Story Poles

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Grove Theatre was honoured to unveil three brand new story poles that were installed at the amphiteatre. Mississauga Ojibway Carver and painter R. Kris Nahrgang hand carved the Story Poles using white cedar trees. When revealed, Nahrgang explained his process and the meaning behind the Indigenous carvings and universal symbols featured on the poles.

(R. Kris Nahrgang with the story poles)

A Bear

Representing family and unity

A Medicine Wheel

Painted in four colours - red, yellow, black and white - representing the four colours of people. “We are all here and all one people” says Nahrgang

An Eagle/Eagle Feathers

“The eagle flies above us and stands between the real world and the creator and speaks to the creator and tells him how we are doing” explains Nahrgang. Eagle Feathers representing healing. “The world has come through a tumultuous time but is beginning to heal.”

Theatre Masks

A Western symbol, but carved in the Indigenous woodland style, and therefore representing both cultures.

Dragonfly/Butterfly

Represents metamorphism in life. A beautiful spot was generated from nothing. There is a need to make changes in the world that are necessary for harmonious existence.

We hope this spot will be a gathering place where the poles will have people think of their neighbour and the wider world in another way: connected to one another, and to nature.