Cedar Harvesting with Elder Jeff Welch and Katłįà Lafferty
Channel: West Vancouver Memorial Library
Date: 30/09/2022

Join T’Sou-ke Elder Jeff Welch and Dene author Katłįà Lafferty to learn how to harvest and prepare cedar bark, learn about the cultural significance of cedar, and to hear their thoughts on reconciliation.

A Traditional Welcome will be offered by Chief Janice George of the Squamish Nation.

Jeff Welch is a single father, grandpa and T’Sou-ke Nation Band Member living on reserve. Jeff committed his life 13 years ago to becoming a Traditional Knowledge Keeper for his respective T’Sou-ke Family, learning and teaching Indigenous Education as an Indigenous Role Model in school district 62. Jeff also facilitates traditional drum making workshops for organizations interested in learning his teachings. Jeff, on occasion, does guest speaking at University of Victoria as well.

Katłįà Lafferty is an author and activist from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. She is the author of Northern Wildflower, Land-Water-Sky/Ndè-Ti-Yat’a (winner of the 2021 Northwords Book Award), and the forthcoming novel This House Is Not a Home. Katłįà is in her final year of the Juris Doctor in Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders with the University of Victoria. Earlier this year, Katłįà served as West Vancouver Memorial Library’s inaugural Climate Writer in Residence.

Chief Janice George is a hereditary chief of the Squamish Nation. She is a trained museum curator, educator, and a master weaver. Chief Janice co-founded the L’hen Awtxw Weaving House to share the teachings and practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving. She is a co-author of the book Salish Blankets: Robes of Protection and Transformation, Symbols of Wealth. Be sure to watch Chief Janice’s incredibly moving TED talk, The Spirit Moves Like a Storm.

For more information about our upcoming programs, visit westvanlibrary.ca.