A fourth-year visual arts student at Lakehead University says it feels incredible to have designed one side of a new coin for the Royal Canadian Mint.

The Royal Canadian Mint asked Mary McPherson to participate in the design process for the new coin.                                                             

She was thrilled when the Mint chose her image of Tecumseh, a legendary Shawnee war leader who allied himself with the British and heroically led hundreds of First Nations warriors into battle at such places as Fort Meigs and most famously, Detroit.

Released on Tuesday, Sept. 4, the new coin recognizes the 250th anniversary of Tecumseh’s birth.

“It feels incredibly different than the work that I usually produce,” said McPherson, who is Ojibway and a member of Couchiching First Nation.

“I’ve never had an artistic experience quite like this one. I feel extremely grateful to have had the honour of drawing Tecumseh and having the design immortalized on a coin.”

McPherson said she learned a lot during the process.

“What I particularly realized throughout the duration of this project was how Tecumseh had, according to Dickason and Newbigging, ‘sided with the British, not because he liked them particularly but because he saw them as the lesser of two evils,’” she said.

“Tecumseh fought for the wellbeing and independence of his people. He had also united Indigenous nations, in resistance to a divide-and-conquer mentality, while maintaining the essential notion that the land was to be shared among all peoples and was not something to be owned.”

The MM on the right side of the coin represents McPherson’s initials. McPherson said her Lakehead University education helped her immensely with this process.

“Through Visual Arts and Indigenous Learning, I was able to improve my drawing skills, research skills, and time management skills, which aided me in completing this project.”

For more information about the coin, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website.

Tesa Fiddler (BA'01, MEd.'12) a Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board teacher has been named the 2019 Outstanding Indigenous Educator by the Canadian Teachers' Federation.

A member of Weagamow and Onigaming first nations, Tesa received the award in Ottawa on July 11th, 2019. The award recognizes an educator who displays "leadership in Indigenous education and excellence in teaching that reflects Indigenous culture."

Fiddler has worked as an Indigenous Education Resource Teacher for the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board since 2011.

"On behalf of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) I congratulate Tesa for her outstanding work in Indigenous education," NAN Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox said in a statement. "As a caring educator, wife and mother, Tesa has devoted herself to helping youth understand who they are and where they come from, recognize their gifts, and recognize the resilience of Indigenous Peoples." An 'inspiration' "Tesa approaches her work with an open heart and an open mind, and her passion for education is matched only by her compassion for youth."

Fiddler was nominated for the award by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association. "Education is of upmost priority among First Nations in Ontario and Leadership alike," Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald said in a statement. "It is the foundation for our youth to build a bright future, that is full of opportunities."

"We congratulate Tesa Fiddler in her work for championing the ongoing success of both First Nations and non-First Nations learners," Archibald said. "Her unique cross-cultural technique is the key to preserving our collective indigenous language, heritage and culture. Tesa Fiddler is an inspiration and a true role model for all to follow."

In addition to her work for the Thunder Bay Catholic board, Fiddler has also taught at York University, Lakehead University, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, and Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education Institute.

It has been an amazing 15 years since I graduated Lakehead with a BA and BEd.  Since then, I have worked for the Peel District School Board, married my university love Rob Esch (BS Electrical Engineering '04), we have two beautiful girls (Emily 11 and Abigayle 9).  Amid numerous challenges that life threw us it became clear I was made for something other than classroom teaching (but let me tell you as a Phys Ed. specialist it was super fun at times.)

As of October 1, 2019, I am officially retired from classroom teaching and have begun my own business (Total Wellness Milton.) It helps families incorporate fitness and nutrition into their busy lives and works with individuals who have suffered injury to return to sport safely. 

Rob is still an Engineer with Hitachi Truck and we look forward to 2022 when we can both be home full time working our dream job.