Designs by Sudbury Secondary School Arts Major on Indigenous Awards

Artwork by a talented student from Sudbury Secondary School is featured on a series of Indigenous Awards honouring student success in the Rainbow District School Board.

Michael (Mikey) Lampman’s drawings were inspired by the animals that represent The Seven Grandfather Teachings: bear for Bravery, wolf for Humility, sabe for Honesty, eagle for Love, buffalo for Respect, turtle for Truth, and beaver for Wisdom.

The concept for the artwork was born in a Grade 10 Civics and Careers class when students were invited to create a piece of art that incorporated things that relate to their personal being. Mikey put pencil to paper. He later hand painted the artwork onto canvas.

The opportunity to design awards to honour Indigenous graduates in Rainbow Schools found Mikey while he was taking a Grade 11 Media class. He knew immediately that his paintings of the Seven Grandfather Teachings were the perfect place to start.

Mikey assumed the project knowing that he needed to learn all he could about digital design. To create the awards, he took photographs of his original paintings and uploaded them into the computer. With Adobe software, he traced each and every line to resemble the original artwork as much as possible.

After many, many hours, Mikey finally perfected his work. He then took it a step further, designing the text and the format. By the end of the semester, Mikey had mastered the tools. With new techniques, he created seven beautiful pieces of digital art along with the templates to personalize the awards for the deserving Indigenous students who will receive them for years to come.

Captivated by the elegance of each drawing and the message behind each teaching, Sudbury Secondary School’s Principal recently had the works enlarged for posters, with the teachings in Ojibwe and English. Signed and framed, the art has now found pride of place in the school’s Ojibwe room, Indigenous support room, and classroom at the N’Swakamok Native Alternative School, making them accessible to a broader audience.

A senior Arts Major at Sudbury Secondary School, Mikey studies Dance and Visual Arts. He also played in the concert band and took classes in technology design, media arts and fashion. Throughout secondary school, Mikey has used the skills he has gained to create an array of artistic pieces from dance choreography, to handmade jewelry, musical theatre performances, sculptures, paintings, drawings, digital graphic designs, logos and more.

“It really is so special to have my art hanging on the walls of the place that made me who I am today,” says Mikey who will graduate from Sudbury Secondary School in June. He also received accolades from the company that printed the posters. “It’s pretty awesome to get recognized by an artist that is already successful in the field,” he adds. “It’s even more amazing that they took a liking to my art and reached out.”

This will no doubt open more doors for Mikey in the field of digital art in the future.

Indigenous Student Success Awards

Bravery Award
Bravery is shown by facing new challenges and experiences. Presented to a graduating student who protects what they believe in and what they feel is right for their community, family and self.

Honesty Award
Honesty is being our truest self. Presented to a graduating student who walks tall, accepts themselves, and does not seek power, speed or the beauty of others.

Humility Award
Humility is to know you are a sacred part of creation. Presented to a graduating student who lives life selflessly – not selfishly.

Love Award
To know love is to know peace. Love can be found in the core of all teachings. Presented to a graduating student who views their inner-self from the perspective of all teachings. This is to know love and to love yourself truly

Respect Award
Respect is understanding the balance between the needs of self and the needs of others. Presented to a graduating student who has honoured creation and by treating others as you would like to be treated.

Truth Award
Truth is understanding the importance of both the journey and the destination. Presented to a graduating student who walks one’s path in a slow and mindful manner

Wisdom Award
To cherish knowledge and to understand your natural gifts is to know wisdom. Presented to a graduating student who observes life and all that is around them.

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Media Contact:

Heather Downey, Principal, Sudbury Secondary School
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-7551