We have announcements to make!
New calendars, a BOOK, and opportunities for you
How are you doing out there? We know it's a tough time as we all adjust to life during a global pandemic. We hope you are finding ways to care for yourself and you community, and that we will emerge stronger and with a more keen sense of how precious life and connection truly are.
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We've officially had our first frost, so it's time to stock up on some new reading material and get cozy with a cup of tea!
Announcing Hannah Clifford's first book, Hallway
This is a story of a Saulteau Cree rapper who is on his deathbed. David spent his twenties rapping around the world under the name The Aboriginal Original. Follow this story of David and his friends, while they learn about death and dying. The narration is based on true events and told from the eyes of a girl, in her twenties, in love at his bedside.
About the author
Hannah Clifford was born and raised in Prince George British Columbia, one of Canada‘s most dangerous cities. Growing up Hannah learned a lot about social justice and wellness in community. In elementary school she spent many days walking to Jubilee Lodge with her class to sing the songs like “I Think You’re Wonderful” with seniors. She enjoyed writing, though struggled to read as a young child. As a youth she wrote a poem and was asked to speak at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43. At 11 years old Hannah took her St. John’s Ambulance babysitting course and became a Childminder at the Aboriginal Head Start pre school on nights when parents and teachers had meetings. This was the beginning of her youth work career. She later became a Community Facilitator teaching film and art in many communities in Canada for over eight years. Hannah grew up under the wing of her parents. Her mother was the Director of Health at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, for twenty years. Her father was a pool hall proprietor. He often stood on Third Ave and George Street, sometimes offering players tobacco in trade for a story. Her father would then tell Hannah the stories and she was humbled to learn about the world that surrounded her. Hannah is excited to continue writing and to continue learning stories that build our communities. She is of Irish, Lower Russian and Métis decent. Hallway is Hannah’s first published book.
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Circle Teachings has been working on a Pow Wow themed calendar in collaboration with the Running Thunder Pow Wow group and Adrian LaChance.
We want to show the depth beyond the surface beauty of Pow Wow, and give dancers and drummers a chance to describe the lifestyle, ceremony, and teachings that make it sacred.
Adrian shared an important teaching with us: that many people from a variety of dance groups and nations have always traditionally come together in the Pow Wow circle, and it is time to bring more people into the circle of creating this calendar. We are currently seeking community organizations to collaborate with, to align with the teaching of many coming together for Pow Wow and healing.
Now more than ever we need ways to connect with our customers, friends, and families that are safe and yet still powerful, and inspiring. We need reminders and teachings that bolster our resilience. This calendar does not replace the Pow Wows we are missing, but it is the published equivalent to one.
The calendar gathers together dancers, role models, crafters, and those with stories that will connect and inspire us in a format that is already beloved and familiar to our clients and customers.
We’re not sure when we will be able to gather in the same ways we used to, and the calendar will help tide us over. We are envisioning that reading and looking at it will feel like being at a Grand Entry, but with more rich behind the scenes information, including a timeline about Pow Wow history.
The theme of the calendar will be healing through cultural dance and art from Indigenous perspectives ; there will be stories about what dancers have done to stay balanced in their medicine wheel throughout the pandemic, and things that readers can do to stay connected, safe, and healthy. There will also be stories about regalia and traditional crafts, and teachings behind Pow Wow gifts like blankets.
The calendar can also be created with a poster series or other spin-offs in mind. The cost of creating posters is very low when converting images and text directly from a calendar.
We are also working on our Kohkom III calendar, and a Multicultural Grandmothers of Edmonton calendar!
Stay tuned for more information and in the meantime:
- Let us know if your grandmother has any good recipes!
- Email us or give us a call if you want to get involved. We need volunteers, submissions, and sponsors!
- Now is the time, we are working on getting this calendar done this fall!
Thanks for keeping
up to date!
