Who We Are

who we are

Poems Š 2016 by their authors Cover drawing by Ruby Harris.

Photographs and cover design by Chris Hancock Donaldson.

Inside front cover: Wendy Morton and students from Chemainus.

Page 18: Barbara Stoochnoff with Kali Dan-Jack.

Thank you to Chemainus Secondary School and especially to Barbara Stoochnoff for being so generous with space and time.

Who We Are was produced and funded by The Federation of BC Writers PO Box 3753, Vancouver Stn Main Vancouver, BC V6B 3Z1 Printed in Canada by Printorium Bookworks Victoria, BC

Introduction Since 2010, I have been working with First Nations students and their Elders on The Elder Project. I train the students in poetry, they turn their Elders’ stories into poems. We have produced thirteen books in various parts of the province and in Labrador. I have worked with First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth and their Elders.

What has been consistent about this project is that in the schools where I worked, I noticed that the non-First Nations youth had very little to do with First Nations students in the schools. And vice versa. I asked one of the First Nations students about this and she said, “When I walk down the halls, I feel invisible. No one talks to me.”

And I thought about this divide and what I could do about it. So I spoke to Barb Stoochnoff, who teaches at Chemainus Secondary.

Barb was involved in the first Elder Project. Some of the students that I worked with on the third Elder Project are now in grade 12 at Chemainus. I asked her what she thought about getting First Nations students together with non-First Nations students and have them write poems for each other. I’d give them a little training, and then let them interview each other. She said, “Let’s do it.”

Ann Graham Walker, president of the Federation of BC Writers thought it was a good idea as well. She arrived, interviewed some of the students. Chris Hancock Donaldson took the photographs.

This chapbook is the result. I watched the students discover each other's worlds, see each other in a new light. Write.

Wendy Morton

Jacob Switzer Born in Prince George.

I am close to my parents.

My grandpa mostly taught me about my heritage.

I learned to treat others the way you would like to be treated and that life isn’t fair. You must work hard to get what you need.

I’m related to Gabriel Dumont. I want to be even more Métis.

And help people to be proud to be Métis.

I’ve been taught to appreciate life.

My best memories: looking for crabs at Transfer Beach with older members of my family.

by Delshay George 7 . who we are

Delshay George Born in Duncan to the Penelakut Tribe, a disorganized start, split between two lives.

Fed a hearty diet of salmon, bannock and family issues.

Mother, always watching.

A house without a Santa. Presents from Mom. Taught how to landscape, do chores, to keep the reservation clean, and to treat people how you want to be treated.

Father, in most cases, indifferent.

An island life far off the coast, his other life.

Home to his brother, Peco.

Taught him how to play games: soccer, baseball and how to be white.

But throughout this disorganization, came a proud caring man, with community, family and heritage in his heart.

He shaped the world by his example.

Now, proud to be First Nations.

by Jacob Switzer 9 . who we are

Aaron Jack I was born in Duncan, raised by my parents. We lived in Westholme.

I grew up in Penelakut.

It was home.

My parents and grandparents were close.

My childhood was great.

I have three brothers, one sister.

I’m quiet and shy.

I always wanted to play soccer, but we didn’t have enough money.

Penelakut has a wharf and every summer we jump off of it, go swimming.

Every Christmas, my family and I watch It’s a Wonderful Life We love it.

I think my happiest memory is living in a green house in Westholme, as a child.

My dream is to become a hockey coach.

My name is Aaron Jack.

This is my story.

by Bree Williams 11 . who we are

Bree Williams I was born in Duncan, raised by my mother.

My childhood was a blur.

“Don’t depend on anyone,” was the saying I heard growing up.

Two brothers and a sister is all I needed growing up.

The two things I would do to make a better world: take care of it, treat everybody equal.

I would like to change my life, my childhood.

Birthdays were great: we got ice-cream cake.

My greatest memories were seeing my family, being born and meeting my boyfriend.

My name is Bree Williams.

This is my story.

by Aaron Jack 13 . who we are

Mariann Seward Living from light to dark: bright days, dark nights.

Daytime Duncan was a dream: sunny days full of playing: jumping, laughing, smiling.

Nighttime Duncan was a trap: alcohol easily bought, consumed, slurred voices saying my name, “Mariann.�

But then the sun came up, the dark was forgotten.

But friendly faces bring me forward.

My mother has been sober for ten years going.

by Willow Sweet 15 . who we are

Willow Sweet I grew up in Shawnigan Lake, lived with my two brothers. Raised by my mom.

I had a hard childhood.

Parents divorced when I was four.

I had to make meals, take care of my brothers.

I am Scandinavian, English.

To help make a better world I can be friendly, recycle, compost, don’t waste.

I learned from my family to bake, take care of young children.

I was taught to respect everyone, no matter what.

by Mariann Seward 17 . who we are

Cassidhe McNulty I was born in Duncan.

My mom and dad raised me.

My dad left when I was seven years old.

It was hard on both of us.

My mom struggles. She works lots of jobs to keep paying the bills.

