Highway 407 ETR’s first-ever mural at Mississauga Road bridge highlights Anishinaabe teachings and connection to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2026 /CNW/ — A large-scale mural is now complete at the Mississauga Road bridge on Highway 407 ETR. Created by renowned Indigenous artist Philip Cote, the artwork shares Indigenous stories that will be seen by an average of 800,000 drivers and passengers each week. Located within the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the mural honours the Nation’s history, culture and enduring relationship with the land.
407 ETR commissioned the mural in June 2026 and it was completed in October 2026. Working alongside a live highway brought unique challenges, and careful planning and coordination were required to complete the project safely.
Cote’s work highlights Anishinaabe teachings about the stars and changing seasons, as well as Indigenous cultural, spiritual and ancestral connections. Prominent imagery references the Medicine Wheel, animal clans of the Ojibwe and Mississauga Peoples, sacred medicines and other Indigenous cultural symbols and teachings, reflecting themes of land, identity, renewal and the interconnectedness of people and the natural world.
“I want Indigenous people to feel proud when they see this work, but I also want Canadians to feel proud that there’s this amazing history here,” says Philip Cote. “It’s about bringing an Indigenous story into an everyday place and helping people see the deeper history of the land around them. What this art does is break down barriers, allowing people to see who the Indigenous people really are.”
“We’re honoured to provide the Mississauga Road bridge as a canvas for learning, reflection and connection,” says Jose Espinosa, President & CEO, 407 ETR. “This mural is a powerful way to recognize the history of the land around us and create greater understanding through Indigenous art and storytelling.”
407 ETR marked the mural’s completion with a celebration on Oct. 30, joined by Cote, representatives from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and 407 ETR employees to recognize the artwork, and the stories and teachings it shares.
“This mural is an opportunity to share the history, culture and teachings of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation with the hundreds of thousands of people who travel this section of the highway each week,” says Chief Margaret Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. “Our stories are deeply connected to these Treaty Lands and Territory, and it is important that people understand the Indigenous history of the places they live, work and travel through. We thank Philip Cote for bringing these stories to life through his art, and 407 ETR for helping create a space where Indigenous history and culture can be seen, shared and celebrated.”
“Stories have the power to change the way we see the places around us,” says Christina Basil, Vice President, Communications & Government Relations, 407 ETR. “By bringing Cote’s work to the highway, drivers have a unique opportunity to encounter Indigenous stories and teachings as part of their everyday journey. This project shows what can happen when strong partnerships and meaningful storytelling come together.”
The project follows 407 ETR’s recent announcement of a $1.5-million investment over three years to support the development of the Giigoonh (Fish) Doodem Indigenous Placemaking Site at Credit Valley Conservation’s (CVC) Charles Sauriol Conservation Area in Caledon. Planned along the Credit River, the site will include an interpretive trail celebrating Fish clan families and sharing Anishinaabe teachings. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. The first placemaking site, the Ajijaak (Crane) Gathering Space at CVC’s Island Lake Conservation Area, opened in June 2025 with support from 407 ETR.
Learn more about the artwork and the meaning behind each element at 407etr.com/indigenousmural.
Fast facts
- The mural is the first large-scale artwork installed along Highway 407 ETR. An average of 800,000 drivers and passengers will pass by the artwork each week.
- The mural was created in the Indigenous Woodland art style and uses animals, stars, medicines and other cultural symbols to share Mississauga and Ojibwe history, identity and teachings.
- 407 ETR recently sponsored the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s Fall Harvest Festival in October, an annual cultural and community event featuring traditional seasonal food and activities.
- 407 ETR has a longstanding partnership with CVC, supporting Indigenous placemaking and environmental stewardship, including the Ajijaak (Crane) Gathering Space and a $1.5-million investment over three years toward the Giigoonh (Fish) Doodem Indigenous Placemaking Site in Caledon.
- Since 2024, 407 ETR has supported the Little Native Hockey League tournament in Markham with $85,000 in funding and $350,000 in travel gift cards to help families travel easily between tournament venues.
About 407 ETR:
Highway 407 ETR is an all-electronic open-access toll highway located in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. The highway spans 108 kilometres from Burlington in the west to Pickering in the east.
407 International Inc. is the sole shareholder of 407 ETR and is owned by:
- Cintra Global S.E., a subsidiary of Ferrovial S.A. (48.29%)
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and other institutional investors with non-controlling interests (44.20%)
- Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) (7.51%)
About the artist:
Philip Cote is an Indigenous artist, educator and cultural interpreter from Moose Deer Point First Nation, with Shawnee, Lakota, Potawatomi, Ojibway and Algonquin affiliations. His work draws on oral traditions, Indigenous knowledge and cultural symbolism to bring Indigenous histories and perspectives into public spaces.
A graduate of OCAD University’s Interdisciplinary Art Media and Design master’s program, Cote has created many large-scale public artworks throughout his career, including murals at the Rogers Centre, Billy Bishop Airport, Peel and Toronto District School Boards and more.
SOURCE 407 ETR Concession Company Limited
