Trent University has unveiled the crest for Gidigaa Migizi College, the university’s sixth college named in honour of the late Curve Lake First Nation Elder and former chief Douglas Williams (Gidigaa Migizi).
Designed by First Nations artist Jared Tait using a traditional Anishinaabeg woodland art style, the crest was unveiled at the Elders Gathering Feast Saturday evening (February 10) at Trent Athletic Centre during the 48th annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering. At the unveiling, a special scarf featuring the new crest was presented to the Elders and members of Williams’ family, honouring them as the first members of the new college.
The much-beloved Williams, who passed away in July 2022, was an associate professor at Trent University and director of studies for the PhD program in Indigenous Studies, teaching the land-based course for the program. In Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), Gidigaa Migizi means spotted eagle.
The crest includes elements deeply symbolic to Gidigaa Migizi, incorporating his colours — deep blue, green, and turquoise — and featuring a spotted eagle representing his name as well as a pike representing his clan (Maashginoozhe). Human profiles within the spotted eagle symbolizes ancestral connections, while a portal — an element in First Nations art — represents the link to culture and tradition.
“This new emblem is rich in symbolism and deeply connected to the legacy of Gidigaa Migizi, the namesake for our sixth college,” says Marilyn Burns, Trent University’s vice president of communications and enrolment, in a media release.
“It reinforces the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that especially recognizes the First Nations of this territory and the complexities of our shared history.”
According to the release, artist Jared Tait drew inspiration from his own heritage and the profound impact of Williams on the local Indigenous community.
“An important aspect of selecting Jared Tait for this crest was solidifying that his creative vision aligned with the college’s foundational values and embodied the Anishinaabeg’s rich traditions,” says Jack Hoggarth, chair of Anishinaabe knowledge and assistant professor from the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University.
“This choice reflects a thoughtful consideration of how art can perpetuate language and culture, ensuring the crest of Gidigaa Migizi College will be a meaningful tribute, honouring its namesake and the broader mission of Trent University.”
To ensure the crest appropriately honoured Gidigaa Migizi’s impact and the treaty and traditional land Trent University sits on, the university consulted with the Elders & Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council, which had originally recommended the college be named Gidigaa Migizi last year.
To be built on the east bank of Trent University’s Symons Campus in Peterborough, Gidigaa Migizi College will be the university’s sixth college, joining Champlain, Lady Eaton, Peter Gzowski, Otonabee, and Catharine Parr Traill. The colleges are scholarly communities comprising student residences, dining halls, and academic and administrative space.
With an anticipated opening of 2028, Gidigaa Migizi College will include as many as 700 new beds for first-year students along with classrooms, faculty offices, and student spaces.
VIDEO: Interview with crest designer Jared Tait
