College celebrates a new grand entrance

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College celebrated its updated commons and amphitheater area on Dec. 4. The event included speeches from FDLTCC president Anita Hanson and Title III coordinator Jeffrey Tibbetts.

Renovations in the area started in May and concluded in late November.

The refurbished area features a terrazzo design starting at the main entrance and connecting with the terrazzo floor in the building's south wing featuring the college's five core values, a project completed in 2019. The plans for both areas began in 2018 involving designers and college staff.

The amphitheater floor features two otters swimming, inspired by the painting "The Twins" by fine arts program coordinator and renowned Anishinaabe visual artist Karen Savage-Blue. It honors late Anishinaabe instructor Dan "Gaagigebines" Jones and his twin brother, Dennis.

The second element of the terrazzo design features the St. Louis River Estuary. The design starts with Gichigami (Great Sea of the Ojibwe, Lake Superior) at the Thunder Deli and continues under the space's new tables and chairs to the Fond du Lac Reservation. The river design was chosen to represent the college's longstanding Union of Cultures guiding principle. A variety of place names can be seen throughout the design. The place names were chosen for their historical significance and familiarity among all people in this area.

The final portion of the design extends along the wall of windows facing the college's medicine garden. This portion features braided sweetgrass with the 13 phases of the moon. The moons represent the cyclical and seasonal lifestyle of the Anishinaabe.