The introduction reminds us that it often takes the making of things to really appreciate how lovely and skilled those technologies are. Even in watching several of the videos this week, I now have a new appreciation for what I used to think was the simplicity of rope. Whenever I watch any "how it's made" video, it gives me new appreciation for the product that is being described. Having the ability to try out some of the creations this week gives an even greater appreciation to the often taken for granted resources that help shape our world.
Videos
The video that stood out to me the most this week was Weaving the Bridge at Q’eswachaka. Of all of the fascinating details that go into rebuilding the bridge every year, the participation and collaboration of the community sticks with me the most. The bridge could not be done without the help of all of the community contributors, and it's impressive to see everyone work together for a common goal. It also reminds me of part of a lesson that a guest speaker brought to our classroom today. She reminded the students of the importance in speaking their language (Dene Yati), because if they don't, it will be lost forever, like her language was. Similar to the bridge making, not only is it important for the elders to share their knowledge, but then for the next generation to continue the cycle of the teaching, so that their peoples history can be preserved.
Activity
For this weeks activity, I decided to ask my partner for some assistance. I watched a video on braiding, and coached her through the 5-strand braid, as she had never done this before. As she was trying to braid her own hair, she commented on how she could feel herself using a part of her brain that she doesn't think she uses very often. Once the pattern was established, and with practice, the five-strand braid became more easy to execute. This picture shows the first attempt, in a not so neat way. I could do a similar activity in my classroom using yarn, where students could start with 3 strand, and work their way up to 5 strand, to ultimately increase their ability to recognize and manipulate patterns.
Reading - 'The spirit of the medicine will lead us back': How Avis O'Brien is guiding Elders to weave their first cedar hats
This weeks article interviews Avis O'Brien, a young land-based empowerment facilitator on Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw territory. O'Brien has been inspired by her roots to teach Elders in her community how to weave cedar hats. The tradition had once been lost amongst the Elders, as the government had prevented them from their Potlatch ceremonies, where these activities were practiced. Now, O'Brien is "giving back these Elders something that was taken from them" (McKenzie, A. & Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, 2021.
I didn't know, although, tragically it is not surprising, that the Government of Canada had banned Potlatches from 1885-1951. The Potlatch ceremony is a gift-giving feast practiced in the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and the US. I say not surprising because it was an important aspect of the Indigenous people's ability to self-govern. The Government's abolishment of this activity would no doubt get them closer to their ultimate goal of colonization by forced Indigenous assimilation. Another sad and disgusting scar from our history.
My second stop had me thinking about the act of gift giving. Many Indigenous cultures participate in gift giving as an act of thanks, as far as I know. There may be more significance behind the act, but I am not educated enough to speak on it. I value the idea, and wish it was a more common practice in our communities. Why do we (*I) only traditionally give gifts on special occasions?
What are some gifts that we can give Elders that enter our school, avoiding trivializing the act, or giving a pouch of tobacco?
References
McKenzie, A. & Local Journalism Initiative Reporter. (2021). The spirit of the medicine will lead us back. Canadian Press Entreprises Inc.
Hi Pat,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a very important point here:
"Having the ability to try out some of the creations this week gives an even greater appreciation to the often taken for granted resources that help shape our world."
This is very important and emphasizes the importance of hands on learning for our students and getting them involved in the buidingf and making projects.
Even very basics like growing a vegetable garden might seem like an alien subject to some of us living in urban communities. Once you go through the process, it make your appreciate the amount of work that goes into growing vegetables. It provides a fresh perspective and thinking about how the produce that we pick up from the various aisles in the big market stores got there in the first place.
In the earlier stages of pandemic when most of us were locked down in our homes, and the supply of even essentials was limited due to effects of pandemic supply chain management, there were many people who turned to basic to start making and creating basic need items from scratch (with whatever was easily available to them). It did makes us appreciate and find the beauty in hands on creative projects.