​托马斯·B·赖利学校致力于为所有学生营造具有文化响应的学习环境。这一工作的证据可以在大厅前的“传承壁画”中看到。这对于进入建筑物的所有人来说都是一个立即亲切的景象。艺术家Ryan Jason Allen Willert教授的布莱克富特教义的运用可以从颜色和意象上看到。在与Ryan一起进行仪式时，参与其中的学生能够反思对待水牛之道以及以心看、以心思考和以心行事的重要性。学生们在壁画中所创造的水牛和心形图案中体现了对这些教义的联系。在我们进行圆桌会议和仪式后，一名九年级学生分享道：“我喜欢我们能进行熏香仪式。我需要提醒自己将精神与身体联系起来，而在学校做这件事很酷。”另一名七年级学生说：“我喜欢参与这幅壁画的创作，因为我可以向大家展示我是谁，以及什么是重要的。不是每个人都有机会画一幅将永远存在的东西。我感到很幸运我们做到了，很高兴能成为其中的一部分。”教师们分享说，学生们在画完后回到他们的班级时感到自豪，并对下一个创作机会感到兴奋。这件作品的影响也超越了参与其中创作的小组学生。一位曾困扰着自己布莱克富特身份的ALP学生说：“虽然我没有参与画画，但我在壁画中看到了自己。那些颜色来自我的文化，我在我的社区中看到它们。他（Ryan）就像我一样。”在绘画过程中，其他学生经常听到他们评论说“它让学校更加明亮”和“看到走廊变得生动起来真好”。这是一个美丽的机会，用我们的建筑来提升土著知识、生存方式和认知，并展示文化之间的联系。我们制作了下面的视频，以便多年来都能讲述这个故事。

观看 | 传承壁画视频

​Thomas B. Riley School has worked on creating a culturally responsive learning environment for all students. Evidence of this work is seen in the Legacy Mural’s placement in the front hallway. It is an immediately welcoming sight for all people who enter the building. The application of artist Ryan Jason Allen Willert’s Blackfoot teachings can be seen in the intentional use of colour and imagery. In ceremony with Ryan, the students involved were able to reflect on the Way of the Buffalo and the importance of seeing, thinking, and doing with your heart. The connection to these teachings was evident in the students’ creation of the buffalo and hearts that you see in the mural. After our experiences in circles and ceremonies, one Grade 9 student shared, “I liked that we were able to smudge. I needed the reminder to connect my spirit to my body and it was cool that we did it at school.” Another student in Grade 7 said, “I like being a part of this mural because I got to show everyone who I am and what is important. Not everyone gets to paint something that will be here forever. I feel lucky that we did this and am happy to be a part of it.” Teachers have shared that the students came back to their classes feeling proud after they painted and were excited about their next opportunity to work on the mural. The impact of the piece also went beyond the small group of students involved in its creation. One of our ALP students who has struggled with his own Blackfoot identity said, “Even though I didn’t paint, I see me in the mural. Those colours are from my culture and I see them in my community. He (Ryan) is like me too”. During the painting process, other students were often heard commenting about how it “brightened up the school” and that “it was nice to see the hall come to life”. This has been a beautiful opportunity to lift Indigenous knowledges, ways of being and knowing, and to display cultural connections in our building. We created the following video so we could tell the story for years to come.

Watch | Legacy Mural Video