Joseph Sagaj had the floor at the grand opening of Seneca's Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE) at Newnham Campus last Friday.
Literally.
Indigenous artist Joseph Sagaj talks about the making of the Circle of Indigenous Knowledge medallion he's standing on during the grand opening celebration of Seneca's Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship.
The Indigenous artist who created the award-winning terrazzo medallion inset in the floor of CITE took centre stage in the middle of his artwork, titled Circle of Indigenous Knowledge, and shared with students, employees and guests his journey in making what is now the centrepiece of CITE's Innovation Gallery.
"The way the elders put it," Sagaj said, "the foot prints of the clans of the animals and birds incorporated in the medallion serve as a metaphor to invite people to walk with us in the circle of life, the circle of unity."
When he was working on the medallion, Sagaj said he kept in mind students from all over the world, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
"They have their beliefs and ways," he said. "I wanted to make it neutral and inclusive for everyone."
CITE as a building overall is, in fact, inclusive of many things. With 274,000 square feet of space over five storeys, it is the biggest construction project in Seneca's history. Under its roof, CITE brings together applied research, commercialization, specialized training and an entrepreneurial incubator for both students and industry leaders. It will also unite, for the first time, all of Seneca's administrative areas.
