Two Algonquin Anishinaabe benches installed at Byron Linear Tramway Park invite pause and questions

# What was installed and where Two artist-designed benches by Algonquin Anishinaabe creators are now public fixtures at Byron Linear Tramway Park, just outside Westboro. The installation is part of the City of Ottawa's public art program associated with the future Sherbourne LRT station. The pieces were created to be used — people can sit on them, read a plaque, and spend a moment with the imagery.

# Who made the benches and why the imagery matters The benches were designed by Jade Rogers-Baptiste and Sylvia Tennisco, both identified as Algonquin Anishinaabe artists. Rogers-Baptiste drew on teachings she encountered growing up on the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. Tennisco's bench, titled "Sturgeon," references the freshwater fish's longstanding cultural role for Algonquin people.

# Cultural and ecological references Tennisco highlighted the sturgeon's role before large-scale river changes and noted that the species now faces extinction. The bench also references a material practice: historically, the durable sturgeon spine and cartilage were woven into wampum belts, giving the belts long-lasting structure. Rogers-Baptiste chose an oblique, curious approach to the Seven Grandfather Teachings — presenting imagery that prompts viewers to investigate rather than offering an obvious explanation.

# Process and mentorship Both artists encountered technical and procedural constraints when adapting their designs for urban public art. To bridge that gap, Algonquin Anishinaabe artist Claude Latour — who previously designed a bench for the Flora Footbridge project — joined the effort as a mentor. Latour worked with the artists to turn two-dimensional concepts into three-dimensional benches that meet the city's requirements for public installations.

The project intentionally situates Indigenous art where residents pass by daily. The benches are meant to prompt curiosity: people can sit, read plaques, and consider the stories and histories represented. The installations make an Indigenous presence visible in the park and use functional seating as a direct way for the public to engage with Algonquin Anishinaabe art.

# Takeaway for visitors If you visit Byron Linear Tramway Park near Westboro, look for the two benches: one marked by animal footprints connected to the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the other called "Sturgeon" featuring bright colours and cultural-ecological references. The pieces are designed to be used physically and to generate questions that lead viewers to learn more about Algonquin Anishinaabe teachings and local environmental history.