Indigenous Public Art Banner initiative receives My Main Street support to draw visitors
and increase local vibrancy in historic Markham Village

January 8, 2025 – Markham, ON - Commissioned by the Markham Village Music
Festival, the Indigenous Public Art Legacy Project showcases a striking series of vibrant
banners created by Indigenous artist Naomi Peters. Installed along the streetlight poles
of Main St. South in Markham Village, this public art installation, titled
Wiijishimotaw mashkiki (dance with medicine in Ojibwe), is situated near a site of
historical significance, where Indigenous communities have flourished since time
immemorial.

Naomi’s artwork celebrates the First Nations people of Markham, using colorful
depictions of drumming, singing, and dancing, along with symbols like the Medicine
Wheel and Four Sacred Medicines. These sacred symbols reflect the
interconnectedness of life and the balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual
well-being, while also honoring the enduring traditions of First Nations communities and
Markham's evolving cultural landscape.

Naomi Peters, a Potawatomi and Chippewa (Ojibwe) member of the Caldwell First
Nation with Swiss heritage, was chosen by a panel through an Open Call to Indigenous
Artists to create the banners. Her work aims to educate audiences on the history,
traditions, and future of First Nations peoples in North America. A graduate of Tyndale
University, Naomi was also one of three artists selected to create a public art mural for
the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

The Indigenous Public Art Legacy Project highlights the Festival's ongoing commitment
to reconciliation and celebrating Indigenous culture and Markham’s diverse community.
By commissioning site-specific public art in a familiar, everyday setting, the installation of
art banners on streetlight poles—near a historically significant site where Indigenous
communities have thrived for thousands of years—invites viewers to rethink their
perception of art and reimagine the public space.

This initiative, made possible through the support of My Main Street, aims to celebrate
and acknowledge Indigenous cultures within our community. Thank you to FedDev
Ontario and the Canadian Urban Institute for supporting local communities and
revitalizing main streets.

Founded in 1978, the Markham Village Music Festival stands as York Region’s largest
free outdoor music event, drawing over 35,000 attendees. This vibrant festival
celebrates the rich tapestry of music, performing arts, and cultural diversity, while also
promoting values of reconciliation, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Featuring five
stages and over 55 performances spanning diverse genres, the festival has proudly
hosted celebrated artists, including JUNO Award winners and notable headliners such
as Broken Social Scene, Maestro Fresh Wes, Haviah Mighty, and Tom Wilson.
Learn more about the Markham Village Music Festival at markhamfestival.com.

My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development
and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods which will enhance the overall quality
of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community
development. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and
supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic
Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Learn more about the My
Main Street program at mymainstreet.ca.

Background:

About My Main Street: The My Main Street program has returned with an additional
Government of Canada investment, building on an initial investment in 2021, through the
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to spur
local economic recovery. To date, the initial investment has supported nearly 4,500
businesses and organizations, nearly 7,500 jobs and leveraged nearly $19 million in
additional investment. The funding aims to revitalize neighbourhood main streets with a
healthy retail mix while generating inclusive economic opportunities. The program now
features two streams –Business Sustainability and the Community Activator. My Main
Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).

About Canadian Urban Institute (CUI): The Canadian Urban Institute is a leading
organization dedicated to advancing urban solutions. CUI collaborates with city builders,
researchers, and community leaders to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable urban
spaces across Canada.

About FedDev Ontario: For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev
Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through
funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job
creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive
results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative
technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the
economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the
impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles,
our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and
LinkedIn.

Background: Artwork Description

Banner 1: Niiji-mashkiki – Seneca Smoke Dancer (Yellow background)
The banner features a Seneca smoke dancer, a faster version of the thunder dance
celebrating spring rain. The yellow background represents spring, while fire imagery
connects to smoke, and sprouting flowers symbolize new beginnings. Tobacco plants, a
sacred gift in Indigenous culture, are featured in the background to honor gratitude and
respect.

Banner 2: Nigaanisa-Zhawenjigaag – Haudenosaunee Fish Dance (Red background)
Depicting a Haudenosaunee woman in the fish dance, this banner celebrates feminine
identity, with imagery of strawberries, moons, and sweetgrass, all tied to water and the
earth’s nurturing power.

Banner 3: Nindoozhiikwewag – Huron Wendat Drummers (Black background)
The black banner, representing autumn and the earth, features drummers with turtle
imagery, symbolizing Turtle Island. The drum, echoing the earth's heartbeat, is paired
with a heart motif in the regalia. Cedar, one of the four sacred medicines, is also
depicted, known for its aroma and crackling sound during prayers.

Banner 4: Miinawaa Onizhishin Ikwe – Anishinaabe Fancy Shawl Dancer (White
background)
The banner portrays the transformation of a butterfly, representing growth and spiritual
renewal. Sage plants and Anishinaabe constellations adorn the dancer’s shawl, tying
into the spiritual meaning of the color white.