EartHand Gleaners Society

art ~ ecology ~ people

  • Cultural Territories 101: Resources

    With stories, photos, and discussion, Nicole Preissl has skillfully guided us from Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Stó:lō and other Coast Salish Territories, through Syilx Territory in the Okanagan, to Ktunaxa and Sinixt Territory in the Southern Interior during the first 3 sessions of the Cultural Territories 101 Guild.

    The following are a (non-exhaustive) list of resources shared by Nicole and other participants compiled during each session.

    screenshot from native-land.ca

    Mainland Coast Salish: Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Stó:lō, Suquamish, Lummi (among others!)

    Resource for territories and languages in BC and beyond: https://native-land.ca/

    Indigenous History in Burnaby, Burnaby Village Museum (pdf)

    Smaylilh or Wild People Archaeology, Rudy Reirner/Yurnks (pdf)

    Vancouver area hiking resource that mentions all traditional territories and traditional names of mountains, trails, etc: https://105hikes.com/book/

    Squamish Lilwat Cultural Centre: https://slcc.ca/

    Okanagan Region: Syilx (and others!)

    Did you live near a residential school? Map: https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/beyond-94-residential-school-map/

    Language Resource: https://www.firstvoices.com/explore/FV/sections/Data

    Plants, People, and Places, Nancy Turner (book): https://www.mqup.ca/plants–people–and-places-products-9780228001836.php

    Unsettling Canada, Arthur Manuel and Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson, (book): https://btlbooks.com/book/unsettling-canada

    Nk’mip Centre: https://nkmipdesert.com/our-people/

    En’owkin Centre: https://enowkincentre.ca/

    Kootenay Region: Ktunaxa/Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis, sn̓ʕay̓čkstx tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ(Sinixt) (and others!)

    Nasukin (Chief) Joe Pierre (?aqam) storytelling The Story of Lightning, Thunder, Fox and Coyote: https://cbeen.ca/videos/ (scroll through to find)

    Ktunaxa Ethnobotany Book: https://outdoorlearningstore.ca/product/ktunaxa-ethnobotony-student-handbook/

    Sinixt Stories, Marilyn James, Taress Alexis, Catherine Fisher, and the Blood of Life Collective (podcast series): https://www.kootenaycoopradio.com/sinixt-stories/

    Sinixt Nation Website: www.sinixtnation.org

    Sinixt Not Extinct, Marilyn James and Taress Alexis  (book): https://touchstones-nelson-museum-shop.myshopify.com/products/not-extinct-keeping-the-sinixt-way

    The Geography of Memory, Eileen Delehanty Pearkes (book): https://www.edpearkes.com/book/the-geography-of-memory/

    Blackfoot Digital Library: https://www.blackfootdigitallibrary.com/digital/collection/bdl/id/1282

    https://barbarabray.net/2019/03/10/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-and-blackfoot-nation-beliefs/

    Standing Homework Invitation:

    Take 5-10 minutes to look up a Nation from the next focal Region to add to the discussion.

    Interested in attending?

    Register now for the upcoming Spring Sessions.

    Every other Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:30 pm PST on Zoom.

    May 18 – Cariboo Region (will include some if not all of the following): Tsilhqot’in, Secwepemctsín, Dakelh, Tse’khene, lil’wat, st’at’imc

    June 1 – TBA

  • Virtual Loom Building

    A quick story on the potential of virtual learning.

    Building a warp-weighted loom virtually is something I, Jaymie, never imagined I would ever do for numerous reasons – until 6 months ago I did not know what a warp-weighted loom was; I am a beginner woodworker without a studio space; If I’m honest I don’t quite understand how most looms work; and, I consider myself a hands-on learner without the patience to figure things out unless I’m shown. But voilà, behold my very first loom!

    Guided by the fearless David Gowman with Sharon Kallis supporting with the weaving how-to’s and why-this-though’s, myself and two other brave learners embarked on this project over the course of the last few months.

    Since late January we’ve been meeting every other Sunday morning to learn how to carve safely and effectively, how to choose sticks based on our weaving needs and dreams, where to drill holes based on our body measurements, and to ask, again, exactly how many hand-carved nails we need.

    Mostly though, the reason I choose to show up every other Sunday is for the spectacular company and the joy of seeing everyone carving in makeshift spaces among many other projects. And this community accountability of showing up and carving in a shared virtual space eventually resulted in a real-life loom (I can turn my head to the left and see it as I type this!). 

    I still don’t exactly know how to use it, but that’s the exciting part. As this guild comes to an end and the next one starts I’ll eventually make a cloth on it step-by-step – thanks to those willing to adapt in sharing their skills and those willing to show up and learn together through these new virtual gathering spaces.

    (If I can do it you can too!)

  • I’m Here for the Joy!

    “I’m here for the joy” was a statement echoed by multiple participants in Tuesday night’s first Cultural Territories 101 with Nicole Preissl – and if you’ve had the opportunity to interact with Nicole (virtually or pre-pandemic) you won’t be surprised by this sentiment!  

