An Education on Residential Schools

I just heard an incredible interview on CBC radio with Bev Sellars, a residential school survivor. It was incredibly moving. She spoke about her experience of residential school. The Called me Number 1"
Bev has written a book called".

This pic is one I saw a few years back. It shows how one group of First Nations People set up their tipi's closer to the residential school in order to be closer to their children when they were taken away. The fight continues but I am astounded at how much so many First Nations People of Canada have endured.

Testosterone

Here is a link to a fabulous podcast from This American Life about Testosterone. It is VERY eye opening. There are stories from a man who lost his testosterone, a woman who transitioned to be a man and endured the resulting mind bending effects of testosterone, and a testosterone contest, to find out who has the most and least testosterone of all the staff at This American Life (men and women).

Hope you enjoy. And if are one of those people who don't know how podcasts work, it's basically just a radio show that you download for .99 cents or stream for free off the internet. They might change your life. 

Props

I am pleased to say that I have just ordered a mamamour doll. these are dolls which can give birth, and the resulting baby has a detachable umbilical cord and placenta! They also have snaps for the mouth so can breastfeed! If you want to see these dolls in action, click here for pictures, and maybe order your own amazing custom doll, click here.

Also someone mentioned vulva puppets today. They are also awesome!This is a video of a girl demonstrating the wonderous vulva puppet, this is the kind that I saw Kerri Isham use. The one in the video is pretty big, but there is also a "mini" version. Check them out here and purchase here. 

I also found this other one, the vulvalicious pillow...which looks more anatomically correct to me but is also a whopping $360 US!!

Interested to hear your impressions. 

In my search for an equally interesting penis puppet I also found this hilarious site which has combined the quirkiness with retro crochet and managed to raise money for cancer too! amazing. Those damn puppetry of the penis guys seem to have foiled my attempts at finding any kind of anatomical penis prop. Maybe someone else has a lead on this? 

Elderflower and early Spring Harvest

I have been impatiently awaiting the harvest season, and can officially say that it has started!

Doug and I have been collecting elderflower blossoms to make some kind of beverage with. When you have a brother who works at a U-Brew, the options are almost limitless. Two years ago we made a sparkling wine, and this year we are thinking maybe a liqueur. Thanks to Randy for sharing his recipe with us. He used this one, but said he added a little more sugar and kept it at a cooler temp.

Other things that are out right now are spruce buds, also used for making beverages (My brother made a prize winning Spruce tip beer last year).

In the garden we are eating greens, especially Kale, arugula, and lots of Rhubard, which is so delicious stewed up or in coffee cakes or crisps (AKA crumbles).

The Juiciest Tomato

Turns out that Vaginas have a similar pH to Tomatoes....Tomatoes, a theme in my life. At any rate, check out this interesting article to find out more about how to understand and regulate your "tomato". In a nutshell, the author advises women to pee and/or flush with hot water after sex and avoid using soap directly on the vaginal area as it is self cleaning, and Meg Hickling describes it as "one of the cleanest parts of the body", if left to it's own devices. Sugar and carbs that feed undesirable bacteria can also be a problem. I would add that I have heard it can also be useful to work on the male partner's ecosystem by monitoring sugar/carb intake as they can be affecting and re-introducing unbalancing elements into the system of the woman. For both men and women, eating natural yogurt, garlic and cranberries to your diet can help too.

Party Hats!

Every year as part of my work with Success By 6 I get to do outreach at the local fairs and events. Last year I had a great time doing face painting, but found that despite my best efforts there were often long lineups, and not much time for me to talk to parents. 

This year, since it is also Success By 6's 10th birthday we are doing a birthday party theme. 

the ladies from the Hat shop putting on a mad hatters tea party Edie is on the far right. It was odd that when I started google image searching I found this pic of my former colleagues...I guess the world of hats is a small one :)

I spent a good portion of my young adulthood working at a hat store, Edies Hats, (Now the granville island hat shop) where my amazing friend and honorary Auntie Edie taught me all kinds of things, in particular, lots of things about hats. Both of my brothers also worked there, and I think that all of us have a deep love of hats as a result. 


Given this history it's not surprising that when I needed to come up with a craft, I decided on, PARTY HATS! At the Old Masset Health Fair I had a huge time making party hats with the kids. I mostly used old file folders from the school that were free for the taking, and in a range of interesting colours for the hats, and then got streamers, feathers, stickers, and markers to decorate with. Here are some links I used for inspiration. 

Oh Happy day had some great ideas, and even a pretty good template. I needed to tweak it a bit, but not bad. 

Here is a link to a website with 18 great party hat ideas.

I forgot how much fun it is to wear hats and make crafts. Honestly probably 2 of my favourite things. 

these ones are leather but inspired me to make paper crowns, which were a huge hit

peter pans hats:http://swoonstudio.blogspot.ca/2012/03/peter-pan-party-hats.html

Ms. E starts out on a new adventure...As a Sexual Health Educator!

As some of you may know, I have embarked on a new adventure in learning. I am currently training to become a certified sexual health educator through Opt's SHEC program.

Before beginning the program I needed to complete a pre requisite, the Comfort, Attitudes and Values Evaluation CAVE (formerly the Sexual Attitudes Reassessment -SAR) weekend, which I would highly recommend to anyone. This was a very liberating experience and there were many people after the weekend who said "this is the best thing I have ever done for myself".

I haven't posted on this blog for a while, but thought that since I am in school again, it would once again be a great place to share some of what I'm learning since I find myself talking about it a lot, and having access to a lot of great new info I didn't before. So stay tuned!

To start off here are a few links worth checking out:

Kerri Isham. Kerri is the one who got me into all this. She is a terrific educator from Nanaimo who we brought to Haida Gwaii last year to teach body science and abuse prevention, and who did such a great job that the school board brought her back within 6 months. Despite her success she realized that Our budgets would not allow us to do this every year, and so encouraged me to take the training she had done so that I will be able to offer similar workshops. She has a great website with tons of amazing resources.

Scarleteen: a great website geared to teens and 20 somethings. This site is run by a very dedicated woman who happens to be the author of one my textbooks for the course. She tends to be a little wordy, but is very passionate and goes into great detail.

I also want to plug the sex sense line, which you have no doubt seen ads for if you ever use public transit in the lower mainland. if you call 1-800-SEX SENSE you will be connected with nurses and trained professionals whom you can ask anything. They can tell you where the nearest clinic is, and answer all kinds of questions that might stump others. They are open from 9am-9pm monday to friday.

Laci Green. This 20 year old from Berkley is the embodiment of Sec positivity. She is the best friend you wish you had had in University. She is one of my new heroes. She is funny, dynamic, whip smart and very loveable.

 Meg Hickling is a Public Health Nurse who revolutionized sex ed in BC and whose impact has been felt all across Canada. She used to come and teach on Haida Gwaii until she retired. Her books are amazing, and give terrific language parents can use to speak to their kids (of all ages) about sex.

Alright, It's time for bed. There will be more soon, but check these out and let me know what you think.

paper gems

Check out this website to learn how to make beautiful paper gems. Check out this one for further inspiration...regarding paper gems anyways.

LOVE ted talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_tells_us_why_we_love_cheat.html?source=facebook&fb_source=message#.T_0chI45ip5.facebook

Cabins

Doug has been working on putting together a plan for a cabin. Now he's letting me in on it, since in all likelihood, I will be living there :)

Today we started building it out of cut up cereal boxes. I am getting excited.
Here is a link to one little cabin I like the looks of. Here is another great website with tons of great cabins to keep your mind churning http://freecabinporn.com/ and for mobile cabins, here is a link for a local woman on Hornby island who is building beautiful custom caravans http://www.hornbyislandcaravans.com/

Charley Harper

I went to the Van Dusen Gardens today and after a lovely walk around in the brilliant sunshine, spent a few minutes in the gift shop and saw some great stuff by Charley Haper. I liked the geometric shapes he uses in his animals, and also the colour and composition. Check out his stuff on his website.

How To Make Diamonds

and also.. how to make 3D diamonds!!

http://www.minieco.co.uk/3d-paper-diamonds/

The 2012 All Islands Art Show

I was this years coordinator for the All Islands Art Show, a yearly event put on by the Haida Gwaii Arts council. Got me on the front page of the observer, and kept me very busy for a couple of weeks, and somewhat busy for many more. There are still some events brewing in association with this, but the main push is done. The opening was great and I can hang a picture like a hot damn now. Thanks to all my friends who helped make it happen. Jessie M, Ben D (thanks for the drill!), Jaime Allen, Amy Clarkson, and my lovely fiancee, Douglas Black. Shout outs to all those who offered hugs and support when I needed them, and even a hot bowl of clam chowder. Community rules.

jack of alls

My friend just told me about Homeshop suggesting this is the kind of thing I could do. I love this! Check the site, click the links figure it out. Amazing.

Is 2012 the year to burn?

Last summer my cousin went to Burning Man. He had a great time and when he showed me his pictures, I could see why. Here is a video, some of which was shot in the "camp" where my cuz was staying, makes me feel warm and fuzzy, maybe it's partly due to the fact that they are in a desert and I am in sub zero rainforest. I don't know what I thought burning man was, but never before had I wanted to be part of it. My cousin showed me that, for all the drugs, nudity and techno music, there is equal parts art, diversity and in a way that seems harder and harder to find, culture. In short I have started thinking about it and in doing so, realized how much homework there is to be done in order to attend. I am doing some homework. This is a good place to start.

Terrariums for xmas?

Last xmas my cousin and I made some terrariums for xmas presents. Here's the next level.

The Beauty of polination

Just saw a great video/Ted talk about pollination check it out. Reminds me of microcosmos, which I have just ordered from the library :)

Seduce Me

Isabella Rosellini's latest films, the spawn of her first series "Green Porno" are amazing! Called "Seduce Me" They are short films about the mating rituals of animals/fish/birds etc all done with artistry and hilarity. They are also locally relevant. There are deer, salmon, ducks, snakes and even bedbugs! check it out.

Hoop Dreams

It's been a while since I've added anything. This is partly because I haven't had the internet, and partly because it's summer. However, now there is something to get excited about. Hula Hooping. Beyonce does it, and now, thanks to a friend I am doing it. Bobbi Lee Chatelaine has started a free hula-hooping class in Queen Charlotte City. The class meets Wednesday evenings on the lawn of the Living and Learning School. She has made a selection of beautiful hoops to share with those who show up.

These hoops are specially designed for adults, so even though those run of the mill light plastic kids hoops could never hold my attention, these do. This is hooping for grown ups, it's actually reminiscent of belly dancing. Along with being a larger and slightly heavier type of tubing, they are also colourful, sparkly and even glow in the dark. Beauty and functionality, who could ask for more?

Bobbi-Lee’s first class focused on making hoops, then at the second meeting of the class on August 24^th Bobbi Lee wowed participants, teaching the group the basics of hula-hooping as well as a series of simple beginner tricks to keep the repertoire fresh and interesting.

Bobbi Lee’s interest in hooping started when she went to her first lesson in Alberta and discovered her mentor. Inspired, she returned to Ontario and immediately started making her own hoops and teaching lessons in Peterborough. She had hoped to continue teaching hooping when she moved to Haida Gwaii and now, two years later, the interest is there and the timing is right.

Bobbi Lee plans to keep up with her free classes throughout the Fall, offering a fun way to keep fit and have fun on Wednesday nights from 5pm-7pm at the Living and Learning School, 220 Bay street, just down the road from the library rain or shine. When the weather gets bad she may relocate to the Queen Charlotte Secondary gym if people are interested. She is also selling custom made hoops for $25 each for those who want to practice at home.I got one, it's purple and yellow and white and glow in the dark and I love it!

Masa's North Beach Video Blog

We're famous!

Well not really, but nice to be mentioned in our friend Masa's video blog from radx .ca

Masa has been building a cabin on North beach and documenting his adventures weekly on his video blog. He is a really interesting guy and the blog is an intruing lens into the Haida Gwaii world.

The Native American Church

I have just started doing some research into the Native American Church. An artist here on island is doing some beautiful bead work, including bracelets, baskets, earrings, and fans that are based in this tradition, which I know little about. So far I am having no luck finding anything from the library about it, but have found a couple of wikipedia articles, one on the NAC and one about "hair drops" which are basically beaded buffalo tails!!!

Book mobiles, WOW bus and Reading Rockets

When I was a child Vancouver had a Book Bus. It was wonderful. I came in the evening once a week or so and allowed me and my brothers to be proactive about literacy. The librarian paid attention to our interests and would bring us books that suited them.

I have been doing a little research about the existence of such busses and am relieved to see that in some places they still exist!

Places like Peace River North A.K.A. District 60, which also has a great website listing all the different projects they are offering. and District 59 has one too, as does district 69. Coquitlam has a beautiful one. All this makes me wonder if Haida Gwaii would have a WOW bus of it's own. Why not?

Not only that, now I am seeing pictures of really fashionable busses! Cool ones like the award winning sweedish beauty pictured above. At the very top is an image of a revamped airstream called "projet mobilivre" from montreal, which specializes in zines, I have actually been on it once when it visited Vancouver. I was thinking cutesy 0-5 kid friendly, but hey, cool buses could work too. Depends on the budget/librarian I suppose. The point is to get books into the hands of kids, and to get kids into books. Though creating an appealing environment seems like a no-brainer. This space can also offer puppet shows, reading circles, and perhaps just a safe place for kids in rural areas to come and hang out with books? Could be good.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Did you know that chia, in addition to it's ability to give fur to ceramic animals is also a wonderful food!?

On a whim, we ordered 5 lbs of it, and then needed to figure out how to cook with it.

Our biggest success thus far is chia pudding. Chia seeds have tons of fiber, calcium, omega 3's, they are 20% protein, and also have lots of essential minerals. This recipe is also vegan and raw, great for those hard to please potluck throwers.

2 ripe bananas mashed
1 can coconut milk
6 Tablespoons chia seeds
sprinkle of salt
sprinkle of cinnamon
drizzle of maple syrup
shredded coconut adds nice texture if you have it.

blend together with whizzer, blender, food processor or patient fork, leave for a little while to allow the chia seeds to acclimatize (they start to resemble tiny tapioca). I find it tastes best when left over night. decorate with banana slices if you have them. Delicious and nutritious. You can also watch the you tube video that inspired my new favorite food.

Also, just in case you need to see that chia pet video again, here it is. Here is a link to info about chia and 10 recipes (though I haven't tried them yet).

Inuit Modern

This summer I will be helping to run Ben Davidson's Art gallery in Skidegate.
Needless to say, I am a little nervous. I have a lot to learn.
Just spoke with my good friend Niall McClelland who is turning into a bit of an Art star out Toronto way, and he mentioned a great art show he saw recently at the AGO entitled Inuit modern which juxtaposes the work of Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook who does contemporary pencil crayon drawings of daily life with that of Shary Boyle, who has done work in porcelain, after training for years with dedicated grandmas, and who also paints, draws etc etc etc. Eeenteresting!
Inuit Art seems to be really going places. Check out this site.

Check out this article about the show.

Thelonium Monk's Advice

How to be happy in Business

Rites of Passage

"If the young men are not initiated into the Village, they will burn it down – just to feel it's warmth"

This is a quote I heard today on CBC's The current. It was voiced by David Hatfield. The program was about the risk taking behaviours of young men. I feel it could apply to all children, but does seem to be of highest importance for young men. I also found it on the Origins Blog.

Roy Henry Vickers

I have started doing some research for All About U Arts, and am looking to find examples of other high end art galleries that are owned and operated by the artists themselves. Henry Roy Vickers' gallery in Tofino is a landmark, and his career as an artist and speaker is an inspiration. Check out his website.

Todd Golumbia

Yesterday a friend recommended that I find out about Todd Golumbia, and his work with Deer on Vancouver Island. Above is a picture of Todd with a lovely Black Oystercatcher chick, seems he has worked with them as well. Here is an article by the Vancouver Sun that describes his work on fallow deer deer culls and their mobile meat processor. Interestingly enough they appear to be utilizing a squeeze chute and are very concerned about the humane treatment of the animals. I think that Temple would approve. The meat they produce is sold to high end restaurants in Victoria and the antlers and hides are used by local first Nations. Sounds like a good deal to me.

My latest Hero

Last night I watched the movie "Temple Grandin" starring Clair Danes of My so Called Life fame. It was one of the most inspiring movies I have seen in a long time.

I have been learning about Temple Grandin for years, in Psychology classes, and from friends who work with Animals and can attest to her wisdom. I have listened to her books and today watched her speak for the first time on Ted. I think she is one of the greatest and most important thinkers of our time. In her talk she emphasizes the need for hands on learning. I couldn't agree more that this is one of the best ways of addressing the many different kinds of minds that exist in our schools today. There is also a BBC documentary about her that is broken into 5 parts on youtube and is really interesting. Here is a link to part 1.