Just before the last day of school, the Learning Expeditions students (Grades 7 to 12) at St’a7mes School completed a mural on the backside of the building.
Kayley Verbeek, a Learning Expeditions teacher, explained that the mural was a combination of efforts between the students and two local artists, Scott Borkowski and Siobhan Joseph.
The students helped make stencils and paint various parts of the project with the help of both Joseph and Borkowski, who also goes by the name Sleestak.
Verbeek said they finished the project just before it was shown off to the school and members of the community on June 28.
One of the last steps was writing some values on the mural, which were chosen with the help of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Elders and some of the 44 Learning Expedition students.
Some of the values chosen included “respect,” “diligence,” and “know who you are and where you come from.”
Other aspects included many animals and symbols of the variety of nations that the students are from. In total, it was estimated that the project took about three months or so to complete.
Friends and family of the school joined a barbecue and celebration of the mural as well as the last full day of school for the students.
This project comes just weeks after students from the school helped carve a Welcome Figure with two Nation carvers, which can be viewed at the south end of Xwa'w'chayay (Porteau Cove Provincial Park).
