Vancouver Parish Gathers for Indigeous Culture Workshop
On September 24, 2022, the Parish of St. Thomas, Vancouver gathered to make personal shields under the guidance of Michael Sabian Rawcliffe. Sabian now lives in BC and has Algonquin/ Métis heritage. Kerry Baisley, Missioner for Indigenous Justice, and Sabian met at a one of the weekly Métis gatherings held at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship several years ago.
Sabian practices Cultural Art Therapy in different settings. He has worked with Residential School Survivors in Vancouver Native Housing and Brittania Community Centre’s Weaving Our Community Together program funded by Indigenous Services Canada.
For the last two years Sabian has been able to offer six drum making workshops for Residential School Survivors and other Indigenous people with funding from the Diocese of New Westminster’s Missioner for Indigenous Justice ministry.
This workshop had its beginning when Warden, Jayne Fenrich received a deerskin from a friend. That led to a conversation with Kerry Baisley, add in a fur coat and stole from Janye’s family and an opportunity to gather and share in Indigenous Cultural practices was developed. It was an opportunity for people to share and learn about Indigenous Culture and the important role it can play in healing. Sabian says it succinctly, “Culture Saves Lives.”
