Art is an inroad to personal expression and fulfillment, and the kids at Nusdeh Yoh elementary school just got their inroads graded.
At a special assembly to launch National Aboriginal Awareness Month, the Prince George school devoted to First Nations culture made a show out of art and what it means as a representation of culture and of self. The school enjoyed a live dance performance thanks to cultural teacher Rose Thomas, displays of painting, drawing, masks, and other visual elements, a multi-media show recalling the school year's cultural awareness activities, and some oral presentation was also done - all by the students themselves. Teachers and other community consultants helped.
The assembly was also a chance to unveil a set of other school assets that were recently obtained, all to do with artistic cultural conversation. The first to be pointed out was a set of four large cedar plaques mounted on the gymnasium wall, each one inlaid with expertly-painted figures in aboriginal style, representing the four main clans of the resident Lheidli T'enneh First Nation: caribou, frog, beaver and grouse.
Other area First Nations have complementary clan systems and one of the main clans in the regional neighbourhood is the bear clan. The second new artifact unveiled at the arts assembly was a cedar podium carved and painted with the bear image.
The third and most prominent unveiling was a giant cedar backdrop that now dominates the back wall of the school's stage. It has matching cedar portable miniature walls on each side known in theatre parlance as "masking legs." These are also painted with aboriginal images: trees, water, a moon with background frog, a canoe with upraised paddles, and the school's mascot, the sturgeon.
Most of the carving and design work on these three sets of wood-based art was done by west coast artist Bo Smith. He had help from school staffers like Leanne Ball and Pam Spooner.
"I learned so much, in the creation of these," said Spooner, principal at Nusdeh Yoh. "The energy is in the wood. I've heard artists say that before, but now that I've done this, I know what they mean. The wood really does have a spirit."
Another partner in the arts event was Prince George secondary school. Nusdeh Yoh's community co-ordinator Alison Thibodeau set up a 12-week art program whereby a group of Nusdeh Yoh girls travelled each Wednesday to PGSS after school to learn art techniques from the older students. It was a way to get familiar with PGSS for their later years, a way to develop peer mentorship, and a way to deepen the younger students' artistic expression skills.
The theme of the project was anti-violence.
"Aboriginal females experience the most violence of any population segment in Canada," Thibodeau told the assembly as the art from this initiative was unveiled. "These girls put a lot into their art and also thought a lot about moving forward and how to understand feelings."
One of those involved in the artistic pursuits of the students at the school is local singer-songwriter-actor-artist Ivan Paquette. As a youth worker, among his many skills, he feels it his duty to provide leadership at the choice-school devoted to teaching the provincial curriculum but in ways that emphasize First Nations culture (non-aboriginal students are equally welcome at the school).
"When I started my career in the arts, I was eight years old, right here in this same school," said Paquette. It was called Carney Hill elementary school in those days.
"Most of these kids are from a similar background, or they can easily understand it. When you have empathy, that is power. You can aspire to your dreams and you reach those goals better when you work together and understand each other. Art is transformative."
"The kids here all have to earn the same academic credentials as any kid in any school in the province, but they feel a pride and a welcome to be themselves when they walk in here, even if you aren't aboriginal," said Spooner. "Art gives such a personal and cultural connection for everyone. It represents you, and it lifts you."
There is more to come for Nusdeh Yoh students, staff, parents and supporters during this National Aboriginal Awareness Month.
On Wednesday some of the students travel to PGSS to take in a live theatre production. On June 17, Grades 4-7 will put on a potlatch. On June 19, music mixer Phil Roy will be at the school to demonstrate how to mix beats for hiphop songs and let some of the students give this skill a try.
Then, on June 21, all walks of life in Canada are welcomed to express appreciation for aboriginal cultures here and around the world on the annual National Aboriginal Day.
