Sometimes when I think about my day,

I think about motion… the flow

of breath,

of idea,

of music

of movement.

And many minds, quickening now and pausing too, coming together in Creation. Sometimes, the flow from the old to the now, the new (is anything new?) overwhelms me. Sometimes someone else's flow envelopes me and tells me what my day is. Sometimes the ancient breath that I take in, that was breathed out by the rooted nations before I was and will continue after I am, overwhelms me.

This is the power of art to me and in my work in education and engagement in human rights, in residential schools’ response, in trauma and suicide response, I have sought this connection. It's why I joined the Hearth Arts on Bowen. My place, your place, our place.

Bio: 

With a background spanning health, education, and engagement, I have dedicated my career to fostering understanding and promoting meaningful change, particularly within the context of Indigenous issues. Leading the team that developed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), I participated in shaping a foundational response to the legacy of residential schools in Canada.

Leadership in this field continued as first, Director of Research at UBC's Network Environment for Aboriginal Health Research, then as the Director of Indigenous Education and Engagement at New Brunswick Community College, developing and implementing programs that prioritize Indigenous perspectives and promote reconciliation within educational and health research frameworks. As the Executive Director of Education and Engagement at the British Columbia Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC), I have championed initiatives aimed at public education and fostering engagement on human rights. Using public art to foster understanding of rights and responsibilities, I believe in the importance of compassionate and engaging learning opportunities in moving minds.!