New student housing under construction at North Island College will feature a local Indigenous artist’s work.
In a release, the college says the frog button blanket, made by K’omoks First Nations artist Pamela Mitchell, will be shown on the student housing commons building facing the main campus.
Mitchell says she calls it the knowledge keeper.
“Frog brings great wealth and power as he travels and lives in the two worlds, water, and land,” said Mitchell.
She says the button blanket represents home and family upholding students on their journey with the black of the fabric being the house front, red borders are the walls and roof, and the opening at the top neck representing the smoke hole.
The college adds this design is part of a project involving them, the nation and their Indigenous education council.
Executive director of the council Kelly Shopland says with the project involving different artistic elements, the K’omoks connections committee is overseeing the process.
“They’re guiding the cultural components of the building,” said Shopland.
“They’re making the recommendations and decisions around the artwork, gathering place, and the inclusion of Ayajuthem and Kwak’wala language.”
Shopland thanks the first nation for their involvement and guidance, while Mitchell hopes her work will bring great pride to the K’omoks people.
