Transformative Marks Podcast
A podcast that journeys through the world of Indigenous tattooing, amplifying the voices of ancestral skin markers, Indigenous tattoo artists, cultural tattoo practitioners, and those who wear the marks. Through a mix of interviews and solo shows, Dion Kaszas brings you the entertaining, challenging, and transformative stories behind every dot, line, and stitch. Embedded in each mark is a unique story that brings forward the reality of contemporary Indigenous peoples living a contemporary existence. Our Indigenous ancestors' struggle, pain, tears, resistance, and resilience are celebrated, honored, respected, and embedded underneath our skin. This podcast explores the stories, truths, and histories essential to us as Indigenous tattoo artists, cultural tattoo practitioners, and ancestral skin markers. These stories bring forward our ancestral visual languages and cultures' power, brilliance, and beauty. So that those coming after us are reminded of how amazing we are.
Dion and the Transformative Marks Podcast acknowledge the support of:
The Canada Council for the Arts
Transformative Marks Podcast
Cultural Connections and Language Revitalization: Embracing Identity Through Indigenous Practices with Lena Nicholson
#049 Have you ever wondered how language shapes our identity and helps heal personal trauma? Join us on an enlightening journey with our guest, Lena Nicholson, who has spent the last eight years deeply immersed in Nlaka'pamux language programs. Lena shares her personal story of growth and joy as she connects with elders, navigating the challenges adult learners face when trying to speak their language, even when words don't come out perfectly. Learn how encouragement can dissolve the fear of criticism and why embracing one's language is an essential thread in the tapestry of cultural identity.
As interest in Indigenous languages continues to flourish, we explore their vibrant integration into everyday life and educational settings. From greetings on t-shirts to classroom conversations, Indigenous languages are not just surviving but thriving in communities worldwide. We unravel the intricacies of context in language use, guided by elders who emphasize precision in communication. Our discussion draws fascinating parallels between oral and visual languages, revealing how both demand a profound understanding of context and setting to truly resonate.
Our conversation takes a creative turn as we discuss the empowering world of cultural tattooing and basketry. Discover how traditional practices like skin marking and crafting not only connect individuals to their cultural roots but also spark meaningful conversations about identity and heritage. We also delve into the innovative use of technology to create authentic and inclusive spaces, offering strategies that enrich creativity and collaboration. This episode invites you to reflect on the power of art, language, and technology in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening community ties.
Check out my tattoo work at:
https://www.consumedbyink.com
Instagram @dionkaszas
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https://ko-fi.com/transformativemarks
I acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia and Support4Culture.
Yeah, there's also a lot of trauma, like you know, and feelings that people have around language, so it could be a sensitive thing and people could get like quite upset if somebody criticizes them or they'll like step back. It's something that's just, you know, part of our core, I think.
Speaker 2:The Transformative Marks podcast explores how Indigenous tattoo artists, cultural tattoo practitioners and ancestral skin markers transform this world for the better, dot by dot, line by line and stitch by stitch. My name is Dion Kazas. I'm a Hungarian Méti and Intikamuk professional tattoo artist and ancestral skin marker. I started the work of reviving my ancestral Intikamuk skin marking practice over a decade ago. I've helped, supported and trained practitioners and tattoo artists here on Turtle Island. In this podcast, I sit down with Indigenous tattoo artists, cultural tattoo practitioners and ancestral skin markers from across the globe, bringing you behind the scenes of this powerful, transformative and spiritual work.
Speaker 1:Lena Nicholson is my English name in Shama Eshki, and I've gotten used to introducing myself the traditional way. So I come from Spences Bridge or where the Nicola joins the Thompson River, and I have two children, jared and Celeste Awesome, yeah, I've been working at Chitwan's Likat Mak'asemli for the last eight years with the language program for Indalikat Mak'achin, developing resources connecting with communities, doing research and interviews with elders and audio recordings, videos and developing resources with our language.
Speaker 2:Awesome. How long have you been doing that again?