It means a lot to me.

I have bonded with her.

I’ve lived in the same house in Chemainus all my life.

I believe in treating others like you want to be treated.

by Kali Jack 19 . who we are

Kali Jack I was born in Duncan. Now I live on Penelakut.

My home is surrounded by forests, which I loved to play in as a child.

I used to live with my mother, who raised me when I was young.

But when my papa passed on, I moved in to live with my grandma, so that she was not alone.

They both raised me to treat people with kindness, even when they do not do the same.

Family is what I could not live without.

When I am faced with the hardest of times, my family is always there to guide me.

When a member of my family passes away, we honour them with a large fire and offerings.

We carry on their memory.

We carry our family in our hearts.

by Cassidhe McNulty 21 . who we are

Kaleb Thomas I was born in Manchester, England.

My childhood was spent in Chemainus.

A huge pine tree took up the whole yard of our house.

I have a little brother named Ryder.

He was diagnosed with autism.

The world would be a much better place if everyone came together.

My life has not been very hard.

But I did some wrongs things with the wrong crowd, which I regret.

I spent my childhood helping at the thrift shop with my Grandpa, and I still do.

My happiest moments in life are the times I go fishing, scavenging, and late-night storytelling with my best of friends.

I’m only sixteen years old, but this poem written for me will still have meaning.

I’ll remember how fun and easy my childhood was.

by Jadyn Toews 23 . who we are

Jadyn Toews I was born in Calgary.

I grew up in many homes, stayed in Crofton, mainly.

A basketball hoop, a trampoline, great times.

A big house with great vibes.

A brother I could call my own, Vinny.

My life hasn’t been very hard.

I live it to the fullest.

I want to bring everyone together as equals.

I want to change all my faulty choices in life.

I’ve been involved in little jobs.

Paper routes, mowing lawns, babysitting.

Summers are my happiest memories; just knowing I will not have to worry about the next day.

I’m sixteen. My dream, competing in the NBA.

by Kaleb Thomas 25 . who we are

Brian Harry I was born in Duncan, raised by my parents.

My childhood was fun, I enjoyed travelling.

I lived in Saanichton.

I have a sister, she is twelve.

I’m not quite sure how I would change the world.

My happiest memories were going to the PNE every summer.

I remember playing Manhunt and lacrosse as a child.

My dad and I work doing maintenance as a job.

In the future, I want to continue doing this.

by Brandon Curtis 27 . who we are

Brandon Curtis I was born in Nanaimo, raised by my mother.

Childhood was happy, spent with family and friends.

I have two sisters.

I would like to move schools to change my life.

I played Manhunt and basketball in my childhood.

The job I had was a paper route.

My happiest memories are summertime.

I don’t have to worry about anything.

by Brian Harry 29 . who we are

Kyra Moore I was born in Nanaimo.

Raised by my mom and grandma.

My childhood was difficult.

My father was never kind to me.

When I grew up I heard this, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

I lived in a small house in Saltair, in a basement suite in Calgary.

I have a stepsister.

My family has a long history in Scotland.

To make the world better, it is important to have an open mind.

I have had hard times in my life: death of relatives, poverty.

My happiest memories are all the times I’ve been acting, at school, at the Ladysmith Theatre.

by Madison Louie 31 . who we are

Madison Louie I was born in Nanaimo, raised by my mom and dad.

I was one of five: two brothers, two sisters.

My family means a lot to me; time spent with them, my happiest memories.

I was taught not to fight by my parents, taught history by my Elders.

I learned it is important to help each other.

From Duncan to Penelakut I played tag and hide-and-seek.

I’ve been through hard times, like the loss of my puppy.

I wouldn’t change anything about my life.

I feel the world would be better with acceptance of others around us.

Kindness is the key to a greater world.

by Kyra Moore 33 . who we are

Ruby Harris I was born in Nanaimo.

My mom raised me until I was four.

Now my grandparents do.

Keep your hands to yourself is what I was taught as a child.

I’ve lived in four places: Ahousaht, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Shell Beach.

I have two brothers, two sisters.

I know a lot, but I have no clue how to make the world a better place.

I’ve learned about my culture, how to traditionally hunt and fish.

The longhouse is the traditional building for my family.

I have learned about my background from my family.

As a kid growing up, I had chores and hard times.

But I still just don’t know what my happiest memories are.

by Jake Burton 35 . who we are

Jake Burton I was born in New Westminster, lived all over the Lower Mainland.

I was raised by my mom and dad.

I’ve witnessed violence, drug use, abuse and alcoholism as a kid.

So I would describe my childhood as hell.

Now, I’ve restarted my life.

Now I work.

I’ve worked thirty hours as a dishwasher to get something I deserve: a Skagen watch from Denmark.

Although I’ve worked for what I deserve, I would like not to work so hard.

As a kid, you’d think that I was playing hide-and-seek.

Instead, I was looking after my brothers.

I didn’t have much of a childhood.

by Ruby Harris 37 . who we are

a poem is the shortest distance between two hearts.

-Wendy Morton