    Nicole, born and raised in Burnaby, is Sto:lo from Leq’a:mel First Nation. Her great-grandmother was Squamish from X̱wemelch’stn and great grandfather from Katzie. Nicole has taught weaving and other guilds for EartHand Gleaners and is now leading this free and open-access virtual program for individuals to gain knowledge of the different Nations in this province and to develop a broader understanding of the specific cultural practices and the plant kin relied upon in different regions.

    Over the course of the series Nicole will be leading us through the province in a counter-clockwise direction, and to start introduced us to the mainland Coast Salish region.

    We were welcomed as we were, with as much or as little existing knowledge of Coast Salish culture and land, and were led through the geography, the Nations that make up the region, the language base the connects nearly all Coast Salish Peoples, and the colonial history of the term ‘Coast Salish’.

    Nicole focused on Coast Salish Wool Weaving and through photos and stories introduced us to the various fibres used and the respective culture, traditions, and stewardship associated with each. We learned about the use of Mountain Goat wool (and how dirty their wool is from a story of first-hand experience!) and learned about the significance and historical use of the Salish Wooly Dog which is now extinct as a direct result of colonization. We also touched on plant fibres, including fireweed fluff and pounded Red Cedar, found in historical blankets.

    We were introduced to the Cultural Leaders who both reignited these weaving traditions and those who continue to practice, teach, and show their work, including Janice George and Buddy Joseph (Squamish), Deborah Sparrow (Musqueam), Angela George (Squamish/Tsleil-Waututh), Danielle Morset (Suquamish), and Bill James (Lummi Hereditary Chief).

    Over the hour and a half session I was transported from my computer desk (bed) to the mountains of the Salish Sea, to the looms and spindle whorls of Coast Salish weavers and spinners, joined in celebration of the skill and technology employed by the peoples from this region, and was kindly and firmly reminded of the importance of language and of honouring story – all thanks to Nicole’s storytelling skills and her open and honest presence in tandem with an eager and curious group of participants.

    Homework Invitation from Nicole:

    Readings:

    Indigenous History in Burnaby, Burnaby Village MuseumDownload
    Smaylilh or Wild People Archaeology, Rudy Reirner/YurnksDownload

    Research:

    Take 5-10 minutes to look up one Nation from the Thompson-Okanagan Region (spanning approximately from Princeton through the Okanagan and up to the Shuswap)

    Interested in attending?

    Register now for the upcoming Spring Sessions.

    Every other Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:30 pm PST on Zoom.

    April 20

    May 4

    May 18

    June 1

  • Cultural Territories 101

    We are so excited to announce this new free program hosted by Nicole Preissl!

    We have 4 sessions planned for this spring, and another 4 to come this fall, as learning and sharing opportunities to deepen our awareness of the cultures of the place we live and visit in this province .

    Thank you to BC Arts Council for making this program possible

    A free, open-access virtual program creates a space for  individuals to gain knowledge of the different Nations in this province and develop a broader understanding of the different cultural practices and the  plant kin relied upon in different regions of the province.

    Each week the Nations of a different region will be the focus. Our research might lead us into looking at the plants, particular weaving styles, language and current skill holders active in their community. This is a participatory group, not a lecture. Participants are asked to do their own research on different regions for each session and bring questions, observations and readings back to the group to share. Participants are welcome to join as many of these sessions as they can. Pre-registration is required, registration closes 24 hours before each date.

    Nicole Preissl (BDes, 2019) was born and raised in Burnaby but is Sto:lo from Leq’a:mel First Nation. Her great-grandmother was Squamish from X̱wemelch’stn and great grandfather from Katzie. Nicole is an active alumna and Emily Carr community member, passing on her knowledge to others through workshops in the Aboriginal Gathering Place. Recently, Nicole has been doing administrative work for Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia assisting on virtual program delivery, and teaching weaving and other Guilds for EartHand Gleaners virtual program offerings.

    get your free ticket here April 6th– Mainland Coast Salish Nations

    upcoming Spring Dates- hold the dates!

    get your free ticket here April 20th– TBA

    • future spring dates are May 4th, 18th and June 1st – check our events listing for ticket links

    Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30pm 

  • Keep a Seasonal Almanac With Us

    • all images from Jaymie Johnson’s sketch book

    Join us online the last Monday of the month from March- November 7-8.30pm

    March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, Aug 30, Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 29

    Free program!

    Join Jaymie Johnson (Nelson) and Sharon Kallis (Vancouver) and share what you are finding, tending, harvesting and using from your garden. Lets inspire each other and learn about the dyes, pigments, teas, herbal medicines and weaving fibres we are each tending and harvesting. A monthly practice  of sharing what we are seeing, noting phenological garden observations and doing some drawings of the plants we have  in our lives.  This program gives us each a reason to dedicate time to record keeping what we are observing and doing in the gardens; creating beautiful personal resources for future reference.

    This is a drop in program, we hope that many will be able to join for  most of the sessions, but missing a few is not a problem. Register separately for each session- registration closes 24 hours before each session. Zoom and camera capability is required to participate.

