Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings Mural

Indigenous mural brings culture and colour to Concession Street on Hamilton Mountain
By Mark Newman Reporter
Monday, Oct. 4, 2021

It’s an Indigenous and colourful addition to Concession Street.
The Seven Grandfather Teachings by Hamilton artist Kyle Joedicke can be found along the wall at 576 Concession, across the street from the public library.
“This is probably one of the most fun projects I’ve been able to work on,” said the 29-year-old Joedicke, who works in construction during the day. “I’m educating myself about the teachings as I’m painting it and I’ve also been given the opportunity to teach the community at large about it as well.”
The mural features images of seven animals that reflect the oral history and traditions that Indigenous elders have passed down through stories and ceremonies.
The turtle represents truth, the wolf carries humility, the beaver offers wisdom, the sabe or sasquatch represents honesty, the bear carries courage, the buffalo provides the gift of respect and the eagle is love.
“It’s somewhat of a universal set of teachings across North America for all tribes and clans, but the one I’m specifically taking on representing is from the Haudenosaunee culture, which is my own background,” he said.
For Joedicke, the mural was as much a learning experience for him as he is hoping it will be for the Concession Street community.
Originally from Caledonia, Joedicke said he grew up in the home of a white single mother of Scottish descent while his father was a Cayuga and Turtle Clan member from the nearby Six Nations of the Grand River.

He has been using his art to reconnect with his Indigenous heritage.
“That struggle for identity is ongoing,” he said. “I’m trying to tell my story through the images.”
While his spray-painting techniques are pretty much self-taught, Joedicke said he has been influenced by Haida art from the west coast and by the works of Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau.
“That was something that really spoke to me,” he said. “The vivid colours of the art and the presentation itself was extremely striking.”
He began painting the mural on Sept. 14, working on Saturdays, late afternoons and early evenings.
Joedicke figures he used at least three dozen cans of spray paint.
His next project will be to paint over the “pizza guy” at the end of the wall near Concession Street.
“I think I’m going to put in a tree-of-life sort of a figure,” Joedicke said. “That’s where the story begins.”
He was hired to do the mural by the Concession Street Business Improvement Area (BIA).
“It’s important for us to tell Indigenous stories,” said BIA executive director Cristina Geissler. “We are very proud to include this important piece of artwork into our community. This mural tells a meaningful story about Indigenous culture and we are honoured to give local Haudenosaunee artist Kyle this canvas right here on Concession Street.

Photo Credit:  ifotografhamilton

The mural story starts under the Concession Pizza sign.

Here we see a child asking an elder for guidance.  Sitting around the fire, which has communal importance.  The elder tells the child to go on a Spiritual Quest to learn more about the sacred Seven Grandfather Teachings.

Moving down the wall...

Here we see the same child starting on his Spiritual Quest. He is in nature and after meditating and fasting, visions begin to present themselves to him.

THE BUFFALO TEACHES US RESPECT.
RESPECT IS THE CONDITION OF BEING HONOURED.
The Buffalo, through giving its life and sharing every part of its being, showed the deep respect it had for the people. No animal was more important to the existence of Indigenous families than this animal, and its gift provided shelter, clothing and utensils for daily living. Native people believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds, and developed a sustainable relationship with the Buffalo resulting in a relationship that was a true expression of respect.

THE EAGLE TEACHES US LOVE.
LOVE MUST BE UNCONDITIONAL.
​To feel true love is to know the Creator. Therefore, it is expected that one's first love is to be the Great Spirit. He is considered the father of all children, and the giver of human life. Love given to the Great Spirit is expressed through love of oneself, and it is understood that if one cannot love oneself, it is impossible to love anyone else.
The Eagle was chosen by the Great Spirit to represent this law, as the Eagle can reach the highest out of all the creatures in bringing pure vision to the seeker. Although the supplier of the greatest and most powerful medicine, love can also be the most elusive of the teachings, as it depends upon a world that acknowledges the importance of spirituality.

THE BEAR TEACHES US COURAGE.
COURAGE IS THE ABILITY TO FACE DANGER, FEAR, OR CHANGES WITH CONFIDENCE AND BRAVERY.
​The Bear provides many lessons in the way it lives, but courage is the most important teaching it offers. Though gentle by nature, the ferociousness of a mother Bear when one of her cubs is approached is the true definition of courage. To have the mental and moral strength to overcome fears that prevent us from living our true spirit as human beings is a great challenge that must be met with the same vigour and intensity as a mother Bear protecting her cub. Living of the heart and living of the spirit is difficult, but the Bear's example shows us how to face any danger to achieve these goals.

THE SABE TEACHES US HONESTY.
HONESTY IS SPEAKING AND ACTING TRUTHFULLY, AND THEREBY REMAINING MORALLY UPRIGHT.
​Long ago, there was a giant called Kitch-Sabe. Kitch-Sabe walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws of the creator and honest to each other. The highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying "There walks an honest man. He can be trusted." To be truly honest was to keep the promises one made to the Creator, to others and to oneself. The Elders would say, "Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, be honest to yourself and accept who you are the way the Creator made you."

THE BEAVER TEACHES US WISDOM.
WISDOM IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
The building of a community is entirely dependent on gifts given to each member by the creator and how these gifts are used. The Beaver's example of using his sharp teeth for cutting trees and branches to build his dams and lodges expresses this teaching. If he did not use his teeth, the teeth would continue to grow until they became useless, ultimately making it impossible for him to sustain himself. The same can be said for human beings. One's spirit will grow weak if it is not fulfilling its use. When used properly however, these gifts contribute to the development of a peaceful and healthy community.

THE WOLF TEACHES US HUMILITY.
HUMILITY IS BEING HUMBLE AND NOT ARROGANT.
Recognizing and acknowledging that there is a higher power than man and it is known as the Creator is to be deemed truly humble. To express deference or submission to the Creator through the acceptance that all beings are equal is to capture the spirit of humility. The expression of this humility is manifested through the consideration of others before ourselves. In this way, the Wolf became the teacher of this lesson. He bows his head in the presence of others out of deference, and once hunted, will not take of the food until it can be shared with the pack. His lack of arrogance and respect for his community is a hard lesson, but integral in the Aboriginal way.

THE TURTLE TEACHES US TRUTH.
TRUTH IS TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE SEVEN TEACHINGS HAVE GIVEN TO US BY THE CREATOR AND TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THEM.
To know truth is to know and understand all of the original laws as given by the Creator- and to remain faithful to them. It is said that in the beginning, when the Creator made man and gave him the seven sacred laws, the Grandmother Turtle was present to ensure that the laws would never be lost or forgotten. On the back of a Turtle are the 13 moons, each representing the truth of one cycle of the Earth's rotations around the sun. The 28 markings on her back represent the cycle of the moon and of a woman's body. The shell of the Turtle represents the body real events as created by the Higher Power, and serves as a reminder of the Creator's will and teachings.

In this final portion of the mural the story brings us back to the elder.  Here you will see him celebrating through dance.  He is celebrating the knowledge gifted to the community and the younger generation.  Celebrations often are depicted through dance.

Special thanks to EmpoweringtheSpirit.ca from which the explanations of the Seven Grandfather Teachings was quoted from.
For more information, please visit their website:  
​Seven Grandfather Teachings First Nations Métis Inuit Student Education Resources Alberta Educators (empoweringthespirit.ca)

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