Speaker 1:Eight years.
Speaker 2:Eight years, wow. When you reflect back, what can you see in terms of the change or the transformation from eight years ago to now?
Speaker 1:Well, I've always been interested in language, you know, since I can remember.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I didn't not just my own language, but like other languages, Like when I meet people I want to know like, oh, how do you say hello or how do you say thank you in your language? Just to have that connection with people, and I think it's respectful to to speak languages you know and be able to reach out that way. So, uh, eight years ago I was taking I wasn't even in any language classes actually at that point in time.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I'd taken one previously, many years ago, um and I, so I got into this position as a language illustrator. Yeah, and I was hesitant about that too. Not really much of a drawer. I was like illustrator sounds scary and yeah language.
Speaker 1:But I, I got in there and, um, you know it was pretty interesting. You know we had kind of the open, openness to do a lot of things, um using a program like an online software to develop it right from the bare bones, basic and add content to it, and yeah, um, so it was really um a lot to take on and in ways, but, um, I think with my language capacity, like I've seen it grow quite a lot, um, like I still know that I'm a baby in the language, I have so much more to learn yeah but I feel like I can understand more of what people say to me yeah, uh, yeah and schwauk.
Speaker 1:It makes my heart happy when elders speak to me like if I run into them at the gas station, in the store or they come into my work or they phone me and they're speaking in the language like. I try to pick up as much as I can. I'm like like, oh, you said something about this and that Like, but I you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But getting to the point of like having a conversation would be amazing. But I also recognize like at one point I would try to enunciate all the words because I knew the spelling and I try to say them all and like overemphasize things.
Speaker 1:And then at some point, like after listening more to the language, I started to realize that these things just blend together, okay, and so I stopped trying so hard to enunciate those and prove that I knew what I was doing, and just like sound more natural. So, yeah, I heard, I think, mandy tell me one day like oh, you sound more like I don't know.
Speaker 2:A natural speaker?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's a good thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good. I would say that's a good tip for people is just to uh, like you said, let that flow instead of trying to prove something you know, I think that's probably like a what would you say? That's probably a natural inclination for people to try and prove that, especially because it's so connected with who we are that we want to prove that. And so, yeah, just letting it flow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's also a lot of trauma, like you know, and feelings that people have around language, so it could be a sensitive thing. Yeah, and people could get like quite upset if somebody criticizes them, or they'll like step back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's something that's just you, part of our part of our core, I think yeah, um salmon is another part yeah, in my opinion, but, um, yeah, so I think, like it's just, it's really important to to speak our language, even if you might be saying it wrong, if you think like you're not right or you're not sure, like, just say it anyways. Like I went to a training last summer on the island with first people's cultural council and they said that too, like you know, just just speak what you know. Like, even if you're teaching a child, if they learn it the other way, like another way, the the more proper way, yeah, they'll just move over to that, like they're not going to make a big deal about it.
Speaker 1:So I think us as adult learners, it's like the most challenging for us but just um keep speaking and encourage others like bring each other up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and I think that's actually a really good point you bring up in terms of, like, the trauma or potential trauma associated with number one, speaking language and then losing it and then living in a world that looks down upon it. You know some of the elders and language speakers who are in that position, then some of those people who grew up in a time where it was shameful to have that language, where it was like, no, we're not teaching you because you need English, to the point where now people are starting to speak it again, and so there it's a different type of shame where it's like I should know this, but I don't know it right, and so there's different varieties and levels of shame and trauma that come through us in a generational sense, and so I think that's really important to put out there and ask, you know, just to share that. You know this is a reality, but it's pushing through that, as you said, to continue a, to continue this, uh, to continue who we are.
