ḵ̕wa̱la'yu Baskets
These Red Cedar Bark Harvesting Baskets were woven in the Spirit of Decolonization & Reconciliation: encouraging time spent on the land and strengthening the bonds we have with our ḵ̕wa̱la’yu (our reason for breathing).
One of the most devastating impacts of our history is the breakdown of our family system, and I really feel this in my life. Parenting is not easy for me and I struggle with it. Spending time on the land with my Kwala’yu is one way that I work towards strengthening our bond. My prayer is that these baskets can help facilitate that for other parents/ aunties / uncles / Nonni’s / Tsinni’s/ caregivers and their Kwala’yu’s
Cedar Harvesting Basket
This Red Cedar Harvesting Basket was woven in the Spirit of Decolonization: encouraging time spent on the land and to strengthen a connection to plant medicines. It is perfect for harvesting Mushrooms, Devils Club, Stinging Nettle, Cedar Boughs, or any lighter weighing plants you want to harvest.
Cedar Woven Baby Bassinet
Baby's first bed is a cedar bark bassinet. The bark was harvested by her dad and big brother in Haida Gwaii. At the beginning of my pregnancy I learned that in Kwakwaka'wakw tradition, pregnant women are not to weave or the cord will get wrapped around the baby's neck. The idea of not weaving for 9 months sounded torturous so I wove anyways.
Birthing Mat
This Cedar Birthing Mat was woven for a mother with her baby on the way. The spiritual function of cedar birthing mats is to ensure that the first spirit our babies connect to coming from the spiritual world is cedar, and the last thing they connect with going back to the spiritual world, is also cedar (buried in a cedar box). The cedar utilized in this mat is from Haida Gwaii, so babe can spiritually connection to the spirit of their territory as soon as they enter this realm from the spirit world (mothers womb)
Thoughts, prayers, intentions, hopes and dreams we cultivate for our children become imbued into the mat – seeing mom raise her children to rise above the trauma and dysfunction that exists in our communities – the fallout of the ongoing impacts of colonization and residential schools we are all living with.
The way I see her raising her son gives me hope for our next generation: Raising Haida boys to be Allies, to understand the sacredness of women as life givers, the backbone of our culture and strength behind our Chiefs. To carry Yahguudang, Respect for Self, Respect for Others, Respect for the Land, Respect for All Living Beings. To become emotionally intelligent with self regulation tools, healthy secure attachment, and know how to love, nurture, and care for themselves. Your children are blessed to have a mother like you, raising up your children in such a strong, empowered and culturally rooted way.
Woven Skateboard
This skateboard was woven for an art exhibit organized by Indigenous Life Sport Academy’s fundraiser and art exhibition. All proceeds from this Skateboard Exhibition go towards supporting Indigenous youth in foster care.
Indigenous youth are grossly overrepresented in the foster care system across Canada. Indigenous youth comprise only 7% of the general population (ages 12-17), but make up 52% of youth in foster care. Root causes of this issue are colonialism, residential schools, assimilation policies enforced by the government, and systemic racism
This piece represents the barriers youth in care face: racism, sexism, marginalization, neglect, lack of connection to culture, abuse, violence, and addiction. It also highlights the resilience that our young people embody. It represents my vision for the future of our next generation: youth growing up with a strong relationship to the land, positive connection to their Indigenous identity, healthy attachments / relationships and emotional intelligence / self-regulation tools as acts of resistance to the ongoing impacts of colonization.
The yellow cedar used in this board is from Haida Gwaii and the red cedar is from Ligwildawx Territory. The contrasting colours of cedar represent youth from different Nations across turtle island. The strands were woven together to strengthen, uplift, heal, and protect our next generation. My prayers is for a bright future full of possibilities, healing, empowerment, secure attachment and love for all youth in foster care.
Traditional Birthing Mat
Traditionally, Haida and Kwakwaka’wakw women gave birth on a cedar mat. Cedar was the first medicine a baby would touch coming from the spirit world. This Mat was woven for my daughter and was her introduction to the powerful medicine of t̓saḵa̱ms (cedar bark). The bark was harvested in Haida Gwaii by her dad and big brother with prayers and positive intentions for what her dad wanted for her.
My pregnancy, she gave me huge gifts. The motivation to be in the healthiest place I can be in to ensure she gets the best childhood and upbringing possible. The process of weaving this mat brought many things to the surface. What does it mean to be bringing an Indigenous Woman into this world? How can I raise my daughter so she does not have to spend her adulthood healing from her childhood wounds?
I will ensure she does not endure what I did as a little person. My intention, hope, and desire as her mother is that the cycle of intergenerational trauma of residential schools and colonization that indigenous People as a whole, my family, and me personally have experienced ends with me. The abuse, violence, alcoholism, addiction, patriarchy, misogyny, neglect, and dysfunction ends here. It will no longer be passed down to another generation. This means having strong boundaries, healing my wounds, doing my work, and removing unsafe people from our lives when needed.
This birthing mat is a representation of all the positive things I envision for her – to grow up with a strong relationship to her culture, and a positive connection to her identity as a Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, Irish, Scottish woman. It represents the love, care, nurturing, support, and healthy attachment I will strive to provide for her. This mat represents my desire for her to know how sacred she is as a lifegiver, the backbone of her culture, and a matriarch in the making. This mat holds my prayers that I will be able to teach her how to protect herself.
Half way through weaving this basket I found out the cord was wrapped around her neck, and so I stopped. My sister finished the basket for her niece. Thank you sister Meghan and thank you N’alag̱a Donna Cranmer for helping me with the beginnings of this bassinet.
