On this, National Aboriginal Peoples Day, the Timmins Police Service was gifted with a piece of original artwork created by a local university student.
It’s the work of second-year University of Ottawa criminology student Brent Gauthier.
It’s based on his studies of the history of Indigenous, Inuit and Metis people and how historical events have had an impact on local Indigenous populations.
From the Timmins Police news release, here is an explanation of what each component represents:
- At the bottom is the Turtle representing Turtle Island, which represents the North American continent for the Indigenous community.
- Above that is an image of the Treaty 9 area within the Province of Ontario which is where Timmins is located.
- Next is the symbol representing the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation which covers much of Treaty 9 territory.
- Next is the Timmins Police Indigenous Advisory Committee (TPS IAC) emblem indicating the work being done to improve relations between police and our Indigenous population partners
- The feather is a symbol of the eagle which is often described as the messenger between the creator, spirits, and the world in which we live. It is also known as one of nature’s most powerful and majestic birds. The feather is used during smudging ceremonies and in Indigenous headdresses.
- At the top is the symbol representing the Métis Nation of Ontario, as we have many Metis members living within our city.