Speaker 1:I feel like the like, all of the things that are happening with uh language culture, like this revitalization, you happening with uh language culture, like this revitalization, you know, like the, the skin, um, skin marking too, like it's um, we're putting it out there that you know we're here, we're reclaiming our identity, we're, we're becoming stronger, um, because I think it's a connectedness between between us as shaytikimak, as like indigenous people, but also like a connectedness with the earth, with the spirit world, with like more than just um, I don't know, like what is it? I? I just I don't know, I can't think of what I'm thinking right now.
Speaker 1:No, no, I think what you're saying is you know powerful to, yeah, make that acknowledgement that it's not just number one this time and space, and number one not just this reality yeah, yeah, there's a lot more, and it's uh, I think it's just helping us to, uh, to be strong, you know, like to to reclaim our place in this world, and uh, um, yeah, I don't know. It's also like part of the healing yeah, and respecting our like, honoring our shikiki, our ancestors, and our world, you know cause you probably, as you were stepping in.
Speaker 2:You uh probably looked around and said, oh, where are we at? You know, because you're starting this new position. And then now, what do you see? That change in the community and in the respect of language.
Speaker 1:I've seen like, uh, a lot of growth, like, I mean, it's also, you know, but beyond the community, like globally, there's um.
Speaker 1:But beyond the community, like globally, there's um initiatives in place to to revive and like revitalize languages. But I think, like within the community too, I've seen a lot of growth, more interest in in language. Uh, there's a lot of people like individuals, organizations, that reach out, looking for language. They want to incorporate it like they want to see it. You know everywhere like they want to see it, incorporate it, Like they want to see it. You know everywhere. Like they want to see it on t-shirts, they want to see it on signs. People want to see it, but they also want to hear it. So I think, as we push ourselves to that next level, like greeting each other in the language you know, reading to your kids, or like talking to your children or even your pets yeah, I saw, you know it's coming alive, you know, yeah. So there's more schools as well, like it's part of the curriculum in many schools. So I think it's growing and it's really exciting to see that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And more people interested.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you mentioned you know saying a greeting, so I know a lot of Inthikapmuk people watch the podcast, which this may become a podcast episode.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:When you think about that, what would be a greeting that our people, or people who listen to the podcast, could give if they see one of us?
Speaker 1:Yeah, who listen to the podcast could give if they see one of us, yeah, so like, achkwen is one of the Achkwen, achkwen, yeah, achkwen, or achkwenkhloia is like further. It's like it's kind of like saying hello, there's. There could be deeper meanings to things, like oftentimes. I think we were just talking about transliteration the other day, which, you know, I hadn't actually really heard that term, but I was talking to somebody about a language project that they wanted to work on in terms of publishing, so what I was, ah, sorry, yeah no.
Speaker 1:And that's like sort of like a hello or like are you well?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:In the Nicola Valley. People often say hent or henplat so from my uh studies at nvit and conversations with uh nazinek mandy. Uh henplat by itself is actually like slang, so the, the last part of it is the, or the and it's like really quite kind of subtle, but like you need to identify that you're speaking me to you or me to like all of you okay, so if you leave that off, it's just like you're left hanging. Like what? Like they?
Speaker 1:didn't say a whole thing, right, yeah so, um, and some folks like in ohman pointed out um, after seeing hentla come out and some of our resources, like hey, what are they looking for? The elders in lytton're listening. They're like what are they looking for? Because hen, or like that hen part, could they like mean, like where? Okay too, so like maybe that's like where are you at and like yeah, yeah I don't know exactly how to break it down, but yeah um, yeah, because if I was asking you where are you going, it would be okay.
Speaker 1:Wow, so it's Okay. Wuhan and Nexu Wow, so it's really interesting. Like the language is very, very I can't think of the word right now Concise, yeah, like, when you ask questions, trying to figure out things and use the language, elders like our, our elders want to know like what's the context, who are you talking to? Like what is it all about? Because, it's like so important to know these things so that you're saying the right thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, giving that context precise context. Yeah, it's interesting to hear you talk about that, because I think when I think about the interpretation of our design, symbols and motifs, that interpretation is also very much based on the context of what's around. You know what are the clues that you're trying to pick up in terms of how do I interpret this design, symbol or motif. So that's pretty cool to hear that. You know that is true of our visual language as well as our oral language so yeah that's totally cool.
