STORIES OF NOW

Vignette – Northern Environmental Health and Creativity, Yellowknife, NWT.

“STORIES OF NOW” is part of a project ArtBridges is working on with Judith Marcuse Projects’ ASCN (Arts for Social Change Network) and ICASC. It is about gathering and sharing stories emanating from the field now and about what issues and areas of focus matter.

In conversation with: Tanya Roach, Artist, Northern Environment Health and Creativity, Yellowknife, NWT, (with Marie Coderre: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre) on December 3rd, 2021.

If you could tell a story about your community-engaged arts initiative now, this year, what would the story be about? What are the main themes?

TR: As an independent contractor, I jumped into community arts in the last 6 months. Through the pandemic, with schools and cities shut down, lots of us have been pushed outdoors. It’s been a very big opportunity to reflect on life and reprioritize. We’re spending a lot of time outdoors, in the bush, thinking about environmental health and the future – especially up north, where we’re involved with lots of natural materials – animal bones, skin and fur – natural materials that have been used for decades; but they’re challenging to obtain because of mining and resource extraction. We’re talking about climate change anxiety – the anxiety we feel about the natural environment.

What are the main issues your community-engaged arts initiative faces? (e.g., social justice, environmental justice, pandemic-related, operational, financial, HR)

TR: The main issues we face are about customizing the workshop structure because of the pandemic. We were going to have workshops in person then had to prepare for them to be online. We were not sure if socializing would be safe or unsafe. Translating an in-person workshop – to digital is hard; it’s not the same. We don’t have the full experience when not in person. But we’re accommodating virtually. We need to distribute materials physically – touchless, around Yellowknife.

How has your initiative been addressing these main issues?

TR: We’re addressing environmental climate change anxiety by using arts-based methods and performance-based therapy to express the range of emotions we feel. How can we navigate this conversation in a healthy way and end on a positive note? We’re inviting Indigenous elders, who have grown up traditionally on the land in a nomadic way. So many different lifestyles in their 60 years of life, hearing how they cope, their perspectives, how to navigate turbulent waters. One elder did not live in a community of housing until age 6, he came from the north. So amazing to hear these stories. We’re turning to elders, they’ve lived through so many things already. They are strong and healthy. Traditional knowledge, traditional culture is helping them to cope with today.

How has the community of participants that your initiative engages with evolved in the past year (if at all)?

TR: During theworkshops, in the last 6 months, people have been more vocal; they are expressing a lot of gratitude. They want to get together more than before. You value what you don’t have. They are thankful.

How is your organization engaging with your community right now? (Logistics, pandemic public health and safety guidelines & policies, changes in the way we gather)

TR:  More digital this fall and winter. In the summer we were more free. The flip-flop between virtual and in-person is not always easy.

What are one or two new projects your initiative implemented this year?

TR: This project is new – Northern Environment Health and Creativity

What is your initiative doing new–digitally–compared to pre-pandemic?

TR:  We’re doing virtual workshops now. I jumped into community-engaged arts during the pandemic. I became involved during the pandemic, mainly on a digital level. Finding touchless contact material delivering. Finding creative ways to stay in touch. Using phone, email, and in person.

Is there a recent achievement, wonderful moment, or quote you’d like to share about your initiative or its impact?
TR: A wonderful moment: connecting with people in clear and genuine ways. Feels good to connect with people on a personal level in a safe space. We’re all craving connection on a deep lever. We’re talking about our fears and anxieties and acknowledging it.

In conversation with Seanna Connell, ArtBridges and Marie Coderre, Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC)

photo credit: Pixabay/Kranich17