From September 2016 to April 2017 I attended Langara Reconciliation Carving Cohort. This was my online journey- a collection of research, thoughts, feelings, work and anything that would aid me and others to help the next 7 generations.
So here's some of the things we are learning about in class. I was sleepy this morning, wish I had taken better notes but these photos are helpful and I plan to research it more online.
We each got a piece of metal and are working on it. I am making a gouging type tool. We are learning to file it down in the most efficient and fairly quiet way...my ears were hurting I must admit but after a bit people got the hang of it. Slow and steady...
Later we got a piece of lovely red cedar and we will be working on it, creating our first personal design and from these ideas we hope to create panels.
Some students from the Aboriginal Studies program came for a visit and that was nice. I had a very nice chat with one lovely young woman.
There's apparently a lot of interest in what we are doing. It totally new and many people, especially people in the education system wondering how they can incorporate what we are doing into their classrooms.
And so the journey continues. Today again I was totally exhausted when I got home, mentally and physically, I had to take a nap right after I ate. I have heard this is how we store memories into the long-term. I guess I have a lot of processing to do. ha! ha!
I will try to post more soon on my design and the progress of my work.
Tomorrow they are Raising the Survivors Pole on the DTES and I hope to get down there to document it and share in the celebration. Been watching carefully everything that is happening in Standing Rock...we are living in a very interesting time.
We are on the cusp of something big. Only time will tell...when we look back 10, 20 or 30 years from now and remember what was happening. That's why I created this blog...to document and share the journey, so it's not forgotten.
To much has been forgotten..but not all is lost. That's our job, to bring it back. I plan to work hard to do my part, as hard as it is, it's my responsibility for my great great grandmas, my child, to myself and for humanity.
I just want to say Thank you, to Aaron, Justin, Shane, Tomo and everyone at Langara and Aaron's mom and all the others who are so supportive of us. We need it, it's a difficult journey and I am grateful to everyone in my class, in our little community for making this journey with me. It's been scary, joyful, exhausting, exciting, a roller coaster but we are doing it. Step by step, we are making our way and I am grateful to you all. Big hugs!! Sending love and light to you all.
We don't have class next week, so it should be interesting what we accomplish between now and next class.
READ about Witness Blanket
Newman and his team travelled more than 200,000 kilometres over 12 months to gather the objects for the Witness Blanket and speak with thousands of survivors.
Elements include a child's shoe, braids of hair, a hockey trophy, a
doorknob, a piece of belt, a photograph of a child and a letter from
parents asking that their children come home, all supported in a large
cedar frame. Visitors to the museum can use a mobile app to learn more
about each item.
It is a weird situation. The colonizers are coming to check out the damage done.
Some
of the things I read in comments were just trolls, and you must point out the irony,
but it is supposed to be Reconciliation and the NEED to see the Truth.
But
they didn't do all those terrible things, just like the current Pope didn't (their ancestors did, just as my ancestors)...and Diana knew, she must
have...she was very astute. And we are talking about her kid here,
William.
Most
people don't really really grasp it, (so many deny or don't even know about it, it's been buried, it's been secret, a horrible dark scary uglysecret) they don't want to because you
have to have GREAT EMPATHY to truly try and walk in the shoes of the
Residential Survivors because to be totally honest, it's to f_____g
scary. Yet we must, because it is the TRUTH.
Will the
help though. What will they do? Anything. I can tell you one thing, they
could put a ton of pressure on Justin and Christie to SHUT DOWN the
fish farms RIGHT NOW!!
Help Cleanse Our Waters http://cleansingourwaters.com/ before you kill off all wild salmon https://mylangaratrccarvingjourney.blogspot.ca/2016/09/call-to-action-protect-wild-salmon-link.html and truly
have a genocide and who knows what will come out of that...I don't want
to know but I look at Syria and other countries...I want peace and I
want people fed, clothed and living in nice warm homes in the wet rainy
forest like it's supposed to be so they don't suffer from depression and PTSD and addiction all caused by the loss of their cultures, language and now the very little land that is left.
Stop Climate Change!! Get Off Fossil Fuels.
They can put huge pressure on Justin and Christie and Catherine and Jody to do their jobs and STOP THE PIPELINES and TANKERS that are about to desecrate our coast. Stop subsidizing the Fossil Fuel Companies.
No Dam Way!Stop Site C, where they are going to FLOOD our bread basket of BC.
Stop the LNG on Lelu Island. Find ways to pressure them to Save the baby salmon, this is their nursery.
The list goes on, ... this is just what's happening mainly Unceded Territories to so called "British Columbia" it doesn't even cover the rest of Turtle Island - so called Canada
But can they...what can they truly do... do they have any power...not here...but they still could raise awareness and do everything in their power to help us to go green and adopt a more indigenous lifestyle in harmony with the earth instead of raping her with mining and other horrible things.
When we return to healthier, happier, more harmonious times women will be treated and honored and they will have their rights acknowledged and honored. and there will be NO MORE MMIW. http://www.theredressproject.org/
Kate could help with that. The could help with the DTES because we need A LOT of help and I know they are going there but what are they really going to see. Someone said it will be link the Olympics when locals were pushed out and the streets were hosed. (I boycotted the Olympics)
So what are they going to do. Come here for PhotoOp. I know they have been promoting mental health Heads Together https://www.headstogether.org.uk/about-heads-together/ and if they are going to pump money into that they they need to know the truth about past AND about the very REAL and CURRENT issues facing the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada right now...not just facing them but these are issues that affect everyone.
Just as everyone is uniting in Standing Rock to protect the water for 30 million people so are the Indigenous people in Canada standing up and protecting the land, water, salmon along many other people who want a better life.
Okay so to lighten the mood, I am going to post this. Don't we want this for all our kids. Harmony with nature, peace and harmony in our lives.
They are heading up their so let's hope and prayer they figure it out
and figure out ways to help correct the horrible wrongs of the past 100,
200, 500 years.
"The Haida’s relationship with the Crown, as represented by the
governments of B.C. and Canada, can be confrontational, but Lantin said
that has no bearing on the hospitality they’ll extend to the Prince and
his family.
“We’re trying not to look at it as a political-type trip,” Lantin
said. “It’s hard to do when you think about who they represent, but this
isn’t the time for that.”
And lastly I think we should listen to these wise words!
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You'd better free your mind instead