    Get your tickets for each session here-

    March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, Aug 30, Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 29

    This program is made possible through funding provided by British Columbia Arts Council

  • Makers’ Market Day is Happening!

    So thrilled we are able to gather in small groups again outdoors and do this in person.

    As an organization with a motto- how do we be makers without first being consumers-, selling sticks feels very weird indeed. However, these are weird times we are living in, so here we are, hosting our first ever makers market.

    Normally, we have stewardship sessions that allow people to access some of the plants we are tending. Or, we have in person workshops that use the fibre and dyes from the gardens, and a small materials fee is budgeted into the workshop cost. This helps EartHand with some of our base operating costs, and keeps the maker materials flowing out into the community.

    Because of the pandemic, we have not been able to gather in groups for either land tending or skill sharing. We have a surplus of maker-ready plant materials and a loss of revenue, so it is sales-by-donation time!

    Materials include:

    retted flax straw, nettles, milkweed, dogbane, ash and willow rods, other weaving fibres and raw wool and dye plant seeds.

    Shopping requires a ticket to keep our numbers small. please refer to the instructions on the tickets regarding community health and safety while on site for the sale.

    1-1.50pm ticket

    2-2.50pm ticket

    3-3.50pm ticket

  • Fence Weaving

    Virtual to Real Time Fence weaving tutorials have been a success!

    Who knew, when the pandemic first began changing our way of gathering from in person to virtual -that we would be learning garden fence weaving online at the one year anniversary?

    So far, it has gone remarkably well and we have two fence weaving interns almost ready to lead community groups themselves! Training sessions start online for understanding the core basics, so when we do gather no hand to hand work is required.

    … Before Spring ends, someone remind Sharon to measure how many meters of fences get made, we are on a roll!

    Here are a couple of short videos you might find helpful that we made for our first project of assisting Beaconsfield Community gardeners.

    tools before you start

    grading and sorting your materials

    quick overview of the weaving process

    Online screentime making mini fences…

  • Weaving Our Community SkillShed: Tending Our Community FibreShed

    Leaping from Rebecca Burgess’ ground-breaking book FibreShed (published2019).

    From that FibreShed perspective we identify our unique ‘Shed’ and bring Coastal Indigenous perspective to the centre of the work.

    Neighbour stewards, Master Gardeners, young art students, university educators, First Nations knowledge and skill holders, and other individuals teach and learn here side by side.

     The garden transforms – a teaching site fostering understanding of the land and plants from a horticultural and ethnobotany perspective; opening up dialogue- furthering our steps of Reconciliation.

    The sedge zone is a somewhat neglected area and is the area of our focus. We hope to improve the planting and design of this area. more weaving grasses and other intertidal-found plants -encouraging a ‘new’ interest in using the sedge for weaving and making this a vibrant area of the park.

    This project will inspire through hearing guest speakers discuss other supportive fibre shed communities and deepen our understanding of the plants and the restoration work we do- reconnecting our human hands to the plants around us.

    Thank you to our community partners:

    Vancouver Master Gardeners

    Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship :Emily Carr University

    check upcoming community events often to see what’s next.

    BookShare!

    We have 8 copies of Rebecca’s FibreShed book to circulate through the community for short loans if are unable to purchase your own copy. Please reach out by email to earthandgleaners(at)gmail.com with BOOKSHARE in the title, we will get back to you as soon as we can and let you know a rough time estimate for your loan. Thanks to Shumka Centre for book purchase! All books picked up and returned to Trillium North Park as arranged.

    Thank you to Vancouver Park Board: Neighbourhood Matching Funds which have made this project possible!

  • The Gardens Right Now…

    Means of Production Through January and February- harvesting willow, hazel, ash and early pruning of apple trees and thimbleberry bushes, fence work begins! Crocus, snowdrops are underfoot, daffodils are blooming and the golden plum trees are about to pop.

    Trillium North Park through January and February- trimming willow, roses, snowberry, tending nettle beds and planning began for redesigning the sedge zone. The planted zone is full of birds and its a lovely spot to sit on a rock and listen. Underfoot find young yarrow, lupin and nettle just poking up from the soil.

    Thank you to all of our community stewards in each garden! The groups currently meet online to discuss work, then go and work on their own.

    We look forward to when provincial guidelines allow us to gather on site again in groups, and then will open the stewardship to new members.

  • Seed Time!

    With spring equinox almost here, it is time to work on making our summer colour dreams come true.

    Sharon gathered, dried and packaged several of her favourites last summer and fall from Means of Production and Trillium park.

    She has in the range of 10-20 packages of the following seeds available, and we are asking for $3 donation per pack. First come first serve, email your request to earthandgleaners(at)gmail.com, your seeds will be put aside and order confirmed. payment and pick up( no mailing) arranged by email.

    • Madder
    • Weld
    • pokeberry ( toxic-not recommended for gardens with young children)
    • coreopsis- lanceleaf ( perennial)
    • st john’s wort

    Happy Spring!