Grade 5 Students Honour Spindle Whorls Through Art

During a week when the country observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), Grade 5 students took time to explore the school's Spindle Whorls, which represent the school’s four core values—courage, honesty, respect, and service. With guidance from Junior School visual art teacher Brittany Cutler, students had the opportunity to create their own 2D whorls, reinterpreting these values through symbols and images that were meaningful to them.

Honouring the Tradition of the Spindle Whorls

After a powerful discussion with the schools Indigenous Liaison, Cutler helped imagine how Junior School art could be part of the school's upcoming assembly for NDTR. Elders that work with the school were able to provide input on themes that might be both meaningful and interesting for Junior School students.

“When I heard the Elders had proposed spindle whorls as a theme, I was excited,” Cutler said. “The circular format is powerful, and Dylan Thomas’ originals are such an important part of our school community. This was an opportunity for students to honour those works while making their own connections to the values.”

Already incorporating Indigenous themes into her art curriculum, Cutler saw this project as a natural extension — an opportunity to deepen students’ learning while honouring the significance of the spindle whorls.

Creating Student Interpretations of Core Values

To start, students took time to study the existing spindle whorls through the stories and photos online. Working in pairs, they selected a value that resonated with them and brainstormed imagery to capture its meaning.

“It was really about interpretation,” said Cutler. “How does respect, courage, honesty or service look through your eyes? What images represent that to you?”

Themes of nature, the natural world, and human connection were all thoughts that came up:

“We thought the koi fish represent perseverance, which is close to courage. They travel up the river and sometimes it’s not easy, but they always keep going.” - Ruby

“We wanted to represent a clean environment. Trees give us clean air, and having no garbage around means healthy animals too.” - Pippa and Emily

“It looks like it was hard for that flower to grow there, but it did it anyway. When someone tells the truth, it makes other people happy because they don’t have to go digging for the right information.” - Bronwyn

“We believe every culture should help each other,” - Sophie and Kennedy, who painted two hands in different colours encircling the Earth, with a heart at the centre.

Another student, Alyssa, even went beyond the four values represented in the original SMUS spindle whorls, creating a new whorl around the theme of harmony — a reflection of the values she felt were most important for her school community.

Reflection and Sharing at the NDTR Assembly

For many, the process was as meaningful as the finished pieces. Students spent lunch hours and recesses in the art room, adding details and refining designs.

“The students were deeply engaged,” said Cutler. “It showed how seriously they took the responsibility of creating something connected to the values and symbolism of the spindle whorls.”

Photos of the students' art were shared during the school’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation assembly on Oct. 3. For students and teachers alike, the project has been both an artistic exercise and a moment of reflection — a chance to honour Indigenous traditions while discovering how these values continue to guide daily life at SMUS.