Anishinaabe Artist Jeannette Ladd Chosen for Thames Hall Mural
Western University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives is pleased to share that Jeannette Ladd, an Anishinaabe‑kwe artist from Saugeen First Nation, has been selected to create a permanent mural for the Parr Family Atrium in Thames Hall.
Her work will bring Anishinaabe presence, teachings, and visual storytelling into one of the most active spaces on campus, offering everyone a moment of connection and grounding as they move through their day.
The mural project, Connection to Creation, is a collaboration between the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and McIntosh Gallery. Together, these units invited Indigenous artists from across the region to propose a work that would depict Indigenous Creation teachings and help foster a more inclusive and culturally grounded student environment. The goal is to transform the atrium into a space where Indigenous knowledge is not only acknowledged but meaningfully reflected in the architecture of campus life.
“This project reflects our shared commitment to honouring Indigenous creation stories and worldviews, ensuring that our Indigenous students see themselves meaningfully reflected in the spaces where they learn and gather on campus,” said Dr. Christy R. Bressette, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Initiatives). “By bringing this work into the heart of Thames Hall, we are strengthening culturally safe environments on campus and advancing Indigenous visibility in meaningful ways that resonate with our community.”
Jeannette brings a deeply rooted perspective to this project. Raised along the shores of Lake Huron, her art is influenced from the stories, teachings, and relationships that shaped her early life. Her practice is known for its gentle but powerful presence.
“My approach would be to root the work in the teachings of how the world came to be as an active and ongoing relationship. Not as a story of the past but as a way of understanding responsibility, healing and interconnection today,” said Jeannette Ladd. “I create with the intention that people walking through the space will slow down, breathe differently and feel that they are in the presence of something living.”
Western is grateful to the artists, staff members, and community members who supported this process, and looks forward to welcoming Jeannette’s vision to campus.
Installation of the mural is planned for later this year, with more details to come as the project develops. The official unveiling will take place in September during an artist talk.
