Elmira student paints mural in high school's hallway to honour Indigenous culture, late father

Maggie E. New, admittedly, doesn't like painting very much. 

When the Grade 12 student in Elmira, Ont., was commissioned to create a painted mural reflecting their Indigenous background, New said they didn't think much about it.

They didn't even realize they'd be paid for their time and talent.

But the mural is now on the walls of Elmira District Secondary School (EDSS) in an area students refer to as the English wing.

For years, the hallway has been decorated with quotes and painted photos of famous literary figures throughout the centuries. 

Grade 11 students Harrison Hartwick and Connor Cheng led the charge on scouting New for the mural. They were both enrolled in the school's Indigenous studies class, a course offered to students as an English credit.

Part of their passion project for the class was to find a local Indigenous artist who would be able to create a piece of art that hangs over the classroom door. 

"Students come in, they can see the mural on the door and there's like, a taste of what Indigenous culture is. It really builds the community," Cheng said. 

Previously, the door was decorated with an older mural of William Shakespeare — not bad, the students said, but also not reflective of what actually happens behind the classroom door. 

"We wanted something that matched the vibe of the inside and what the course was a little bit more. It's a very bright and colourful classroom in there and it's a very bright and colourful course," Hartwick said. "[The new mural] fits more than just a black and white quote above the door."

The piece symbolizes what teacher Karen Myers said is a move toward recognizing local Indigenous talent and giving their work due credit. 

Myers teaches the Indigenous course exclusively at EDSS now and said it's been a "once in a career opportunity."

"It's been eye-opening, enlightening, inspiring. I have never felt better as a person working in the system … to learn from Indigenous voices and perspectives," she said. 

'I'm a very fast learner'

Maggie E. New was born in Stratford, Ont., but their late father was a member of Long Point First Nation in Winneway, Que.

They're a self-taught artist who deals largely in sketching portraits, animals, scenery and anything in the realm of realism. They've never taken an art course, either — but that doesn't stop them from a challenge.

"I can definitely learn. I'm a very fast learner. Like, super fast. I could make earrings if I wanted to, but I hate it. But like, I will," they said.

Their expertise in painting was no debate, though. New took on the mural by researching more about their Indigenous culture and getting input from the people around them. 

"That was my deep dive," they said. 

New has been exploring art ever since they "could hold a pencil without chewing it." Their mother, they said, wasn't artistic at all. Their father taught them how to draw. 

"I just really loved it," they said.

New said they've never really subscribed to the idea of traditional art classes and while they do want to get into the market scene after graduation to sell their work, they're worried about the money required to be an independent artist. 

Still, New is being commissioned quite a bit now that their name is on the EDSS mural. 

Jennifer Horst is a guidance counsellor at EDSS who also largely mentored New through their high school career. She said New also works at John Mahood Elementary School down the road for a co-op placement and is beloved by the first graders there. 

New has taught them about talking sticks and other elements of Indigenous culture that New felt was missed during their own upbringing. 

"Maggie is being humble, but they're doing really amazing, very generous things for this community," Horst said.

New said they weren't present for the past year or so because of the passing of their father. The mural commission and subsequent support from the community, they said, was a large part of what helped them come back to school.

"This year has been my best year, and it's really helpful for me to actually go to school because I used to not ever attend … I really grew up," New said.