Carved in Stone: Saskatoon Cree school’s new artwork tells a lasting story

After months of work, a local artisan is putting final touches on massive hand-carved stone pieces that will welcome students for years to come.

A one-of-a-kind art project is nearing completion at awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis Cree School in Saskatoon.

After months of work, a local artisan is putting the final touches on massive hand-carved limestone pieces that will welcome students for years to come, a project that is both set in stone and rooted in meaning.

Ryan Watson, co-owner of Rocco Stone Masonry, has spent hundreds of hours carefully shaping three large-scale limestone features destined for the exterior of the school, which opened at the start of the academic year in September.

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“It’s a huge honor. It’s not really about me doing it,” Watson told CTV News. “It’s about me relating their vision into the stone that will be there for a long time.”

The carvings reflect themes of connection, culture, and storytelling. Developed in close collaboration with elders, each detail has been thoughtfully designed to ensure it carries proper meaning and respect.

Symbols such as sweetgrass, an eagle, a sunset, and a cross are all carefully incorporated.

“You use the templates to transfer the images onto the stone, and it’s just a series of syncing things down and then giving it shape and movement. You have to pay attention to light and shadow,” Watson explained.

Using traditional tools similar to those from the early 1900s, the process is as authentic as it is labour-intensive.

“You always have to look up to see our carvings,” said Nicolene Watson, Ryan’s business partner and wife.

“Most people will often just think it’s cement, but they don’t realize that it’s a stone carver using traditional tools of the trade.”

The placement of the carvings has also been carefully planned. One of the largest pieces will be installed to the left of the school’s main entrance, with the cross being situation beside the school name.

“It’s pretty special to have been asked to do these three carvings for the Cree school,” Nicolene added.

The project has sparked strong interest from the community, with many following its progress online and offering positive feedback as the carvings take shape.

“It’s been really, really positive feedback, which is really good for me,” Ryan Watson said.

The carvings are expected to be installed around the middle of May, creating a lasting visual legacy for students and a powerful reminder that every detail, and every stroke, tells a story.