Speaker 2:um, one thing I want to ask, and if you're in as far as you're comfortable, is everybody always asks how to pronounce into cutbook, so could you give us a a quick little, if you're comfortable, for people who always ask that question, so I can send them the clip? Here's how we say it. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Inla Katmach. Okay, so when it's written out with the IPA or North American alphabet, the dictionary style it's N and then it's a bard. L yeah e glottal, stop yeah and then it's the k? E p m x yeah so the the first part is the nthla, yeah, and then there's that little kind of brief pause that is represented by the glottal stop, just like a quick stop kind of thing.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, people do say it differently, like depending on how they've heard it or where they're from, so it could be said differently. And I think that's one important thing to recognize too is like dialect is one part of it and also just like what you grew up hearing, or some people might have some sort of speech impediments or they might have missing teeth or you know different factors that contribute to that. So, but as long as we're saying it, you know it's out there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, thank you for sharing that, and I think those are also really good insights to highlight that the reality is is that sometimes that pronunciation may be due to external factors. You know, maybe hearing speech, like you said, maybe even the formation of your teeth or the way that your tongue moves will affect the way that you speak, and so sometimes, yeah, that's an important piece to highlight, so thanks for bringing that up as well, like you know through history. Thanks for bringing that up as well.
Speaker 1:Like uh you know through history, like languages evolve through time, as is like most things. Right, yeah, they do change um. But yeah, I think and hentlack is like myself to you yeah, yeah and if I wanted to say it to a group of people, I would say hentlack hentlack okay, cool yeah, thanks for sharing that.
Speaker 2:You know, I just thought it's a cool opportunity, you know, to be able to share some of our language a little bit further out there. And also, um, everybody always asks me how to pronounce and I'm like, well, this is how I say it, and so now I can send them a clip here this is how you say it yeah, actually, like on linkedin, uh, somebody had reached out about something and they they asked us like how do you say these things?
Speaker 1:you know? Yeah because, uh, we, we got a a request from one of the these major grocery stores in canada. Like they wanted to include it on their label and oh, cool, um, and they're like how do you say it? Like we want to hear the audio clip too. Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, that's awesome, it's important to bring the visual and the audio together, I think, because it just gives you like a round view, like a whole picture with a sound.
Speaker 2:Yeah, totally, and I would say it also like what is it? It also honors the different ways that we learn as learners too, because not all of us get it with that language piece and not all of us get it with the visual piece. Sometimes people look at the visual piece, what? No? So, yeah, giving as much fullness and depth as we can will help. You know that larger conversation yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. And it's also cool to see or to hear how you were sharing that you have seen that little bit of transformation in the community and development around language. So that's kind of cool to hear from somebody who has been involved in helping the development of that work.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's quite exciting to see like younger people, like I mean, like like even myself, you know, like we're not.
Speaker 2:We're not elders yet, but we're a Cuthmane week.
Speaker 1:We're getting to be old, yeah, you know. Like taking on that role of learning to say prayers, like being asked at community meals or gatherings to say a prayer.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I heard one one young person share like a prayer song at an event with such a strong, powerful voice Like it just really it really is incredible, so it's a good feeling.
Speaker 2:Yeah, big time. So I came over you know we're kind of moving towards the tattoo stuff, but I think it's kind of cool to explore some of these things because everybody has a different view and a different experience. So I came over in what? October, end of october last year, to the language and culture conference. So, um, what was that like, putting that on and how, uh, you know, when you think of the impact that might have going into the future, what do you think about that?
Speaker 1:yes, so that was, I think, our third mokih that uh, chitinthalakamukh assembly hosted. Yeah, so we had a break during covid. Uh, I think for two or three years we didn't have host one okay, but it was very well received. Um, people were excited to come out and and join. I think that it's a big thing to put on, definitely.
