"Together" by Bridget George
Artist Statement
The work created for the library titled Together was created to inspire the same feeling of togetherness, connection and care you feel when accessing a community gathering space like the library.
The woodland inspired floral arrangement is meant to illustrate the idea of everyone being unique but all finding belonging. There are a variety of different flowers but they all come from the same stem and root. Although we are all different, we can all find security and belonging together.
The book at the base of the work is meant to represent the library as a space to seek knowledge, open doors and open books. The water flowing into the centre of the piece honours connectedness and pays respect to the three separate nations that share the territory London sits on. Territory that is connected and accessible by water.
The turtle was chosen for this piece as turtles are natural knowledge keepers because of the calendars on their backs, just like the library. The design within the logo features three connected blocks within the "L"'s to represent the three area First Nations and that share the territory London sits on. The abstract pattern found in the “P” was designed to resemble a sweetgrass braid to honour the library as a place of kindness—just like sweetgrass.
About the Artist
Bridget George (Nimkiinagwaagankwe) is an Anishinaabe artist, illustrator and children’s book author raised on Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. She is Bear Clan and currently lives here in London with her family. Her work is heavily inspired by her journey in learning her language, parenthood, the natural world and visual storytelling.
Bridget is the author of the award-winning children’s book It’s a Mitig!, a dual-language rhyming book written to introduce families and children to nature words in Anishinaabemowin. Find this book in your Library here. Recent illustrative and design work from Bridget includes creating graphics for the Walt Disney Company’s Native American Heritage Month celebrations through their Re:Imagine Tomorrow initiative. Recent literary projects for Bridget include illustrating Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior authored by Carol Lindstrom; a Picture book celebrating Water Protectors Autumn Peltier and Josephine Mandamin.
Learn more about Bridget George here.
Photo: Bridget George and family
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30th marks the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a time to acknowledge and honour the thousands of Indigenous children buried on residential school grounds and to recognize the inter-generational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities.
Central Library will be closed on Monday, September 30, 2024.
There are many learning opportunities and events being offered by community partners that take place on and around September 30. Find a current list of community events on the City of London website.
London Public Library encourages everyone to continue their reconciliation journey by visiting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). The NCTR is a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of the residential school experience will be honoured and kept safe for future generations.
Learn more about residential schools and their impacts on the thousands of children who never returned home and to the Survivors and their families who are affected to this day. Our reading lists below can be a starting point for learning.
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society Emergency Crisis Line is available 24/7 for anyone who may need counselling or support. Call 1-800-721-0066 or the 24-hr crisis line 1-866-925-4419.
Join us in recognizing the truth that should not be forgotten: Every Child Matters.
You can print a 8 1/2 x 11" copy of this Every Child Matters Poster at home using the Download Poster PDF button.
We encourage you to display this poster in your home, workplace or gathering place and to join us in listening, learning the truth about the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and taking meaningful action. You'll find lists of books, ebooks and audiobooks by Indigenous authors and illustrators below as a starting point.
