Donna Cranmer (Master Weaver, Namgis First Nation, Kwakwaka’wakw) will give a Brown Bag Lunch presentation on Tuesday, October 22, at 12:15 pm. Her talk, entitled “Kas’ida’asa san’s Galga’lis/The Path of our Ancestors,” will discuss the utility of museum collections for weaving and other contemporary First Nations traditions.
Cranmer writes: “Visiting museum collections is one of the most inspiring visits a traditional weaver can make. The old pieces can teach so much. There was a time in the history of our people that our Potlatch and cultural ways were outlawed, our old people went to jail for practising our traditions, and many of the teachings stopped for a time. Our people believe that the Creator gave us our Gwayilelas, our way of doing things, and these ways are a continuation of a time when our supernatural ancestors were here on this earth.
The songs, dances, and stories carried on even during the dark years of the Potlatch prohibition. The art of working with cedar bark was only remembered by a few people. Visiting collections today teaches us ways that cedar bark regalia was put together. Recently my partner Anthony Hunt and I visited the neckring collection in the Royal BC Museum and learned anew some of the old ways our ancestors created these important pieces of regalia. Today, we continue to follow in the footprints of our ancestors.”
This talk will take place in the Seminar Room at 38 West 86th Street and is open to the BGC community and invited guests. Please RSVP to alec.newell@bgc.bard.edu.
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