Speaker 1:It takes time and organization and I think you know the wheels are moving this year to get that in place for the fall again. I think that people, I think we had a higher turnout than we'd had previously.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I also heard feedback that you know including a weekday would be helpful for students and others to be able to attend.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I think that the it's like inspiring as well as giving you that community to connect with. Like, oh, all these people you know have similar interests or they're doing this, and it's like more people that you can talk to. And uh, I'm thinking about, uh, like one community member, um mentioned, you know, at another language gathering. Like, oh, you know, you guys need to go to the moki next year.
Speaker 2:Like, oh cool because, yeah, you know, it's almost on par with celebrating salish, which is like a huge, huge conference that they've been doing for over 20 years down in spokane wow but it's uh, it's pretty pretty awesome you know, yeah, big time, yeah, so cool, yeah, no, I just wanted to give an opportunity for you to talk about that and yeah, yeah, the first time we did it was just on language, and then the next year, like, okay, like language and culture are, like you know, married to each other and it just makes sense that they both, you know, have a place to come together or somebody might be only interested in one yeah and, uh, you know it's there both of it both
Speaker 2:both things and yeah, an opportunity to gather too, uh, especially around those things. It was, uh, you know, for me, pretty powerful experience to come and to share, um, you know, some of the work that I was doing. Um, so, yeah, I, I appreciated, uh, being able to come and share that uh event. Yeah, um. So, you know, we're here for the Infocop with Blackwork Roundup, are we? Yes, and um, you know, uh, we've had a few few meetings, a few gatherings to talk about some of the stuff that's been going on, and so I'm uh, yeah, just wondering, or I guess let's first talk about you know, you received a intercut mcblackwork sleeve, um, so do you want to maybe talk about what that experience was like for you? Hey, there, listeners, it listeners.
Speaker 2:It's Dion Kazas, your host from the Transformative Marks podcast, where we dive deep into the world of Indigenous tattooing, ancestral skin marking and cultural tattooing. If you found value in our episodes, we've made you laugh or you've learned something new. Consider showing your support by buying me a coffee on ko-ficom. Ko-fi is this incredibly creator-friendly platform where you can support me directly for just the cost of a cup of coffee. No subscriptions, no hidden fees, just a simple one-time gesture that goes a long way in keeping me on the air Plus. Ko-fi doesn't take a cut, so every penny goes directly into improving the podcast, from updating equipment to visiting with new guests as I go into recording season two. So if you like what you hear and you'd like to help me keep the lights on, head over to my Ko-Fi page, wwwko-ficom. Forward slash transformative marks. The link is in the show notes.
Speaker 1:Yes, so I'd heard about Dion and his skin skin art sorry, skin marking sorry yeah, like here, these different terms are like. Which one should I use? I know so skin marking? Uh, I'd seen, uh you know, samples of his work on um my teacher, mandy jimmy, and uh elder and friend of mine, and so she had uh hand poke work, I believe, and then molly tudelican, my cousin as well, so I I'd seen some of dion's work, uh, and asked them about it, you know, because it's like it's visual and it's different yeah and so I I heard from mandy one day that dion was doing a call out for intercontinental black work tattoo project and she explained a little bit.
Speaker 1:She just said, if you're interested, go look it up yeah so I did go look it up. Uh, I'd actually seen that book, as I mentioned, when I was in art school, which featuring, uh, the implicat mc tattoo and body art, or I can't remember what it was called, but yeah, tattooing face and body painting of the thompson indians?
Speaker 1:yes, yeah so I hadn't seen it in a long time. But I was quite interested and so I looked through the website and yeah checked out uh dion's work and I decided, thought about it for a bit and overnight, and then I composed my email and wrote about. You know why, why I was interested and um, yeah, some of my thoughts around it.
Speaker 1:So we had an interview and talked about things and, uh, it just seemed to all kind of fit into place and at the time I was really excited when I got accepted to go out east to the east coast originally, but anyway, yeah, the interviews went well and I remember talking about the things that I like to dyes and tools that we've made baskets, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I, after those discussions, like Dion and I met again, I think another time. Yeah, and you came up with the design, yeah, and. I just loved it just the way it was. I didn't think about any changes for it. So when we met I started starting to put it on there, the outlines. So people that see me first, some of the questions are like, oh, that's tribal, I can tell that. And then they ask where or what's the meaning? Does it have meaning to?
Speaker 2:it.
Speaker 1:And so it's. It sparks a dialogue in that in that way.
Speaker 2:So yeah, awesome. Yeah, no, it was really. It was really. I enjoyed working with you, especially because of some of that knowledge that you have around the language and some of the conversations we've been able to have. You know that, uh, I haven't had with other folks, so it was pretty cool to be able to collaborate on bringing it to life. So, um, when you uh think about that uh work, how, how has it impacted you, or has it impacted you in any type of way?
Speaker 1:Yes, I think I feel like I guess, just coming to different phases of life, you know, each of us are, as individuals, no-transcript Like I feel, like strong, I feel independent, I feel connected, um, it's just uh, yeah, empowered, I guess, in a way, like it's just um, it's a pretty strong statement you know like um, I'm not. I'm not that flashy of a person, you know like I just kind of go in there chameleon style. But yeah, this is. This is makes me stand out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely yeah.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I, I just I love looking at it and then even when I'm out in the bush or something, I'll like put something on my hand and just like you know a leaf or something and look at like oh, how does that look Like?
Speaker 2:yeah, I don't know does that look like?
Speaker 1:yeah, I don't know just, yeah, that's pretty neat.
Speaker 2:So, um, I think it's, it's bold and it's uh, that's beautiful, um, so, yeah, awesome, yeah, when you think about, um, the, the reality that it is part of our visual language, you know, uh, I wonder if that was also part of the reason you were interested in it, that it was like part of you know, it was our visual language, and also the reality that you do so much work with our oral language. You know, yeah, I was just curious to know if that was also part of the desire to get the work hired, to get the work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it's. Yeah, I mean it's being being a part of our history, like, um, the basketry designs, you know, like it's, uh, it's, it's nice to be able to, yeah, to bring that out there, to bring it forward, cause not everybody knows about those, those things, but uh, these designs, you know, like that they are, you know from, from those, like you know, parts of our, our history or culture. Yeah, so I mean it brings it back to life like re I don't want to say reinvents, but I can't think of the word but anyways, it just it's out there, like it's something that people can see in it and it's tied to our history. So the baskets, our baskets, are like incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Very well made. Yeah, the time that it takes to go and harvest, like it's very process-oriented, and that's the thing, like I think, that you know, in society today, everything is just so like instant and people expect that, you know, like instant gratification, like totally whereas, like you don't get the same sense of I don't know. Um, satisfaction is one word, but like, like completeness, when you, just you know you're given the materials that have already been harvested and prepared, and then they say, oh, like, make this little basket.
Speaker 1:Then yeah it's like you're missing a big part of it, like when you just have, when you're not doing the whole process. You know like yeah because, uh, it gives you like a real sense of um. I'm gonna struggle for words here, like today, but it's all good, yeah, yeah anyways, um, yeah, because I I think like it gives you that appreciation. Yeah, you're going to the land, you're you that appreciation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, You're going to the land. You're, you're talking to the land. You're talking to the plants, the animals, like you're being, you're, you're a part of that, instead of separate from it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And, yeah, it's just really grounding, and I think it's part of spirituality too, like that, that we're connected to the world around us. That we're connected to the world around us, so, um, being able to appreciate everything that's here for us and being able to utilize it, protect it, you know, make sure it lives on yeah, is important yeah, no, I think, uh, it was also cool to hear, uh, your story the other day in terms of some of the work that uh, you know you've done with basketry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, some of the work that uh, you know you've done with basketry, yeah, some of that learning that you have done. So it was cool to hear that. And then also, uh, you know, know that some of those patterns you know uh live on you and as you walk the world.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely yeah.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it's a, it's a reminder, you know, like as I you know, I you know, as as other people ask, I think about those things like family and uh yeah um, you know, the mountain flowers and the mountains and the lakes, and yeah, uh, it was like the ladder into the shishkin, yeah, um, or arrowheads, which are yeah, um, and then, uh, like fishing, yeah, down at the, the river, whatever river or lake that people go to, yeah creeks yeah um, yeah, it's just so much part of um, part of who we are, you know, like to know those things, and I know that, like not everybody has um the same life experience, like having the opportunity to, to go and learn those things, so I think it's like, it's like a, it's a huge thing, you know, like people, like people coming back to their roots, their Cedar roots, to like people that have been displaced, like through the 60 scoop or you know, adoption or or other things that have you know, come into play.
