HEAL Your HEART!

                        Heal Your Heart through Drum Making!

This Fine Arts entry is all about Healing Your Heart Through Drum Making!

A few years ago I coordinated a youth program, and wrote a grant to Northern Health in which we successfully was given enough to make drums for all the participants in the classroom. Through drum making I believe is a very strong connection to our culture that can lead to healing anyone's heart when creating their own drum, and drum stick. Singing, and drumming is one of the main ways to heal our hearts. Most of the youth who made drums now participate in the drumming and singing practises twice a week, and are learning how to sing our potlatch songs; this is lead by all the singers in the community. I am very proud of this vary program as it helps, and promotes our youth to revitalize our singing and drumming of our Carrier ways. (Above are two pictures of myself, and my youngest when she was only 11 months old when we made drums.) Students later got the opportunity to paint a design on their drums, and beaded a drum stick. I show a picture of the drum I made, and beaded drum stick in which we had traditional practitioners come in to teach us.

Honouring Our Veterans!

Remembrance Day 3 Panel Art Display,

Before I started this lesson's activity, I shared a power point that I put together on Remembrance Day, and this picture below is a picture of my late Grandfather who served in the World War II, his background was German, and he was born in Saskatchewan, Canada. My late grandfather Dan was one of the best men I had ever known in my life. Not only did my grandfather serve for our Country, but also spent 30 years crafting wood work. (which I will share in a new blog.)

Grade 4 Remembrance Day panels presented at the UNBC Art Show. All students created their own 3-panels that represented respect, and honour to our beloved Veterans, and to Soldiers who still serve for our beautiful Country we all call 'Home'.

My Uncle Ron Austin's Art

Ron Austin was raised by Marianne Austin from Hagwilget, B.C. better known as TseKya to the Witsuwet'en people.  He took courses at the Fraser Valley College and concentrated on West coast art.  Below are two examples of the many prints Ron has done.  He is also the master carver of a totem pole that is currently in Japan and the most recent pole erected in Moricetown, B.C. 

Native Fishermen and Whale Print 

Sasquatch Print

Gitsegukla singers/dancers in Fort St James

I was born and raised in my early years in Hazelton, B.C. in the community of Tsekya.  The Gitsegukla singers/dancers are members of the Gitskan people; they are the neighbouring community of the village where I was raised by my grandmother, Marianne Austin who was also of Gitskan decent.  I like this song.

Art Inspired by Ted Harrison

                           Art Inspired By Ted Harrison 

Who is Ted Harrison?

Ted Harrison is one of Canada’s most popular artists. His love of the land and people of the Yukon has brought him national acclaim. His distinctive style of painting is both colourful and sophisticated yet retains an innocent charm, and appeals to young and old alike.

My comments.....I remember being inspired in elementary school back in the day when I was first  introduced to Ted Harrision's creative art in grade seven. By using Harrison's distinctive style it would be a great idea for an art project as the images of his paintings are full of color, lines, and include natural elements. Form mountains to animals to sunsets, Harrison's paintings are wonderfully simple and amazingly expressed.

In addition to his work as a painter, Ted has written several children’s books and illustrated both “The Cremation of Sam McGee” and “The Shooting of Dan McGrew” by Robert Service.

Other projects include his design of Yukon Pavilion for Vancouver Expo’ 86 and the design of a Canada Post Christmas Stamp in 1996.

Bear Clan Entrance Dance 

This is a very special potlatch entrance song hosted by the Bear clan in Burns Lake B.C. as it was the Headstone feast for my late aunty Martha Crouse who also held a Hereditary Chief name. My aunty Martha had a heart of gold and was a great loss to our whole community as she was known as 'Burns Lake Mom' to many. Family, Friends, Hereditary Chiefs, and Honorary Guests participated in this two Headstone potlatch feast as another family member of the Bear clan also celebrated their loved one as well. Dancing in to the potlatch hall is started by spouses first then followed by children and grandchildren of the Bear clan who dress up, or wear blankets with money to help pay expenses. I am also taking part in this entrance dance as my Grandma, and Father are both from the Bear Clan. The potlatch system is a very strong cultural practice that I am proud to be apart of, and participate in from our Carrier Culture.
Mesiy - Thank you!

Classroom Totem Poles

I had fun creating a classroom totem pole as I introduced this topic by presenting a power point about a little bit on the history of totem poles, an also pictures of my uncle, Ron Austin who is a Master Carver from Hazelton, B.C. who recently carved a 28 foot totem pole in Moricetown, along with 2 other totem poles in Smithers for the North West Community College, and Smithers Secondary school.

In the classroom students were really engaged as I brought some visuals to the classroom such as carved items like a mask, and a painted drum that was designed by my uncle Ron. 

The activity of this lesson gave students a chance to implement their own stories by creating their own crest, and sharing about their culture, or favourite emblem. I was surprised how well this lesson turned out. One of my favourite story from a student was who made a native designed salmon that resembled his summer visits to Bella Coola with family. Another one was having a story that resembled two nationalities by being from Canada, and China then the students spoke about both cultural experiences. All were so creative in their own ways, and at the end all the students were happy to present their crests that built on itself in the classroom. I would definitely do this again in the classroom, and happy to share a cultural activity.