Megan Kanerahtenha:wi Whyte

In collaboration with the Centre Intégré de Santé et des services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest and Onkwata’karitáhtshera, I was invited to create two murals with the elders who reside in two facilities. The goal was to bridge Western and Indigenous ways of knowing together to honor the wisdom of ageing.

From January 19-21, I was humbled to visit the homespace of elders from the chateauguay facility. In the way that I am, I always make space for participants to be part of the whole journey from start to finish. So I joined the elders in their home space, gathered their ideas around connection, nature and aging then facilitated a design/painting process with them. It was pure medicine to watch them glow, overcome doubt and honor themselves.

This is the work, when their faces light up and they can say “I painted that tree”. All I did was hold space and add the magic touch.

Creation is always medicine.

From February 2nd to 4th, I packed up the supplies from the residence in Chateauguay and ventured out to Valleyfield to sit down with new elders and create a second mural together. It really was a precious moment to share stories, encourage self-discovery and support each person to find their own magic in the creative process.

No matter where our homelands, nations and ancestors are from, our elders are sacred.

In August 2025, Champlain College student ambassadors from the community gathered at the First Nations Regional Adult Education Center to embark on a creative journey together for 2.5 days. Together we sat and talked about what was important to them to share about who they are as Indigenous youth. We drew out narratives, symbols and hopes for the future to embed that medicine into a mural.

In line with the National Day of Truth and reconciliation on September 30th, on October 1st it was installed and unveiled outside in the front entrance of the school, as a promise to explore how we can create culturally safe spaces when our young people venture out to pursue their education. I have to say, we powerful youth in our community who embody all different types of leadership. I am proud of all of them for having the courage to be themselves unapologetically and to try something new.