An art installation and renewal in the main entrance of CNC’s Prince George campus celebrates the diverse peoples and vast region that the college serves, while providing a warm welcome for all who enter the building.
The college has officially marked the completion of the art project with a celebration. The installation of the art began in September 2022. It features seven unique pieces of art created by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists. The art incorporates the concepts of the four seasons, connection to the land, and a sense of community.
“We had two goals when we began this project,” said Dr. Dennis Johnson, CNC’s president and CEO. “First, we wanted to create a positive and welcoming impression when one enters the building. Secondly, we wanted to develop a project that aligns with CNC’s mandate and strategic priorities, including initiatives that support meaningful reconciliation.”
As part of the celebration, the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation provided CNC with a territorial acknowledgement plaque. The plaque will be prominently displayed in the Prince George campus main entrance.
The plaque’s text etched in English and Dakelh reads, “We respectfully acknowledge the unceded ancestral lands of the Lheidli T’enneh, on whose land we live, work, and play.”
“Our nation welcomes learners to the Prince George Campus of CNC and to our unceded territory,” said Chief Dolleen Logan. “CNC is critical to the growth and development of this region and northern B.C. We hope the new artwork in the main entrance of CNC’s Prince George Campus will provide students and staff with inspiration and that our respectful acknowledgement plaque will build appreciation for our history and lands,”
The art project features several unique exhibits by artists Lee-Anne Chisholm, Aaron Harder, Carla Joseph, Taalrumiq (Christina King), and Kimberly Stewart.
The art includes a sculpture of two rivers symbolic of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, an installation of birch poles in a main entrance seating area, a four seasons mural, a large oil-on-canvas painting representing Indigenous lands surrounding CNC’s campuses, and three shadow boxes featuring permanent and rotating exhibits.