8th Fire

8th Fire

1166 Dundas St. W.

This colourful mural reflects a 1,200-year-old prophecy about the era of the 8th Fire—a time of unity between settlers and Indigenous peoples. A short documentary accompanies the artwork, detailing its creation and exploring how the 8th Fire era, which began in 2021, allows for the rediscovery of Indigenous identity.

Painted on wood and digitally reproduced on vinyl, the 8th Fire mural is a visual journey into the Indigenous roots and ongoing Indigenous narrative of the greater Toronto area, serving as compelling graphic acknowledgement of the continued contributions of Indigenous creators to the culture of our city.

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“This 8th Fire initiative is part of an effort to ensure that Indigenous people are written back into history during the era of the 8th Fire, this time of the merging of the settlers and indigenous people. It’s time to make peace, to find common ground to talk truthfully about the land, rather than using the negative settler narratives that have dominated for so long.”– Philip Cote, Artist

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The 8th Fire mural is supported by the My Main Street program, the Canadian Urban Institute, and the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Additional project support has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Little Portugal Toronto BIA.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Philip Cote, MFA
Philip Cote is a Sundancer, Pipe Carrier, and Sweat Ceremony leader. His work challenges colonial narratives and integrates storytelling with traditional spiritual perspectives. Notable pieces include murals for the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and Fort York. Pam Lostracco Pam Lostracco, a Toronto-based mural designer, focuses on biophilic design, using natural colors and themes to connect viewers to nature’s restorative power.