Memorial University of Newfoundland

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Table of Contents

Tours

  1. Indigenous landmarks tour

    A walking tour of Indigenous landmarks on the St. John's Campus

    Stops

    1. Juniper House

      Juniper House is the home, gathering space, and heart of the Indigenous Student Resource Centre (ISRC). Opened in 2021, Juniper House is the result of a dedicated student-led initiative for a space that could accommodate the diverse programming and services of the ISRC. The name Juniper House was chosen because juniper is a circumboreal plant that grows in diverse environments throughout Newfoundland and Labrador; it is present across the territories and traditions of the Innu, Inuit, and Mi’kmaq. Juniper is a medicinal plant that also has aromatic, craft, and culinary uses  - Juniper House is similarly multi-faceted as a home away from home, as well as a resource and study space.

    2. Rose Garden

      Canvas of Belonging: An Indigenous Journey is an Indigenous-led community art project. Led by Cree artist and Memorial graduate Holly Star Taite and designed in collaboration with Indigenous student, the art wall features a flowing landscape and animal silhouettes which explore our ancestral and cultural connection with nature. The scenes depicted in each animal reflect the richness of our cultures and traditions. This project was supported by the Memorial Beautification Committee.

    3. Science building

      The Science Building (SN) is home to a number of departments that conduct research in partnership with Indigenous communities, including but not limited to Geography, Linguistics, and Psychology. Outside the Department of Geography (SN2012) are a series of posters highlighting Indigenous research, such as ‘Mobilizing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit for Sea-Ice Safety’. If you are feeling ambitious, walk the halls of the Science building to see what other posters and displays you can find that share diverse Indigenous research!

    4. Armillary Sphere

      In the courtyard between the Science, Arts and Administration, and Math buildings is an armillary sphere and sundial surrounded by 4 garden beds. Through the efforts of the Memorial Beautification Committee in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Affairs, these beds are filled with flowers and juniper bushes, with blooms reminiscent of the colours of the berries in the Juniper House logo. In the coming years, we will work to add medicinal plants significant to the Indigenous Peoples in the province. This garden creates space for Indigenous knowledge, and it is a visual metaphor for Indigenization of the academy. It is a slow and gradual process, requiring care, consideration, and learning.

    5. Arts and Administration Building

      Throughout the Arts and Administration building you can find Memorial University Press book displays that include works by Indigenous authors. One such book display is located in the ground floor atrium. Which book would you like to read?

    6. Bruneau Centre - Beatrice Watts boardroom

      The Beatrice Watts Boardroom (Room IIC2014) is named for Dr. Watts of Nain, Labrador, who earned her degree at Memorial University in 1951 and returned to become the first Labrador Inuit school teacher. She developed informal and practical ways to teach Inuttitut in her classroom. Dr, Watts worked with the Labrador Integrated School Board to develop an Inuttitut language program and to create a course on traditional Inuit skills. She also worked with Memorial University to create the Teacher Education Program in Labrador, where she taught courses in Inuttitut. Dr. Watts passed in 2004, and is remembered as a scholar, teacher, educational administrator, community leader, and language champion in Labrador.

    7. QEII library lobby

      Located in the front lobby of the library Let’s Study was painted by Inuk artist and Memorial graduate Jessica Winters. Images of a tent, evergreen trees and, facing north, an inukshuk, wrap around a pillar in the Queen Elizabeth II Library lobby. The phrase ‘Let’s study’ is written in Inuktitut, Innu-aimun, Mi’kmaq, and English.

    8. QEII library The Commons

      Towards an Encyclopedia of Knowledge – this series of posters is located at the back of The Commons are excerpts from Pam Hall’s Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge (ELK). Chapter 3 of The Encyclopedia was completed in partnership with Mi’kmaw artist Jerry Evans and community collaborators in Miawpukek (Conne River). 

    9. Education Building

      Inuit Bachelor of Education Degree undergraduate students created this beautiful wall hanging display located in the lobby inside the front entrance of the Education building. It is a visual representation of the Inuit core laws of relationship and communal laws. Check out this beautiful piece and read the description to learn about the Inuit core laws of relationships, the communal laws, and the students who created this piece.

    10. University Centre

      Located on the 3rd floor of the UC are 2 photographs of performances at Memorial Unviersity by Eastern Owl, a local Indigenous-led all nations drum group. One photo is by the elevators and one is near Booster Juice. Give Eastern Owl a listen if you aren’t already familiar with their music!

    11. Inuksuk stone statue

      In front of the Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering (C-Core) building you can find a stone statue depicting an inuksuk. An inuksuk (plural inuksuit) is a type of stone landmark built and used by Inuit throughout Inuit Nunangat, Alaska, and Greenland. This statue was unveiled in 1996 to mark Memorial’s hosting of the 10th annual Inuit Studies Conference, and the 20th anniversary of C-CORE.

    12. Queen's College: The Great Hall

      The Great Hall (QC2011) of Queen’s College is home to a wide range of prehistoric and historic archaeological research being undertaken by faculty and graduate students. The display Tradition and Transition in Nunatsiavut highlights The Tradition and Transition Research Partnership between the Nunatsiavut Government and Memorial University, which supported archaeological research projects designed collaboratively to support Inuit interests.

    13. Hatcher Hall: Creations by Nations

      Located in Hatcher Hall outside room 313, Creations by Nations is an Indigenous student-led initiative inspiring and revitalizing cultural connection through creative-based workshops. Each collection of student works is a visual representation that celebrates Creations by Nations.

    14. Shiwak Hall

      Shiwak Hall of MacPherson College is named for John Shiwak, an Inuk sniper who served in the Newfoundland Regiment during World War I. He was born in the Labrador settlement Cul-de-Sac, near Rigolet, and grew up on the land, hunting, fishing, and trapping. Shiwak was an excellent sniper and came to be known as one of the best sharpshooters in the British forces.