Sherron Burns’ artistry weaves its way through theatre, dance, mask work, and puppetry. She shares the work she is doing through collaborations, arts education, and her involvement in the newly formed Artist Run Centre (ARC) in North Battleford, SK.
Allie Steinley is one of the kindest women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting during my travels in Saskatchewan this summer. She genuinely cares about helping people, and I loved listening to her stories about her volunteer work overseas while we had lunch at the Ponteix Bakery and Restaurant—which makes the best long john donuts, by the way!
Not only did Allie help organize the digital storytelling workshop in Ponteix, she also participated in it. Allie wanted to share the story of what happened when she and one of her co-workers at the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre went on two camping adventures this summer with more than 30 newcomer youth living in Saskatchewan. During the workshop, she wrote and produced this touching digital story.
Ashley took my digital storytelling workshop in Ponteix with her mother and two sisters. She wanted to tell a story about working on the farm with her family and how everyone helps one another. She produced this lovely digital story that gives a glimpse of what life on a farm is like from a young girl’s perspective. This workshop was hosted by the Southwest Newcomer Welcome Centre and the Cultural Centre Royer.
I am staying at a beautiful bed and breakfast on a farm near Wymark, SK, which is about 20 kilometres south of Swift Current.
When I pulled up to the house last night, three (of nine) farm cats and two dogs greeted me.
Just outside the patio doors to my bedroom are pigs, horses and a chicken coop. Right now, I can hear sheep having a conversation with the cows from my window.
I grew up in Saskatoon and have not had much experience with farm life. It’s fitting that I’m staying here, since I’m facilitating a digital storytelling workshop in Ponteix, SK and several of the participants are doing their stories on the family farm. The workshop is organized by the Southwest Welcome Newcomer Centre and is being held at the Cultural Centre in Ponteix, or perhaps more commonly known to the locals as Le Centre Culturel Royer.
Just a few weeks ago, Ponteix celebrated its 100th anniversary. It’s a town of about 600 people with a lively Francophone community. In the early 20th century, Ponteix was founded by a priest from France and became a French settlement. Father Albert Marie Royer named the town Ponteix after the church he served in France. This afternoon I wandered through the cemetery and noticed that many of the surnames on the graves were indeed French.
One woman in the workshop is doing her digital story in French with English subtitles. Another young girl is working on a story about moving to Saskatchewan from the Philippines. And one participant’s story is on cross-cultural friendships formed among young people at a leadership camp.
I’m looking forward to watching these digital narratives from Southwest Saskatchewan and sharing them with you.
Flo Frank shares stories of her global “from-ness”, and her passion for indigenous cultures. Stories from her travels, her love of Saskatchewan, cooking, and more. Flo’s work across Canada and around the world has made, and continues to make, a positive difference on the planet. Sage advice from her Grandmother!
I’m always excited to learn about new spaces popping up that provide opportunities for artists of all genres to create. Finding affordable studio space in any city can be a challenge. During my recent visit to North Battleford to record a SaskScapes podcast with artist Sherron Burns, I had the pleasure of spending time in the newly formed Artist Run Centre. It was wonderful to meet several of the artists working in the new space that day. Each has a section of the large studio, and each space is decorated with art that reflects the work and vision of the individuals. It’s a bright, open, vibrant space and it all came together through the efforts of artists who had a vision. They took that vision to the town council and as with many things in life, when the vision is there, the practical aspects just fall in line.
Here is their mission statement:
ARC: Creative Studios is an artist run centre in downtown North Battleford where artists can create new work, collaborate with one another and connect with community through markets, events, workshops and performances.
You can follow ARC on their Facebook page HERE
(photo included with this post shows painter, Rosemarie Stadnyk working with acrylics)
Stay tuned for an upcoming podcast in which Sherron speaks about how ARC came together!
My second visit to Rockglen took place in the Library. A group of us met Wednesday morning and made Origami Boats in preparation for our ‘Lighted Launch,’ which will take place on Wednesday September 24th.
Like before, I gave a demonstration on how to make an Origami boat and played a short video that reinforced this teaching.
