Northern YEG-GA and the three vignettes found below that comprise the major part of this e-space are viewed by the Homeglen School of One as an excellent way to understand some of the fundamental goals of Project Y150 YEG-GA. The vignettes are the result of a collaboration between three people: two extrarodinary female educators from the Territory of the Sahtu and the School of One Carver. Meanwhile, the history behind this collaboration not only helps highlight the experiences, agency and contributions of Wise Women, but also illustrates the principles of reciprocity and exchange guiding this project. The seeds for the collaboration were first planted when L.A., an educator from Norman Wells, N.W.T., asked the School of One what the Carver thought about giving D.G. one of the carvings used for the Norman Wells Gallery, Global Art Project, especially since the Carver had encouraged L.A. to give them to people she encountered during her extensive travels in the Territory of the Sahtu. The gift would further recognize and illuminate the extraodinary achievements and fine example of D.G., a recipient of a Wise Women Award. The Carver enthusiastically agreed and considered the choice of one of the carvings as a gift as an enormous, if not extremely humbling, honour for the School of One. D.G. is a survivor of the Residential School system and now devotes considerable time to teaching students Indigenous traditions and knowledge. Her extraordinary example for Reconciliation explains why the carving called Northern YEG-GA is dedicated to the individual historical agency, accomplishments, contributions and wisdom of female elders, leaders and educators, past, present and future.

Before L.A. presented the original planned gift, a chance encounter happened in HUB Mall, University of Alberta, in April 2016, when L.A. was visiting one of her children. There, and for the first time, L.A. actually met the School of One Carver (on one of his exploratory journeys with four YEG-GAs) "face-to-face" despite several months of e-correspondence and "Carving Vignettes" collaboration. As a seasoned and prolific veteran of the Global Art Project, L.A. immediately took a portrait of the four pieces with her own carvings (see image above far left) while the Carver explained Project Y150 YEG-GA as well as the origins and patriotic Canadian credentials of the red and white Brazilian stone used for three of the works. The Carver also proposed that L.A. use Northern YEG-GA as the gift for D.G. instead of the other carvings and extended an open invitation to participate in Project Y150 YEG-GA.

After D.G. was presented the gift, she kindly agreed to collaborate in Project Y150 YEG-GA, although she stated that she preferred it if L.A. would write the narratives and take the photographs for the collaboration. This also explains why the first two collaborative vignettes found below report and remember what transpired and what D.G. said during the moment Northern YEG-GA was presented as a gift according to L.A.'s perspective. In the first vignette, the reason D.G. is, indeed, a thoughtful and generous Wise Woman should be patently obvious, while the second vignette underlines why she has been such an important colleague and inspiration for L.A., another gifted teacher dedicated to the promotion of the Arts and Sciences, Indigenous traditions within the K12 curriculum, and excellence in education in Canada's North. D.G. generosity and thoughtfulness are also recounted by the Homeglen School of One in the third vignette found below.

Links:

The background of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission within the History of Canada as well as Residential School locations may be found at, TRC

Wise Women, Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
10:13AM, 1 June, 2016. 12.4° C

Northern YEG-GA sat quietly and respectfully while D.G. described her life story. D.G. is a survivor of Residential Schools and she detailed the hardships she encountered while attending one of these schools. D.G. was not allowed to practice or learn any of her own traditions, and, sometimes, she was punished for any practices that were not mandated by the teachers and school administrators. As an adult, D.G. was determined to learn the skills of her own heritage that she missed out as a child. She spent time with the Elders who graciously shared everything that they knew about their culture. Today, D.G. is a respected teacher within the educational system of the Northwest Territories, which, in previous times, had prevented her from learning her own traditional skills and the knowledge of her ancestors. Her passion now is to share with the next generation of her community what she learned from the Elders and, remarkably, anyone else who asks her that they want to know.

For reasons already explained by the School of One Carver, Northern YEG-GA was given to D.G. as a gift in recognition of her extraordinary achievements and generosity, and also to mark the occasion of her Wise Woman Award in 2016. D.G. was extremely grateful for the acknowledgement of her work. She shared Northern YEG-GA with her students and she reminded them that it is important to work hard and to be kind to everyone. The gift of Northern YEG-GA came as a complete surprise to her, and, as she stated, "You don’t know when something nice is going to come your way".

Links:

"Residential Schools" in Historica Canada

An an excellent "vimeo" introduction to Reconciliation may be found at: What is Reconciliation?

Wise Women, Norman Wells, Northwest Terristories
10:30AM, 1 June, 2016. 12.4° C

Northern Humpty YEG-GA (seen right) was explaining to Northern YEG-GA (seen left) that staying with D.G. will be a wonderful experience. In 2016, D.G. received the Wise Women Award from The Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories. The Wise Women Award recognizes and honours women who work at improving the lives of women and families in their communities. In the description of the carving given to D.G. called Northern YEG-GA the School of One Carver states that, “The YEG-GA series is...rooted in the School of One’s support for women’s rights and leadership internationally, as well as local initiatives that provide opportunities for women. This carving is dedicated to the individual historical agency, accomplishments, contributions and wisdom of female elders, leaders and educators, past, present and future.” Both of these sentences from Northern YEG-GA's description encapsulates D.G. to a "T." I am so honored to have D.G., a Residential School survivor, as a colleague and as a fellow teacher. She exudes such a positive outlook during every interaction that she has with her students or her colleagues. She is my role model and guide, especially when I am going through difficult times. She has suffered far more hardships than I have ever experienced, and yet she always sees the positive sides of every situation.

Links:

The Status of Women Council of the NWT

Wise Women Award Recipients, 2016

“Sahtu Knowledge and Generosity “ by the Homeglen School of One
10:37AM, May 16, 2017. 11 degrees C.

This photo and narrative, undertaken with the permission of D.G., documents a gift she made for the Carver (seen right) and the sculpture called J-Stone YEG-GA (made from a rock from Jerusalem another dear friend brought back and gave to the Homeglen School of One) at the Three Bananas Cafe in Churchill Square, Edmonton. The Carver now carries D.G.’s gift during everyday travels as a further reminder of what is important in life. The Homeglen School of One views this beautiful piece of artisanship as one of the greatest honors anyone could ever receive, especially since D.G. is a Residential School survivor and educator from Tåegõhtî, Sahtu Region. When this photo was taken, the Carver was reminded about the way water sustains us, makes us who we are, and defines our origins. The Carver also recalled how knowledge also works for us in a similar life-sustaining way, especially when we recognize and appreciate the importance of the wisdom of female ancestors, Elders, colleagues and friends. When we think about D.G.'s extraordinary gift, blessing, and inspirational example for Reconciliation, we further understand how this knowledge can help us navigate difficult times in our lives. The Carver and the Homeglen School of One will always be very grateful for D.G.'s thoughtfulness and generosity.