Abstract:
This project is an instructional public library program that aims to encourage exploration and sharing, all while visually engaging a young audience as they are guided through a plant-gathering scavenger hunt. The program’s content is focused on the rich Indigenous cultures of Treaty 6 Territory, particularly that of the Cree. The goal of this program is to introduce children ages 5-8 broadly to the Cree understanding of humans’ relationship with the Land. The concept of relationality flows through much of the research that was conducted on this intricate topic. Every concept is connected to another: to understand how the Cree peoples use plants in daily life is to learn about healing practices which involve the respected figure of the Healer in Cree cultures. For instructors, this program leads to introspection and an understanding of what it means to pass on traditional knowledges; for participants, it acts as an entry point to both understanding and appreciation for the Land that sustains them.
Video Walkthrough:
Reis Pouliot:
Reis Pouliot (she/her) is a second-year MLIS student at the University of lberta. She is of European settler descent and has resided in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 Territory for over two decades. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hon.) in English from the University of Alberta. Her interests change every day, but always come back to social justice work surrounding accessibility and inclusivity.
Olesya Komarnytska:
Olesya Komarnytska (she/her) lives, studies and works on Treaty 6 territory. She is an immigrant and settler of mixed Eastern European ancestry. Currently in her second year of the MLIS program at the University of Alberta, she also holds a BA in Art History and a Diploma in Theatre Production. Before grad school, Olesya worked in creative production roles in theatre, film, and art gallery settings. She works at the Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives and the University Libraries. Her professional interests are in cultural memory and heritage preservation, especially how they can be inclusively achieved in community led and based ways.
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