A group of East Vancouver elementary students put paint to wall last week and created a mural dedicated to their community as well as honour survivors of Canada's residential school system.
The class of Grade 6 and 7 students at Brittania Elementary School worked with Quw’ustun’ artist Charlene Johnny to create the piece, which features an octopus, orcas, a sunset and a written statement. There's also a silhouette of Vancouver, along with a bear, a basketball and a flock of birds.
"The mural is created as a legacy gift by our Grade 7 graduating class and each image, each animal, each colour was carefully chosen," principal Jason Webber tells Vancouver Is Awesome. "Each has significance to not just them, but the community at large."
The mural was created with the DAREarts program, a not-for-profit that provides leadership development opportunities via the arts to children in underserved communities, according to a press release.
"The Downtown Eastside and Indigenous communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the community mourning the 215 children found in Kamloops, this project is an opportunity for students to express themselves, have their voices heard, process, and grieve through community and art," says DAREarts in the release.
