If you’ve passed through City Hall, you may have noticed a new display above the lobby doors, featuring two eagles.
These eagles, named Fionna and Joe (if you are facing the lobby doors, the one on the left is Fionna and the one on the right is Joe) are more than decorative elements. They are part of a broader effort to bring Indigenous placemaking into our civic spaces.
Indigenous placemaking is about more than enhancing how a space looks. “Placemaking is not just about beautifying or animating public spaces,” says Chuen Yee (Henry) Lau from Recreation and Community Development. Lau was involved in getting the City Hall lobby display set up.
“It is about creating meaning, connection, and belonging. In this case, it becomes a beautiful and essential beginning. For many this might be their first step on a journey of discovery and understanding of Indigenous cultures,” says Lau.
For employees, this work is an invitation. It encourages us to pause, reflect and learn. For some, these installations may spark curiosity or serve as a first step toward better understanding Indigenous cultures and histories. For others, they reinforce ongoing commitments to Reconciliation and respect.
For the community, Indigenous placemaking helps ensure public spaces are more inclusive and reflective of Saskatoon’s identity. It creates visible, shared acknowledgements of Indigenous presence and contributions, helping to foster greater awareness, respect, and connection among residents.
“The two eagles soaring in City Hall are more than a placeholder,” says Dorthea Swiftwolfe, Auntie Advocate. “They are a visible reminder of our shared responsibility to honor the journey of truth and reconciliation. May the eagles create space for reflection, inspire learning and meaningful change.”
As we walk this path together, may we walk gently, with respect, humility, and in harmony with one another.
This work is part of a broader focus on creative placemaking across Saskatoon. Creative placemaking uses culture and creativity to enhance public spaces while supporting community development. This includes expanding opportunities for cultural expression in civic spaces, supporting festivals and events, animating neighbourhoods and investing in cultural infrastructure.
By incorporating Indigenous perspectives into these efforts, we are helping to build spaces that tell more complete stories about who we are as a city.
Indigenous placemaking is an important step forward, not only in how our spaces look, but in how they feel, what they represent and how they bring people together. It supports a shared journey toward understanding, respect and belonging for all.
