In this episode, I will share the story of the mass medical evacuations that occurred in the mid-20th century that relocated Inuit and Cree peoples from their communities in the Eastern Arctic to the Mountain Sanatorium in Hamilton.
This episode will have guest Amber Lyn who is an Afro-Inuk soapstone carver living in Hamilton.
Guest Bio: To truly understand carving’s role in my life, a little backstory into my family heritage will offer some perspective. My mother is a wonderfully creative woman, who filled my childhood with a variety of creative outlets. We enjoyed chilly winter nights spinning clay on the pottery wheel in our small, townhouse garage; warmed by the nearby kiln, firing the pieces who’s colours had yet to reveal themselves.
My mother was raised in Quebec, however through the adoption agency she learned that her biological mother was originally from the East Coast; having travelled to Quebec to complete the adoption process. I mention this relocation because, as hard as it may be for children to retain any cultural ties to their heritage when given up for adoption, it becomes even more complicated when children are relocated to a completely different geographical and cultural community. My mother was adopted by Christians, a fact that she is very grateful for, being a Christian herself. I, however, never felt at ease with Christian Doctrine or the retelling of colonial history that they presented. As a result, we have differing views on the preservation of Indigenous cultures, like the Inuit cultures in our lineage. This is not to say that she is uninterested in discovering our heritage, I simply want to highlight the difference in perspective towards Indigenous cultures that can develop within communities that have historically colonised Indigenous people and the land on which they live with the goal of replacing their cultures and religions with your own. "Other" cultures are appreciated in novelty alone; for the aesthetic and entertaining aspects (art, music, cuisine, etc) while dismissing the value of Indigenous spirituality and traditional healing practices that, through culture, cultivate a freedom of expression and creativity. Fear of the unknown, combined with the fear of being "led astray from the dream of a world united under one God", leaves an audible silence hanging in the air when the impacts of colonialism are brought to light.
Indigenous cultures, knowledge and spiritual connections to the earth were, and still are, mistakenly portrayed within the limited concept of religious opposition to Christianity or a threat to the mainstream economy.
Canada 150:
"It is easy to say that we are not responsible for residential schools (and other colonial atrocities) because we were not there at the time; but as the descendants of those who were, we are the future in whose name they committed such atrocities. The very least that we can do is acknowledge that fact, rather than glorify it while we continue to benefit from it."
We can rebuild and invest in preserving not just the most profitable forms of art but the healing arts as well.
I’m not quite sure at what age my mother found out that she was adopted, it wasn't until years later that she told me, how she had found her biological family and what that experience was like. We first flew out for a family reunion, to introduce ourselves and get to know the people and the land that ran through our veins. She told me about how she had sent ads to the local newspapers in the region with information about herself, her date of birth and her journey to reconnect. Luckily, after some time, she received a reply from a woman who thought she may be her older sister and sure enough, we found our lineage, at last.
Carving feels like it has grounded me, not only in my forms of artistic expression, but in my cultural identity as well. That journey of discovery is just beginning to unfold, and I’m beginning to realize how deeply I would have benefited from access to this artform in my youth, when I craved the peace and healing that I’ve now found. It would be wonderful to one day see Indigenous art forms like soapstone carving incorporated into Canadian art curriculums; giving the young people of this land a chance to embrace practices that can be both healing and expressive.
A few years ago, my Mom bought me a second file, to teach a friend, and ever since I’ve known that my path involved deepening my understanding of Inuit teachings, and sharing the insight I gain with others.
Carving can be such a relaxing and therapeutic artform; hours and worries alike fade away as the stone begins to take form. The wind carrying the stone's dust back to the earth it came from; revealing a creation of natural design.
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