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Beautiful
House Events:
Jennifer has performed spoken word at our Indian
Summer and Curl
2 events. She was also the hair stylist for our
female performers at Curl
2.
Published
Work:
Jennifer
also had the following editorial published in her
highschool newspaper in 2000:
"Everyday
I take the Broadway bus to school. I get off in front
of Vancouver Technical. As I walk into the building
I notice a totem pole to my left; I begin to wonder
about the significance of this figure. It appears
to be merely art, as some claim. I remember social
studies classes where they talk about the historical
and cultural importance of Aboriginal Heritage. A
totem pole sticks out in my mind as a symbol representing
the Aboriginals.
"Later,
I found out the true meaning of a totem pole. As Webster
puts it a totem pole is a column of cedar wood carved
with 'totemic symbols'. If we look under totemism
it reads, 'religious belief and practice based on
totems.'"
"The
Museum of Anthropology at UBC describes an example
of a common totem pole as one with six figures. The
first a wolf representing the K'aadaas Gaah Kiguwaay
Clan. The second and third are a raven, then an eagle
which represent the people of Haida. The last is three
watchmen (common figures) who look out for danger
in the natural and supernatural world. These "crests"
were adopted in ancestral times and commemorate exceptional
or supernatural encounters in family hunting or gathering
territories. 'In the Native American tradition, man
communicated with the creator through interaction
with nature: birds, the forest, and animals.' (Cited
in the Religious Movement home page of the University
of Virginia) Several years ago the totem pole was
put in front of our school by a program called "Tumanos".
This is, 'A program offering cultural enrichment to
first nations students.Through a variety of cultural
activities.also studying First Nation art.'"
"I
would like to ask the question whether a totem pole
is merely a cultural symbol', or only 'First Nations
art'. Is it possible we are exploiting the Aboriginals
cultural integrity by 'secularizing' their religious
symbols?"
"If
totem poles are a big part of Aboriginal ceremonies
and customs and these ceremonies have religious significance,
then a totem pole is not just art or just a symbol
of culture. We are taking away from the true meaning
and significance that a totem pole holds."
"Not
all Aboriginals are happy about the use of native
symbols as art and artifact. The Declaration of the
Exploitation of the Lakota Clan reads:
'For
far too long we have suffered the unspeakable indignity
of having our most precious Lakota ceremonies of spiritual
practices desecrated, mocked, and abused by non-Indians.'"
"First
Nations students of our school should be able to express
their individual beliefs, but our student body is
not accurately represented with only a totem pole
placed in front of our school."
"Canada
is a democratic and pluralist culture, which guarantees
the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion.
Why not equally represent all the religious beliefs
that are held within our school? Why not add a Jewish
Star of David, a statue of Buddha, a Crucifix, and
a shrine of Vishnu. The Islamic students may also
want to suggest symbols or art important to their
religious heritage."
"I
am only half kidding. My main point is this: let us
at least enter into a healthy respect and realization
of each others beliefs, our school should take responsibility
to allow all religions and cultures to be accurately
represented with out prejudice."
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