What were once four, ordinary B次元官网网址� if not ugly B次元官网网址� purple pillars are now culturally rich works of art.
Four local First Nations artists, one from each band on the Peninsula, collaborated with StellyB次元官网网址檚 Secondary students in the First Nations art classes to unveil the Story Pole Project on . Each artist created an image to represent an important story from their band. These images, along with an adze wood finish, were installed on the four structural pillars in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 Learning Commons.
On Wednesday, June 21 Tsartlip elders Daniel and Lila Sam blessed each pole among a gathering of students, faculty, local dignitaries and other members of the First Nations.
B次元官网网址淲hen I look at each pole, it brings back memories B次元官网网址� memories of my grandparents, my way of life,B次元官网网址� Daniel said to the group. B次元官网网址淲ith the teachers, the white students B次元官网网址� we want to be as one, one spirit.B次元官网网址�
Each pole tells a story: artist Chris PaulB次元官网网址檚 (Tsartlip) work depicts a raven, salmon and human faces, representing the beautiful west coast and the privilege of raising children here; artist Doug LaFortuneB次元官网网址檚 (Tsawout) work depicts a heron, representing the coast and what he sees everyday from his home on the water; artist James JimmyB次元官网网址檚 (Tseycum) work depicts a bear, otherwise known as the protector, and represents strength and family; and artist Mark HenryB次元官网网址檚 (Pauquachin) work depicts a pod of whales, representing the importance of togetherness.
Kathy Horn LaFortune, another local artist, says the posts signify the four corners of a house and the cross-beams signify the support of a house, adding the adze wood finish is a realistic touch based on what First Nations homes used to look like. Each post is positioned in the direction of the First Nations it represents.
Two Tsawout students involved in the project, Damon Underwood and Cameron Mawson, both say working with the local artists was like nothing theyB次元官网网址檇 previously experienced.
B次元官网网址淲e learned so much about where the art has been,B次元官网网址� says Underwood. B次元官网网址淭hey taught us to make our own style, not to copy others, but to keep our heritage B次元官网网址� the artists have the heritage and they wanted to share it with us B次元官网网址� where we were from, our people.B次元官网网址�
Over the course of the four weeks the artists worked with the students, they not only taught art techniques, but shared stories of their people and culture.
B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 just taught, it was felt,B次元官网网址� Underwood says.
Both students are graduating next year and hope to see more projects like this for future students.
B次元官网网址淲hen I started in grade nine there wasnB次元官网网址檛 really anything like this, but now thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more cultural activities. My little brother will be going here soon so I want to leave a mark for him,B次元官网网址� says Underwood. B次元官网网址淚t means everything to me; family and culture comes first. WeB次元官网网址檝e been through so much as a people, weB次元官网网址檙e not just going to let our culture die.B次元官网网址�
Mawson, who followed in his older sisterB次元官网网址檚 footsteps by leading the schoolB次元官网网址檚 powwow this year, agreed, saying culture is his life and he wants to leave a legacy for others.
The art will also serve as a teaching tool for future students to learn about First Nations culture, said Principal Sally Hansen.
The project was made possible through grant funding from the Vancouver Foundation and the Sheldon Gilmour Foundation. A second phase of the project has already been drafted and librarian Alice Kedves says itB次元官网网址檚 only a matter of time until itB次元官网网址檚 seen through.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
