NVSD Indigenous Support Worker Juaxw Courtney Baker Kessel is teaching traditional wool
weaving techniques to NVSD students and staff.
by Juaxw Courtney Baker Kessel (NVSD Indigenous Support Worker) and Laura Ellwood
(NVSD Indigenous Teacher)
We would like to thank the
Coast Salish people, specifically the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and səlilwətaɬ Nation whose unceded
traditional territory that the North Vancouver School District resides on. We
value the opportunity to learn, share and grow on this traditional territory.
Thanks to the North Vancouver School District #44 and
Indigenous Education District Principal Tsonomot
Brad Baker, we have been fortunate to provide traditional wool weaving
teachings to Grade 6 and 7 students across the District. This is an
aspect of the Indigenous Education team’s universal approach to supporting all
learners with Indigenous ways of knowing.
The objective is to provide all
students with Coast Salish wool weaving teachings; each student will begin to
learn the history and the importance of this Indigenous practice of the
Peoples.
This workshop is facilitated by Juaxw Courtney Baker Kessel
and Laura Ellwood. Courtney is a member of the Skwxwú7mesh
Nation and Haida Nation. She resides on Xwemélch’stn
Capilano Reserve. She has been working with the District of North Vancouver for
24 years and currently works at Xwemélch’stn Norgate Elementary School. While at Norgate, Courtney infuses Indigenous
ways of knowing for all students in Kindergarten
through Grade 7.
Laura Ellwood was
born and raised in North Vancouver. She
has been in education for 12 years which includes working in North Vancouver
as an education aide, and a teacher in the Sea to Sky District before returning
to North Vancouver. Laura is currently the Youth Program Teacher at Eslha7án̓
Learning Centre on Eslha7án̓ Mission Reserve.
With gratitude, we would like to acknowledge our Indigenous
educators who taught us the protocol and history of Skwxwú7mesh
ways of wool weaving. We both have had the privilege of being taught by the
following educators: Ketximtn
Alroy Baker (Bucky), Spelexílh Anjeanette Dawson, Jaad Kil
Tl’aatsgas Jeanette Baker, Setálten Norman Guerrero, and Kawaiokalehuaonalanisega
Lacey Baker, who are all members of the Skwxwú7mesh
Nation.
We are extremely grateful to have been taught the knowledge of this
tradition that has been passed down for many generations. We are now honoured
to have the opportunity to share this knowledge to the future men men
(children). Our educators have instilled
in us the protocols of gifting your first project and always weaving with a
positive heart, mind, body, and spirit.
We have been focusing on the significance of Quarter Bags
using traditional wool weaving. These bags are used in a variety of ceremonies
and practices. The students are taught the history and the purposes of the
Quarter bags. This experiential learning also encompasses math, history,
science along with patience and respect.
In the fall, we visited grade six and seven classrooms in
the Argyle Family of Schools, and now we are starting with the WindyCove Family
of Schools. Throughout this experience, we have witnessed positive energy,
accomplishment, and knowledge.
As we have received positive feedback from staff
and students, we look forward to expanding this experience with all schools in
the North Vancouver School District.
All my relations
Huy chexw a
Juaxw Courtney and Laura
