Toronto School Unveils Unique Stained-Glass Window Honoring Inuit Culture

A newly installed stained-glass window at Toronto’s Bishop Strachan School is creating a personal connection for students to Canada’s journey toward truth and reconciliation. Designed by Inuk artist Ningiukulu Teevee, the window depicts the Inuit folktale “The Owl and the Raven” and stands out with its vibrant blue hues amidst the chapel’s warm reds and yellows.

The window was commissioned in memory of Grace Peebles, a former student who passed away in July 2021 following an epileptic seizure. Head of School Angela Terpstra described her initial reaction, stating, “It took my breath away,” as she observed how the light refracts through the glass, casting rainbows across the chapel’s interior. The memorial project, which was completely funded by donations, cost approximately $100,000.

Terpstra noted that the school aimed to create a tribute that would also enhance students’ understanding of Indigenous cultures. The choice of the Inuit legend was intentional, as it conveys themes of friendship and reciprocity. She emphasized the importance of engaging even the youngest students, explaining that the window tells a story that is both meaningful and enjoyable.

The storytelling aspect of the window serves as a lesson in cultural perspective. Students are encouraged to read the panels from the bottom left and move across the center, challenging the conventional Western left-to-right reading order. Terpstra highlighted that this design choice serves as a reminder of how different cultures interpret narratives uniquely.

“This window is intended as a provocation to contemplation,” Terpstra said, aiming to inspire questions and actions among students regarding reconciliation. The stained-glass artist Sue Obata, who painted the window, remarked on the significance of incorporating Inuit themes into a traditional chapel setting. She stated, “It starts with respect. Respect for people who are different.”

The project commenced with sketches by Ningiukulu Teevee, which were then transformed into stained-glass layouts by Norbert Sattler at Sattler’s Stained Glass Studio Ltd. in Nova Scotia. Obata encountered several technical challenges, particularly in maintaining Teevee’s graphic linework while avoiding the three-dimensional modeling common in European stained glass.

Blue, a color with historical significance in church glass, was chosen for its sacred connotations and suitability for contemplative spaces. This color also enhances the window’s imagery, evoking elements of sky and water alongside whales, a narwhal, and the descending owl.

This stained-glass window stands alongside two Christian-themed windows in the chapel, symbolizing a blend of cultural narratives. Terpstra, who will conclude her 20-year tenure at the all-girls school in July 2023, framed the project within a larger institutional history. Founded in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation, Bishop Strachan School holds a responsibility to foster understanding and dialogue about Canada’s diverse cultural heritage.

As the window becomes a permanent fixture in the chapel, it serves as a lasting reminder for students to reflect on their perspectives and their roles in the ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation.