I decided to do some local art shows last summer (August 2004)  I did a show here in Courtenay on Vancouver Island Called Aboriginal Voices 111.  It was good to receive some local recognition and the show went wonderful.   The local newspapers did some great write ups about my art!  People came up to me and said things like...."Wow....you really are an artist!!"  
I also did a show in a town north of here, Campbell River.  The show was called Touch the Earth.  There was also three days of workshops.    I entered the Juried show and won first in 3 dimensional category.  One of the judges was a woman from Arts Canada and her and I went for dinner one night.   This is how I learned about the new grants for "Traditional Arts" for aboriginal people.   I have applied for a grant to go and live on Haida Gwaii for a year to learn the traditional weaving techniques of my ancestors.  I will also learn more about Haida design and culture. 

I took two trips to Haida Gwaii this past summer and......I loved it there.  This was my first visits to the land of my ancestors.  I don't know if I can put in words the beauty of the islands.  Mystic and magical, so very unspoiled, laid back, and very welcoming. 
I attended my first Haida head stone moving.  It was a feast given for my aunty Jean Bellis's Brother Charlie who passed on last year.  There were more than 500 people at the hall.  Robert Davidson was the singer and drummer.   I did not get to see much of the island on this trip so a month later I took another trip.  I wanted to try and set up some mentors to teach me the weaving.   On this trip I got to see more of the people and the islands.  We took a trip out to the great spruce that had been ruthlessly cut down by some disgruntle logger.   What a great monument the spruce was....now.....laying rotting on the forest floor.  I will never understand why someone could have done this.....    I also got to visit tow hill and rose spit.  What a wild time driving on the white beaches.....the roaring tide on one side of me and the wind blown trees on the shore side!!  Such untouched beauty!!!!  Such power.....that helped to show me just how powerless we really are.  We camped at Tow Hill for a night at a old villiage.....with the spirits of my ancestors all around me.  For the first time I understood my grandmothers connection to her home, this wondrous place called  Haida Gwaii. 
On my second trip I also attended four days at the Haida Nations General Assembly.   There is an agenda on issues that affect the Haida.   Any Haida can speak to the issues presented.  Never have I been so impressed in such a gathering.  While there were very sensitive issues that were brought up, and disagreements, I was so impressed by the respect the issues and the people were given.  I left those meeting not only proud to be Haida, but also proud to be a Haida woman!!   I keep thinking of what I see when I watch the parliamentary debates in Victoria or Ottawa, the heckling, the name calling.....the complete lack of respect.  Maybe the Haida could teach our provincial and federal governments how to conduct meetings with respect and caring!! 
I came back here to Vancouver Island and wonder why I am here .....  My heart is on Haida Gwaii!! 

I did a show in Errington....just south of here.   There were over 60 aboriginal Artists there showing and selling their art!!!  We had well over 5000 people through.   I for one has a great time.  I ran into a couple of people from Prince Rupert that I had not seen since high school.  How time has flown and what a surprise to see them.   It was good to be out in public again.....I miss talking to people when I work at home!!

My future plans are to hopefully leave for Haida Gwaii this summer when my daughter finishes high school. 



Well.....the grant did not come though....but I figure there is a reason for everything so seems I am suppose to do something else....or learn the weaving another way.  Will see what happens.    Congradulations to all the groups and artists that recieved the grants!!!!
June is coming fast....it is already March.   I am feeling that this year will be a turning point for me..though I don't know which way things will turn right now.    After 33 years of raising m;y children I will be on my own.....it is kind of scary....but also....exciting!!