Culture and heritage part of new Niverville project

What started with a display celebrating artistic portrayals of Niverville on the side of a picnic shelter has changed into a seating area that represents Indigenous and Metis traditions as well.

Communities in Bloom hosted a ribbon cutting along the Trans-Canada Trail in the community on Sept. 25.

Cory Enns smudged the site with sage and presented an offering of tobacco, aligning with Indigenous teachings.

Project manager Terry Martin walked the small group in attendance through the stages of creating the seating area that includes the infinity symbol used by the Metis and a medicine wheel.

He said the tile mural on the wall of the picnic shelter looked out over grass and a worn trail.

“It didn’t do justice to the wall,” he said. “The wall was really wanting something inviting people to come and sit and look and relax.”

The group reached out for grant funding to the Crow Wing Trail. Martin said they were asked to consider including Indigenous and Metis themes. That prompted input from the community and other stakeholders including Dr. Niigaan James Sinclair, a professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba.

“He liked the idea,” Martin said.

Valleywest Landscaping came up with the design and costs were reduced by using bricks donated by the Town of Niverville that were reclaimed years ago during the Main Street redesign.

The Trans-Canada Trail Association gave them a grant for $15,000, which covered about half of the cost.

The Town of Niverville provided the rest in cash and in-kind donations.

The local Communities in Bloom group donated the time and effort to plant, which included plants donated by Sage Greenhouse.

Those plants represented some that are signifcant to Indigenous cultures such as sweetgrass and sage, and to Metis like the anise hyssop and Manitoba maple.

Warren Britton, director of recreation and wellness in Niverville said he appreciated the combined effort.

“It’s always nice when community gets together to build community,” he said. “I think everything just worked out really nicely here.”

The new space is located next to the picnic shelter in Hespeler Park.