Our Truth: A Reconciliation Project Through Beading - $1,500 GRANT
|
The Indigenous Learning Group at Meadows West School is a group of students who express interest in learning more about Indigenous cultures across Canada through the Arts and land based experiences. This group was originally started to ensure that Indigenous students who were at our school and living within the CFS system has consistent positive experiences with their own culture and people. It is also a group that is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures of Canada. We meet once a week after school where we have small feasts, learn from others, and each other, about the Indigenous cultures of Canada, and then express that learning through Art and hands on experiences.
For this project we started off by talking about the words Truthand Reconciliation. While the students did have knowledge about Residential schools, and the experience of Indigenous People of Canada, they did not really understand how Truth and Reconciliation was connected. The students shared what those two words meant to them, and then we broke down what those words might mean to Indigenous people who have all been impacted by colonialism. A common theme came up of how many Indigenous children, including many in our group, are still experiencing loss of family and culture due to being taken away from their families, and in the care of CFS. They shared personal stories of their own families and eventually they all developed an understanding, based on their knowledge and experiences, of what those two words meant. At this point our artist in residence, Jessica Canard joined us. She began by talking about her experience as an artist, and showcasing some of her work. She then did numerous demonstrations of beading techniques including the tools needed, how to thread needles (the most challenging part), colour selection, design, and then stitching techniques. Everyone started off by making a beading piece of their choice, in order to learn the techniques. They made a simple design and then the students practiced the back stitch and quickly found a beading rhythm. This initial beading piece was done on a smaller piece of felt. Once they were finished with the small piece, the students had to think of a bigger piece that went with our theme of “Truth and Reconciliation”. They brainstormed with each other and Jessica to come of with a design that was true to their feelings and understanding of the topic. They used their new skills to bead beautiful pieces that either expressed how they felt about the Indigenous experience in Canada, or about their personal connection to the words Truth and Reconciliation. After the students finished beading they wrote a personal reflection on their piece as well as on learning how to bead. They set up a beautiful Art exhibit for parents and the community to see as they came to visit our school. Throughout the project there were many needle pokes, and bead spills, and many more laughs and stories shared. This project became a way of talking and learning about the devastating impact that loss of culture and family has on people, and that this is what Indigenous people of Canada have faced and still face. It gave us an opportunity to express how we all feel about how people should be treated in our beautiful country. It taught us to connect and break down barriers within our own school. An unexpected result of this project was that almost every student declared that beading has given them a new way to deal with feelings of anxiety or unrest. Jessica taught us the beauty of beading and how you can bring any image to life through it. Everyone loved working with Jessica. She is an amazing teacher who brought so much positivity and fun to the group. |
Please enjoy our final art pieces and reading the writing reflections that accompany the art.
A big thank you to Jessica who led us in this project. As well as the Manitoba Association for Art Education who through a generous grant allowed us to make this project happen! Also thank you to Ms. Larson, Ms. Stearns, and Ms. Bevan for their help making this project come to life.
A big thank you to Jessica who led us in this project. As well as the Manitoba Association for Art Education who through a generous grant allowed us to make this project happen! Also thank you to Ms. Larson, Ms. Stearns, and Ms. Bevan for their help making this project come to life.
Some student reflections on the project:
I’ve learned a lot from when we started beading to now. I’ve learned there is lots of beauty behind these tiny beads. I really liked it because it’s very calming and it helped me with lots of stress relieving. – Serenity
My Grandma Dudar used to make the most delicious peanut butter and Smarties cookies. Every since she passed away those cookies don’t taste the same. When we talked about Truth and Reconciliation and what it meant to us I thought about my family, and how important they are to me. It made me feel grateful that I got to spend so much time with my Grandma. Many Indigenous kids didn’t get to have that experience, which makes me feel bad. – Jesse
The broken heart with a Band-Aid over it represents something very personal to me. I love learning about my culture, especially the way Indigenous people do their Art. I really liked doing beading. It is calming and I learned it very quickly. I actually got really good at beading! Jessica helped me when the beading got hard. She was a great teacher, and I loved working with her. - Leah
I wanted to do The Beatles for my beading because The Beatles inspired me to start playing the guitar. Listening to The Beatles and playing my guitar really helps me calm down when I’m angry and it really helps me get better when I’m sad. The Beatles also made a lot of songs about peace and love, that’s another reason why I chose to bead The Beatles. The Beatles and guitar are basically my whole life at this point. I’m happy I learned to bead because it is super fun. - Brian
I’ve learned a lot from when we started beading to now. I’ve learned there is lots of beauty behind these tiny beads. I really liked it because it’s very calming and it helped me with lots of stress relieving. – Serenity
My Grandma Dudar used to make the most delicious peanut butter and Smarties cookies. Every since she passed away those cookies don’t taste the same. When we talked about Truth and Reconciliation and what it meant to us I thought about my family, and how important they are to me. It made me feel grateful that I got to spend so much time with my Grandma. Many Indigenous kids didn’t get to have that experience, which makes me feel bad. – Jesse
The broken heart with a Band-Aid over it represents something very personal to me. I love learning about my culture, especially the way Indigenous people do their Art. I really liked doing beading. It is calming and I learned it very quickly. I actually got really good at beading! Jessica helped me when the beading got hard. She was a great teacher, and I loved working with her. - Leah
I wanted to do The Beatles for my beading because The Beatles inspired me to start playing the guitar. Listening to The Beatles and playing my guitar really helps me calm down when I’m angry and it really helps me get better when I’m sad. The Beatles also made a lot of songs about peace and love, that’s another reason why I chose to bead The Beatles. The Beatles and guitar are basically my whole life at this point. I’m happy I learned to bead because it is super fun. - Brian