Statement

There is a sense of being overwhelmed by thoughts as new knowledge surfaces. I felt so inadequate and humbled to be the artist to open our second conversation about Truth and Reconciliation. I had learned so much during the first process, responding to the grief generated by learning details of the Residential School fiasco and now felt that what I had really learned was that I know so very little.

The darkness of First Nations stories from the Colonial past, the present full of righteous anger and pain caused by lack of justice and compassion could be contrasted with celebration as rediscovery, growth and cultural renewal take its place. I turned to the seven sacred teachings of White Buffalo Calf Woman: Humility, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Wisdom, Truth and Love and reflected that these are elements of all great philosophies. By chance, a piece of writing by Matt Licata came to me and resonated deeply.

“Rather than trying to understand, transform or heal the old voices, just this one time instead descend into the mystery and the nonconceptual aliveness of the body. Drop into the vastness of space. Use your breath to enter into that field of not-knowing and into pure imagination…… In a moment of activation, you need not follow the ancient path of self-abandonment, shame, blame, and self-aggression. Choose something different. Just this time. Even for one or two seconds that is enough. A new world is born of that.” - Matt Licata

That is when this new work emerged. Through the darkness, there is light ahead.