Seven Sacred Teachings Find a Home at St. Paul’s Hospital
Art has the power to tell stories, share wisdom, foster understanding and bring people together. At St. Paul’s Hospital & Foundation, seven new works of art are creating opportunities to do just that.
On October 15, members of the SPH&F community gathered in the Indigenous Healing Centre, kikâwînaw wîki (Our Mother’s Home) for a special ceremony celebrating and blessing seven paintings inspired by the Seven Sacred Teachings.
Created by seven Indigenous artists from across Saskatchewan, each painting offers a unique interpretation of one of the teachings, sharing cultural knowledge, personal reflections and perspectives through art.
Elder Nora McAdam led the ceremony, which brought together artists and members of the hospital community in a shared experience of listening, learning and connection.
Seven artists, seven teachings, seven unique perspectives
The Seven Sacred Teachings — Honesty, Truth, Respect, Courage, Wisdom, Humility and Love — offer guidance for how we live, care for one another and honour our relationships with the world around us.
With the guidance of the Provincial Knowledge Keepers Table, Indigenous artists were invited to give expression to these teachings through their own cultures, traditions and spirituality.
The resulting collection reflects the diversity of Indigenous artistic expression and the deeply personal ways in which each teaching can be understood.
Zachary Lavallee of Star Blanket Cree Nation explores Honesty through the Sable, reminding us of the importance of accepting who we are, speaking from the heart and being true to our word.
Chris Chipak of Red Pheasant Cree Nation depicts the Turtle and Truth, drawing connections between the land, the passage of time and the importance of understanding ourselves.
Kevin Wesaquate of Piapot First Nation brings Respect to life through a vibrant painting of buffalo, celebrating renewal, the cycles of nature and the beauty that surrounds us.
Métis artist Rachel Brimacombe explores Courage through the strength and spirit of the Bear.
Abbey Fraser-Saddleback of Samson Cree Nation uses the Beaver to illustrate Wisdom, perseverance and the importance of sharing knowledge across generations.
Larissa Kitchemonia of The Key First Nation interprets Humility through the Wolf, exploring motherhood, family and the sacredness of water.
Madison Rayne Pascal, a Métis artist, portrays the Eagle and Love, reminding us that love extends beyond emotion to a responsibility to care for ourselves, our families, our communities and all living beings.
Together, the paintings offer more than artistic interpretations. They invite viewers to reflect on the teachings and consider how they can guide our relationships, actions and responsibilities to one another.
A lasting reminder of our shared responsibility
The art blessing was a meaningful part of SPH&F’s Mission Week, offering an opportunity to reflect on how our mission is lived through compassion, respect, understanding and service to others.
The seven paintings will remain in Our Mother’s Home as lasting reminders of the wisdom of the Seven Sacred Teachings and the responsibility we share to care for one another.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the seven artists for sharing their creativity, knowledge and personal interpretations of these teachings.
Special thank you to Elder Nora McAdam for leading us in ceremony, to the Provincial Knowledge Keepers Council’s wisdom and guidance throughout the process and to our selection committee for bringing this project to life:
- Elder Wayne Goodwill
- George Laliberte, community knowledge keeper
- Mario Fiddler, community knowledge keeper
- Colleen Chief, First Nation Métis Health Services Cultural Support Worker, Saskatchewan Health Authority
- Paula Jacobs, First Nation Métis Health Services Manager, Saskatchewan Health Authority
- Marlessa Wesolowski, St. Paul’s Hospital Artist-in-residence
- Blake Sittler, St. Paul’s Hospital Director of Mission
- Carrie Dornstauder, St. Paul’s Hospital Executive Director
While the blessing ceremony marked a special moment, the opportunity to learn from these works continues.
Over the coming months, SPH&F will explore each of the Seven Sacred Teachings in greater detail, sharing the stories and inspiration behind the paintings and inviting our community to deepen its understanding of the wisdom they carry.