Camosun Open House

Della Singing & Drumming

On Thursday, May 5th Camosun held an Open House event for prospective students at its Interurban Campus. The Aboriginal Education Department had its own room where they held two events: a student panel, which I participated in; and a traditional medicine workshop led by Della Rice Sylvester, a Cowichan Tribes traditional medicine woman.

I attended Della's workshop, which was the third one I've been fortunate enough to attend during the past year. Della welcomed everyone with a song, inviting them into the room to take part, and then she began explaining the medicinal uses of several local plants.

Della's Traditional Medicine Workshop

Some of her favorites are rose hips, sword fern, Guchmein, devil's club, comfrey, plantain, snowberry, peppermint & thistle. She said that if you place bows of sword fern between two sheets beneath someone who is bed-ridden, the fern acts like an ice-pack and will take the pain away from the afflicted person. Della also said that she boiled down a gallon of soaked devil's club into a concentrate and that it enabled someone with diabetes to go without his insulin shot for 6 months!

Della has many fascinating stories about the healing power of the plants and herbs that grow right in our own back yards, and she's a very dynamic speaker who has no problem holding your attention for the length of the workshop!

Della Rice Sylvester

It was a real treat to see Della for the third time and now I want to make it a personal goal of mine to learn more about traditional medicinal plants. I think it's silly to go out and spend money in a drug store when the plants and herbs we've used for healing for thousands of years are growing up all around us. Della sells salves, oils and many other things through her business, Intertribal Trades. She is also available for workshops upon request if you contact her at: intertribaltrades (at) gmail (dot) com.

Drum-making!

Making Drums

On Wednesday April 27th, several students, including myself, attended a drum-making workshop led by Laura Hynds - an Indigenous Studies Diploma graduate.

Seven students attended the workshop and we were able to finish off 10 drums by the end of the day. Most of the students who attended had never made a drum before so it was a really fun and rewarding experience for everyone.

Sandee building a drum

Money for materials was provided by the First Nations Student Association with the help of Sandee Mitchel who organized the workshop. The drums we made were actually created for next year's students to be able to offer them as gifts to special guest speakers who offer their teachings to our students.

A special thanks to Laura who was extremely patient and encouraging with all of us. Laura offers many traditional teachings that have been passed on to her from her elders and makes the experience that much more enriching for first-time drum-makers.

A finished drum

For me, it was just a great chance to do something traditional and fun after a hard month of projects, papers, and deadlines! If anyone is interested in getting the ball-rolling on more drum-making workshops, talk to Sandee Mitchel or anyone else in the Aboriginal Education office.

p.s. Thanks to Aja for the pictures!