Explore Indigenous ways of knowing and being in Alex Janvier’s monumental masterpiece.

Painted in 1993 by renowned Dene Suline-Saulteaux artist Alex Janvier, assisted by his son Dean, Morning star adorns a domed ceiling seven storeys above the floor of the Haida Gwaii Salon. Divided into four colourful quadrants, this monumental work illustrates the history of the land in which we live, while also expressing hope for mutual respect and reconciliation between Indigenous and European traditions.

Each of the quadrants represents a different period in Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective. The yellow quadrant reflects the period prior to European contact. Blue depicts contact and a time of turbulence. Red represents the beginnings of Indigenous revival. And white signifies healing and reconciliation.

To provide an optimal viewing experience, there are reclining seats in the Salon, allowing visitors to look up as they contemplate this masterpiece by one of the world’s best-known Indigenous artists.