Inglewood mural project showcases community’s Indigenous history

Inglewood is Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood with a history dating back to 1875. But, a lesser-known side of that past are the Métis people who made it home first.

Artist Karen Scarlett hopes to shed light on the Indigenous history with murals along 9 Ave. at the Alexandra Centre, right as you enter the community.

“At one point it was all Métis community here, even before the turn of the century,” said Karen Scarlett, the mural project’s lead artist.

“Being here on 9 Ave. … anyone that comes across the bridge is going to drive by it,” said Brian Blackburn, the president of the Alexandra Centre Society.

Scarlett is a local artist, who was brought on by the Alexandra Centre and worked alongside local Indigenous artists to paint the murals.

“Honouring our history and our past and connecting us all together is just so important and I think art does that in the best way,” said Scarlett.

READ MORE:

• Hajdu looking at ‘realistic timeline’ to end First Nations boil water advisories

• Murray Sinclair to chair negotiations on federal compensation for First Nations kids

• Missing White Women Syndrome, and why it never goes away

“The far piece is the teepees that are at Castle Mountain, so the teepee and circle that would have been here in the summer and in the winter they would go take shelter at Castle Mountain Range.”

As a way to engage people and create conversations around the former residential school findings earlier this year, they’ve added a hopscotch game to the art.

“Inglewood was one of the first areas of settlement in Calgary, of course right across from Fort Calgary, and this was an area where the Métis settled because of the convergence of the Elbow and Bow River, and there’s quite a history with how the trail used to run from here down south which eventually turned into Macleod Trail,” explained Blackburn.

Blackburn says the building is quintessential to the area. It was the perfect place to showcase the neighbourhood’s roots.

“And we’re looking at the Alexandra Centre to become a hub of the community,” said Blackbrn.

The house adjacent to the centre used to be where a Hudson’s Bay trading post was and nearby there were findings of teepee skeletons. Scarlett says the murals are drawing people’s eyes and attention to the Indigenous heritage.

“Now that there’s this strong public artwork on the building, people are asking questions and trying to find out what goes on here,” said Scarlett.