HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Stitched Back Together
Art has long been a vital form of expression and knowledge transmission within and between Indigenous cultures.
Beadwork, sewing, and painting are traditional practices deeply connected to Indigenous identity and storytelling.
Colonialism and systemic policies have erased many of these practices, leading Indigenous Peoples feeling disconnected from opportunities to learn. There is a critical need to revive Indigenous traditions within broader communities who continue to grapple with the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system and the subsequent loss of culture, language, identity, and traditional knowledge.
That is why the Northern Prairie Indigenous Peoples Collective Inc. and the Association of Métis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan is delivering the Healing Through Indigenous Arts initiative. This series of hands-on workshops will focus on ribbon skirt making, traditional beading, Métis acrylic beadwork, parfleche bag creation, and woodland-style art in three communities across the region of Saskatoon. Participants will explore identity, storytelling, and lived experiences while reflecting on reconciliation and the impacts of the residential school system. The project will culminate in the creation of a collective publication to be shared with local schools, libraries, and churches, featuring participants’ artwork, personal narratives, and healing journeys.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is lending its support to help centre Indigenous voices in the journey to healing, cultural revitalization, and education. The IRF is proud to create a safe space for Indigenous Peoples to explore the foundations of their culture while reconnecting with one another in an environment that centres tradition and care.
Diocese of Saskatoon