Then, we broke off into smaller groups and went through the process step-by-step.
All and all, we made about fifty boats that day and I hope to return one more time before the launch.
Later that night, a couple of Rockglen residents took me to Fife Lake (about a ten minute drive out of town), where the ‘Lighted Launch’ will take place.
It’s a beautiful lake.
The two residents, Richard and Darcy, (who are in their early sixties) explained to me how when they were young this Lake/Regional Park was the place to be. The campground was always full. Locals came for the weekend. There were swimming lessons, ball tournaments, a rodeo, etc. Then in the late 80s the lake began to dry up and by the year 2000 it was nothing more than a small puddle.
In the last two years, however, the lake has been completely restored. The night I was there, people were kayaking and boating. Kids were skipping stones. People were camping. And others were playing ball in the nearby diamonds, practicing for the ball tournament that was about to take place that weekend.
Listening to people talk about the lake I really got a sense of how relieved they are that “it came back.”
I was told that it’s the ebb and flow of nature, the cycle of water, that makes it so that a lake can completely disappear and then reappear. Plus, I was told it’s our human ‘footprint’ that disrupts nature “like that.” Many blamed a local coal mine for the water disappearing.
Either way, all seem happy to see the return of their lake. And rightly so. From a Cultural perspective this lake is of utmost importance. Look at all the activity that is dependant this lake. Even at it’s rudimentary level, even if a person does not participate in any activity at all, it is a gathering place. People who live in the same community, but do not necessarily visit, gather here and share.
Keeping this in mind, I find it wildly appropriate that we are having a ceremony that will celebrate this lake–a celebration that will further bring people together. I can’t wait.
Wendy Robinson joins me along with her cousin Brenda Sapergia and their two horses, Gypsy and Zeva. “Equine Therapy” brings unconditional companionship and comfort in times of joy and sadness. Horses have played a major role in the lives of Wendy and Brenda and have brought them through some life-changing events.
I spent August 12 in Shaunavon at the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre. Each year they host two different Kids’ Art Camp, and this year they asked that I come and facilitate a workshop for one of the days.
The roster was full with fun activities: visiting a local pottery studio, making Celtic walking sticks, painting, etc. So, I decided to add Papier–mâché to the list. Namely, we made Papier-mâché rabbit sculptures
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I had the group of twelve make the wire frames of the rabbits, stuff the frames, apply the Papier-mâché, and paint their sculpture s all in one day! They worked hard, but the end result was a dozen cute rabbits.
Most of my Culture Days Activities (and therefore these posts) focus on the bright side of our society. They focus on the fun, creative, celebratory nature of Saskatchewan.
While I enjoy the positivity of these endeavours and those aspects our Culture, I also feel that if we’re going to put forth a call to engage in Culture we have to be open to all potential aspects of what this might be.
The “All Nations Healing Moon Gathering” is one such example of what I am speaking about. Muskoday First Nation invites the families of those who have murdered and missing loved-ones to gather during the August Full/Super Moon, so as to grieve and heal. During this gathering there is much ceremony and cultural activity. There is a Sweatlodge, drumming, smudging, talking circles, the drying of meat and fish, the collection of sweetgrass and sage, feasts, and more.
That said, I was more than happy to be asked to attend this gathering and facilitate a craft or art workshop that could run alongside all the other activities.
They set up a tent for me and during the day I ran a simple styrofoam print workshop. I had many children come and stay the day and make several prints, which we then hung by clothes-pin on twine, around the tent. Even a few adults came and sat and visited for the duration of my stay.
I’m not sure if it was the nature of the gathering, people’s vulnerability, or the magic of the Super Moon, but there was a ‘closeness’ that is difficult to articulate. Perhaps a couple of examples will suffice: the Autistic boy who would only address me as Auntie, or the War Veteran who told me various stories from his three tours of duty.
It’s challenging to look at aspects of Culture such as the missing and murdered. But it’s there. So what better way to deal with this troubling experience than with creativity, song, traditions, ceremony, and Art.
