2022 tour.
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2021 ASCENT MAGAZINE | RUNDLE COLLEGE SOCIETY ALUMNI
There is no historic representation for the term reconciliation in First Nations/ Aboriginal languages, as the idea is very much in its infancy. With the combined belief systems of non-Aboriginal, and Aboriginal perspectives, we come to a challenging idea. The commendable foresight of this great gesture and the willingness of Rundle College to be a pioneer in the bridging of generational issues has created an idea that representation of culture, as long as done respectfully, is imperative to the education and growth of both our minds and the environment in which we live. As we go throughout our days and years, we strive to be excellent and true to the teachings of the past, present, and future. When we took this challenge of uniting two different cultural perspectives it wasn’t about who has the upper hand, or about taking something from someone's culture; it is about cultural teachings, and how we share with one another what we believe and the truths that exist among us all. The truths we hoped you would be blessed with include respect, kindness, love, and unity.