Speaker 1:but our people are spread out across the world and I think through, like through my experience with the language work and, I'm sure, through yours, with the skin marking and and broader like, it's just the art. People are hungry to to be a part of, like to find out like who am I and where do I come from and what did my ancestors do, and yeah, um, yeah.
Speaker 1:So it's just like coming together and learning together and sharing together about these things so yeah, you know, everybody has different kinds of talents or bits of knowledge and, uh, as we learn and as we share with others, we become, become stronger.
Speaker 2:Yeah, big time, yeah, that reality that each of us has those gifts that are intended for us to share, which makes us a truly functional community. And, you know, I always think of, like you know, that's why we have to call people in is because we need their gifts to make our world better.
Speaker 2:You know, the what was I thinking? I had a thought that has escaped me. Yeah, um, yeah, uh. No, I've just really enjoyed uh, actually having our conversation and also, uh, being able to share some of the language with those people who may be listening is actually really cool and really exciting that you have done and contributed to in terms of some of those resources that you've helped to bring to life, in terms of, you know, some of the videos, some of the other resources that are out there. It's really awesome to be able to have those resources now, you know, we're coming from a time where those resources were really scarce. Resources were really scarce, and so, uh, yeah, I just wanted to lift you up in the work that you have done and really, uh, give you a heartfelt thanks for doing that work, because I know sometimes it's challenging, you know, sometimes it's, uh, you know, uh, a big thing to carry, and so I lift you up for that and thank you for doing all of that work.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, think you too hands up to you for all that you have brought out, you know, with the bringing light to this, you know to this um, this huge part of our um, our identity, like you know, collective identity, is like um, as people like that this was um, you know, is still here and yeah and it's great to meet all these people with. You know that keenness to be involved and to you know to bring attention to our. To us, yeah, to us, yeah for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you, and again, thank you for taking the time to come and talk to me and to share some of your knowledge. It's actually really exciting for me to be able to share some of those words and, of course, that little audio clip that I can now share with people, that's so cool. So, yeah, thank you for coming and chatting with me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, awesome, thank you. Thank you for everything. Yeah, you're welcome.
Speaker 2:Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by and taking this journey with me through this episode. I hope you enjoyed it. I'll just ask that you would go and subscribe, if you haven't already done so and if you have subscribed, thank you very much. I appreciate you following this journey. You very much, I appreciate you following this journey. I just want you to remember that, no matter who you are, where you're from, what you've done or what you've been through, that you are amazing, that you are loved and that we need you here today and going into the future so that we can transform this world for the better through our collective thoughts, actions, feelings and our compassion for each other as human beings.
Speaker 2:Heading over to next week's episode, another solo episode, where I'll be talking about creating spaces and flattening the hierarchy of authenticity and bringing in all tools and technology and using the right tool for the job. So we'll see you next. Remember, every coffee helps me to bring you the content that you love. So head over to my Ko-Fi page and let's make something great together. And the last thing that I will ask you is to do me a solid and share this episode with somebody that you think will enjoy it. Thanks a lot and see you next week.