Students Paint with Isaac Murdoch at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School

Students at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School were recently given the opportunity to participate in a virtual storytelling and art lesson with Isaac Murdoch, a renowned Indigenous artist from Serpent River First Nation.

Students followed Isaac’s virtual guidance to paint a picture of a Winter Ceremony that included the moon, the evening star, snowflakes, and a lodge. Isaac explained the importance of the moon, which is seen as a communicator for many Ojibwe people. Isaac also shared that the evening star is called the talking star, that snowflakes are considered medicine as they cleanse the land, that the lodge houses offerings and prayers of the people, and that the people in the lodge are illuminated by the fire to attract the spirits and to provide comfort during the ceremony.

Isaac said, “For many of the Ojibwe people, Winter Ceremonies are an important part of the social and spiritual connection to welcome the ice and snow in a traditional way.”

This virtual experience was an incredible way for students to have an authentic voice help them learn about Indigenous knowledge from one First Nation and make connections to the curriculum.