Land, Identity and Traditional Teachings
This section of the mural brings together symbols of Ojibwe and Mississauga cultural identity, territorial recognition and traditional teachings. The artwork extends across the bridge cap and five supporting pillars below.
Across the orange bridge cap are the Four Sacred Medicines: tobacco, sweetgrass, cedar and sage. Used in many Indigenous ceremonies and teachings, the medicines hold spiritual significance and are associated with prayer, healing, purification and connection to the Creator. A star motif and circular symbol appear alongside them, reflecting themes of guidance, spirituality and the natural world.
The left pillar features a section of the Yellowhead Wampum Belt, shown as a purple field with white diamond patterns. The belt represents territorial recognition and the acknowledgement by the Haudenosaunee of Ojibwe territory. Its white diamonds symbolize sacred fires, a motif carried through the pillar designs.
The other four pillars feature white animals against a purple night sky. Connected to the Ojibwe people and the Yellowhead Wampum Belt, they depict:
A muskellunge (muskie), represents one of the animal clans and the importance of aquatic life within traditional teachings.
A beaver, symbolizes industriousness, stewardship and the relationship between people and the land.
A caribou, represents another of the sacred animals acknowledged within the territorial symbolism of the wampum belt and reflecting the broader geography of Ontario.
An eagle, a respected spiritual figure in Anishinaabe culture, represents leadership, vision and the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Each animal contains a heart and internal designs, reflecting the spirit, life and interconnectedness of all living beings. Their white colouring echoes the animals depicted on the Yellowhead Wampum Belt and their association with sacred fires and significant teachings.
Together, the Four Sacred Medicines, Yellowhead Wampum Belt and clan animals affirm that this is Ojibwe and Mississauga territory, sharing teachings about land, identity, governance, ceremony and the enduring presence of the Mississaugas and related Ojibwe Nations in the region.
