At the Mawi’omi Centre of the University of Prince Edward Island, Morgan Varis, a beadwork instructor, provides careful guidance to participants as they meticulously create small orange shirt pins, emphasizing the importance of patience in the creative process. Varis, of Cree and Acadian descent, also imparts her knowledge as a sessional instructor within UPEI’s Indigenous knowledge, education, research, and applied studies faculty.
Conducting drop-in workshops throughout September at the Mawi’omi Centre, Varis facilitated gatherings for Indigenous students, staff, and community members to engage in beading activities, preparing pins to wear on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. According to Varis, beadwork is a significant cultural practice that she believes should be shared and passed down to others for nurturing and healing purposes.
Reflecting on a decade since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report and 94 calls to action, Prince Edward Island has witnessed various forms of reconciliation efforts, including the transmission of intergenerational knowledge like beadwork and culinary traditions among Indigenous students on campus.
For Varis, beadwork represents not only a cultural practice but also a personal journey that deepened her connection to her culture and ancestors from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. She emphasized the symbolic unity and shared knowledge embedded in beadwork, highlighting the importance of communal creation.
Jolene Rolle, the coordinator of the Mawi’omi Centre, emphasized the significance of cultural workshops like Varis’s in aiding Indigenous students in reconnecting with their heritage, especially considering the historical trauma of residential schools that disrupted traditional practices. The center now offers opportunities for learning traditional skills such as Mi’kmaw basket weaving and beadwork to ensure the continuity of Indigenous knowledge.
The workshops also welcome allies, with Shannon Snow, interim manager of UPEI’s experiential education department, stressing the importance of learning Indigenous perspectives and building stronger connections as a settler on Indigenous land. Varis acknowledged UPEI’s progress in creating spaces for Indigenous individuals and promoting understanding but highlighted the ongoing need for truth-seeking to unite all Islanders in reconciliation efforts.
In a separate initiative, Cree chef Ray Bear expressed his cultural identity through cooking, incorporating locally sourced ingredients in his dishes at a culinary event in Rocky Point. Bear’s culinary philosophy revolves around being harmonious with the land and respecting ingredients, blending traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern culinary techniques to offer a unique dining experience.
Bear’s commitment to learning from elders in various Indigenous communities has enriched his culinary expertise, enabling him to pass on his knowledge through community events and his role as the director of culinary for Elephant Thoughts. By embracing the Mi’kmaw principle of “two-eyed seeing,” which fuses traditional and contemporary approaches, Bear aims to bridge generational culinary practices.
At UPEI, reconciliation efforts extend to creating inclusive spaces where Indigenous students can gather and support each other, as highlighted by Kallie Drummond, a Métis student and co-president of UPEI’s Indigenous Student Society. Drummond emphasized the importance of engaging Indigenous students through cultural events and workshops to foster awareness and acceptance, creating a safe environment for practicing and celebrating Indigenous culture on campus.
