A new mural by local Indigenous artist Alanah Astehtsi Otsistohkwa (Morningstar) Jewell now greets founders and visitors in the lobby of the University of Waterloo’s Velocity—a campus-based incubator that opened a little over a year ago. According to a news report by Angelica Marie Sanchez, the piece is titled Many Hearts, One Mind and reflects the relationship between Velocity and the land on which it stands, and the shared responsibility that comes with building new ventures.

Jewell, a mixed French-First Nations artist of the Bear Clan from the Oneida Nation of the Thames, drew inspiration from a visit to Velocity, where she observed students and founders developing ideas within a collaborative environment.

“Every person that steps foot in Velocity, at Waterloo, and in this community has their own unique heart with their own beliefs, values, childhood, and experience,” she says. “But coming to this place, we all have one mind. We all want to make the world a better place for someone else.”

UWaterloo unveiled the mural on January 20 with a smudging ceremony, an Indigenous tradition involving the burning of sacred medicines. Elder Myeengun Henry, Indigenous knowledge keeper at the University of Waterloo, then delivered remarks. He spoke about recognizing the Land and the responsibilities tied to working on it. “Everybody should feel that we are all human beings brought here with special gifts, talents, and ideas,” Henry says. “We share those gifts in the short time we live on this earth.”

Truth and reconciliation

Velocity and the university’s Office of Indigenous Relations collaborated to develop the project, with support from the Robinson Family Fund held at the Waterloo Region Community Foundation.

Organizers say the mural reflects Waterloo’s ongoing work toward truth and reconciliation. “True reconciliation is not a single moment, phrase, act, or symbol,” says Dr. John Lewis, interim associate vice-president of Indigenous Relations. “It is sustained work grounded in trust, accountability, and action that moves minds to where an Indigenous presence is not marginalized.”

The artwork depicts stars representing ideas that individuals originate and then improve through collaboration before reaching the wider world. Natural landscape elements acknowledge that, even in a city, the land continues to support the community.

At Velocity, startups are developing healthcare platforms, robotics systems, and clean technologies. With Many Hearts, One Mind now in place, the space carries a visible reminder that innovation and responsibility move forward together.

Read the original report here: https://uwaterloo.ca/news/velocity-unveils-new-indigenous-mural.