The final mural from the Strong People, Strong Communities project has been unveiled.

Located at the youth centre in Yellowknife at 4903 50 St., the Strong Elders mural is the sixth one that the organization has fostered.

RELATED REPORTING: More murals emerge in Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndil谦

Strong Elders, like the previous murals, was designed with the goal of creative inspiration.

SA国际影视传媒淲e hope that this inspires more public art in our community, and that this really inspires youth to be artists in the community,SA国际影视传媒� said Mahalia Yakeleya-Newmark, who co-founded Strong People, Strong Communities with her sister Kalina Newmark.

SA国际影视传媒淓very single one of the murals is really a powerful piece on their own. They all have so much, not only artistic talent, but just the teachings and the stories behind them all make them so meaningful,SA国际影视传媒� Yakeleya-Newmark said.

The Strong Elders mural depicts an elderly woman standing behind a girl. Strong People, Strong Communities describes it as SA国际影视传媒渙ur matriarch, once a brave youth herself, takes her place passing on traditional knowledge to the next generations. The youth with moccasin-clad feet planted on the ground is physically and symbolically rooted to the land and tradition of our cultures. Her thick braids show her vitality and strength as a young woman. She bears traditional face markings of her ancestors, a sign that she is of age and ready to do her part in her family and community.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite the high-profile artwork created in Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndil谦, Yakeleya-Newmark believes thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a bit of a misconception regarding the project.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think a lot of people were mistaken in that they saw the project as being an organization,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎ctually weSA国际影视传媒檙e not, weSA国际影视传媒檙e just a collective of people who wanted to create something beautiful in our community.SA国际影视传媒�

The choice of the youth centre as a location came about from Strong People, Strong Communities wanting to display the murals in community-based organizations.

SA国际影视传媒淧laces of hope and beauty SA国际影视传媒� so we thought that this was a great location, just the power of our youth, being future leaders in our community,SA国际影视传媒� said Yakeleya-Newmark. SA国际影视传媒淲e use that phrase a lot, future leaders, but our leaders, our youth, are leaders already.SA国际影视传媒�

Those behind Strong People, Strong Communities are thankful and proud to SA国际影视传媒渂ring this project to life,SA国际影视传媒� especially when it almost wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a reality.

SA国际影视传媒淭here were a couple of points during this project where we thought we were going to have to let (it) go,SA国际影视传媒� said Yakeleya-Newmark. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of all of the changes and pivoting and constant adapting that we had to do with Covid, there was a couple of times where we really, seriously thought about letting it go.SA国际影视传媒�

Through community and volunteer assistance though, the dream would become a reality.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just really want toSA国际影视传媒� express that gratitude we have to everybody who helped us, who volunteered and, literally, like put in their time and effort,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Yakeleya-Newmark added that she encourages people to follow their dreams.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou have a dream, and your job is to share it with other people,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒榃hen you share it with other people, there will be other people who step forward to support you.SA国际影视传媒