A Counter-Monument for MMIWG2S+

a walk to connect First Nations House to Parliament

University of Toronto campus, Toronto, ON individual and group academic work

2021

Addressing the ongoing tragedy of Murdered, Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and TwoSpirits+ in Canada, a counter-monument wall threads through the campus. Each area has unique ways of sharing truths, with structure and program built relative to the human body. The wall encourages students and visitors to learn, share stories, write promises to action, and physically contribute to the spaces within and around the wall.

The wall focuses on three spaces within the University of Toronto West Campus: Biindigaw (entrance), Mikawendaagozi (remember), and Agamiing (at the water). By creating a space that has presence and permanence, a physical connection between Parliament and Indigenous communities on Toronto’s university campus is established, to ensure that this call for justice is answered.

The wall is integrated into the campus fabric for everyday function, and serves as a prominent space for demonstrations and protests. The placement of the wall relative to the pathway allows for critical breaks which force the users to have certain interactions, creating a choreographed sequence of learning truths, sharing thoughts, and ongoing activism.