Georgian College

10 GEORGIANVIEW 2024 PRINT EDITION ALUMNI STORIES Case will forever be part of special occasions New display case honours Eagle Feather's sacred significance Each year, convocation is undeniably one of the Georgian community's most special moments. But last year, the celebration held even deeper importance for Solomon King (class of 2018), a graduate of the Cabinetmaking Techniques program at the Barrie Campus, as he became a pivotal part of the institution's legacy. Prior to the 2023 ceremonies, Georgian was gifted with the Eagle Feather by alumnus Curtis Copegog (class of 2012 and 2014), a great honour recognizing the college's commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. The Feather, embodying the strength and determination of every Indigenous student, will now be a permanent fixture during the convocation processional at every future ceremony. "To the Indigenous people of North America, the Eagle (Migizi) is one of the most revered and respected beings in Creation. These beautiful birds represent the link that people from all Indigenous nations have to the Creator," says Ernestine Baldwin, Visiting Elder at the Indigenous Resource Centre on the Barrie Campus. "The Eagle is recognized as the leader of the birds as it has the ability to be the highest flyer and therefore flies closest to the Creator." Solomon, a celebrated stonemason and sculpture artist, was enlisted to bring his distinct creativity and style to designing a proper display case for the Eagle Feather, one that reflected the sacred item's profound significance. "I was honoured to be part of this historic moment for Georgian," shares Solomon. "I was also eager to meet the unique challenges of this piece, which had to be functional, self-contained, visually striking and culturally appropriate to meet the needs of the Georgian community and its Indigenous students." In developing the concept for the Eagle Feather's case, Solomon's main goal was to incorporate the ideas shared by the Georgian team and weave it all together in a way that paid homage to the Eagle Feather's journey. His process included pages of sketches, a collection of red cedar planks with varying wood grains, a colour palette of vibrant Smalti tiles and an understanding of various materials and processes. From this, he created a one-of-a-kind piece blending the traditional with the contemporary—a stunning display case of wood and glass that was celebrated by Georgian's Indigenous Services team, including the Elder-in-Residence. "I could not have created such a beautiful case without the supplementary education I received through Georgian's cabinetmaking program," says Solomon. "Since graduating, I've incorporated my 'wood' skills, visual arts and trades training into all my public art projects, including the Eagle Feather case. I'm honoured that my creative talents were entrusted for such an important ceremonial item for the Georgian community." Along with the Eagle Feather, Solomon's case will forever be a proud part of the Georgian experience for generations of students as they cross the convocation stage, ready to create their impact as alumni.

• Cover