My Langara Reconciliation Carving Journey: The Orientation- My TRC Journey Begins...

Saturday, September 10, 2016

The Orientation- My TRC Journey Begins...

Well this blog should start with this but I didn't realize I was going to do a blog until today.

Let me tell you about this day as I remember....wish I had blogged it all then.

I arrived at the Langara and as I walked in I was having little flashbacks of my time that I went there in 1993-95 for Professional Photography. I was like, I recognize this and that and him....and there was Aaron(from the online info about the course)...walking down the hall. The timing was interesting.

I went to the Aboriginal Gathering Place and took a seat as others arrived.

It was lovely when Aaron sang a song on the drum and then one of the ladies (I am sorry I forgot her name... ) I believe it was Mary Jane she said a prayer. Then Aaron, Justin, Garwin took turns speaking and telling us why they were involved and explaining the course and what great opportunity it was.

Justin Wilson took us outside and told us this wonderful story of the totem pole that is on the Langara Campus. He said it would be so nice if the Musqueam had their own pole on this land because it is Musqueam Land that Langara College sits on.

And then this other lovely lady spoke to us about how it was fine that Haida had a pole here because the Musqueam were great warriors and they had protected this area and had traded a lot with the Haida.

We went back inside and they gave us more details. It was really inspiring. They each told how there was no Indigenous Art programs when they were younger and craved something like that so badly. They were so happy for us and wished us good luck and that we would really benefit from this wonderful opportunity.

It's heavy journey we are about to embark. We are going to learn to carve and make to panels. One for the Missing and Murdered Women and one for the Children of Residential Schools. Pause and let that sink in.

There's about 20 of us...all of various backgrounds, skills, talent, energy and this is brand new one of kind super unique class.

We had already submitted a letter applying to the program. Now we were being asked to write a letter showing our commitment.

Oh I forgot to mention, there was food. It was so great, there was food and drinks and well it was a really lovely orientation. I connected with a few people and left with very high hopes.