Qalipu artist the latest to unveil artwork at Confederation Building

Alex Kennedy · CBC News

· Posted: May 04, 2025 4:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Artwork by Qalipu First Nation creator Marcus Gosse is the latest coating to bent connected the walls of Confederation Building, portion of a bid of pieces from Indigenous artists to decorate Newfoundland and Labrador's legislative home.

Gosse revealed his work, a coating titled Mawo'ltimk — Unity — connected Thursday. The artwork depicts 8 whales swimming astir the Mi'kmaq star.

He told the assemblage gathered astatine Confederation Building that helium hoped to seizure the themes seen successful his others works: Togetherness, joy, emotion and support.

"This 1 successful peculiar present is astir strength, togetherness, enactment and unity," Gosse said.

"[The prima is] a awesome of pridefulness amongst Mi'kmaq people. It not lone shows unity amongst each the cultures, but it besides shows the 8 districts of the Mi'kmaw territory. Which is cool, due to the fact that the eighth 1 is really Newfoundland."

Gosse said whales besides symbolize peace, compassion and family, and are important arsenic bully communicators successful the environment.

"It goes to amusement you that, you know, our nations request to beryllium together, communicating, learning astir each different together," helium told CBC Radio aft the announcement.

Gosse's enactment is the fourth of 5 paintings procured by the state from Indigenous artists selected to decorate the eastbound artifact of Confederation Building, on with the instauration of a statue to honour the Beothuk. Paintings from artists representing the Nunatsiavut government, Innu Nation and Miawpukek First Nation person already been unveiled.

Qalipu First Nation Chief Jenny Brake said showcasing the creation is important practice of Indigenous peoples.

"Art gives america an accidental to archer a story. A communicative that is ours to archer arsenic Indigenous radical of this spot and this unceded onshore wherever we live," Brake, an creator herself, said.

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