What is photovoice?
Photovoice is a method used in research and advocacy by which people can identify, represent and enhance their community using a specific photographic technique. It gives research participants the opportunity to use their cameras to explore and share their perspectives on diverse topics like health, family, community, and their futures. You can see an example here.
Since before i can remember, being on the land was a continuous part of life. My parents, mainly my mother, would bring us out to harvest plants, berries and medicines. She always brought us out with her, many times we would consume more than contribute, but it wasn’t what we could get but what we experienced that was more important. Today I bring my children out with me, I know they will probably do the same as i did and eat more than their fill, but it’s the time spent together and being a part of the land that is important. It changes every part of your being when sitting with the earth. You feel, act, think and see things differently. Being a part of the land is healthy for your mind, body, and spirit. Over use of harvesting areas is threatening our ability to harvest the plants, berries and medicines. Where we normally harvest is being over harvested by non-indigenous locals.
Throughout my life I have been gifted an opportunity to learn our traditional songs and dances. My family have been singing, dancing and teaching for many years. It has taught me to be appreciative for the opportunities it has given me. Teaching about our culture has given me a lot of pride for our people and a sense of purpose for the community. When we sing, it is often to help bring strength to those who are in need. It is utilized for prayer, celebration, and recognition. The songs bring so much love to our daily lives. The songs and drums have become novelty items. Where they are being used only for entertainment or tokenism.
Practicing our traditional ceremonies is a healthy part of our culture. It teaches love, kindness, kindness, discipline and respect. Allowing my children to be fully involved in our traditional practices teaches them at a young age the value of people and the value they bring to someone else’s well-being. Many traditional practices are being forgotten and not practiced. There are fewer and fewer clan members taking seats. There are generations of community members who did not learn and there is a gap in the generations who practice.
Teaching my children our practices of harvesting is building them to be well rounded community members. Giving them the opportunity to learn about respect and dignity when hunting. This begins prior to going out and hunting. It begins with the little targets they are focusing on, the people around them, and the space they are utilizing. Guiding them to learn and enjoy the steps towards being a respectful hunter is important to who they will become. The availability of healthy animals to harvest is at very low levels. The impact of resource extraction is threatening our ability to harvest by destroying the land they live in.
Bringing my children to a place of such beauty can teach them to be appreciative of the land that is our home. The places on the land where you can find peace and strength. The places that can make one think of all the things that are much bigger than themselves, to respect these things and be grateful they are available to them. Over use of sacred areas can change ones perspective of the importance.
Another part of being on the land is doing it together. Every part of my immediate family comes to enjoy the time together. Including our animals. My children build bonds with each other and with their animals, exploring, learning, and experiencing all the being outside has to offer. A hindrance to this experience is what you see in the back ground, the clear cut logging practices threatens our existence on the land. It is damaging the ecosystems that exist in all the areas we harvest our plants, berries, and medicines.
Healthy food, healthy living. Processed “store-bought” butter and butter from a hand-milked Jersey, hand-churned butter. In the rural regions providing this high quality, delicious food is easier than in a metropolitan area. (You have to try this butter on raisin bread with home-made cheese.)
Being rather a foolish person, I am forever—it seems—getting my ATV (quad) stuck or my tractor mired, or started on fire! This neighbour helps me out many times, saying, “You’d not be the first one to do something like this. What are neighbours for?”
So , then, these three abide: faith, hope and love: and the greatest of these is love. Betsey has probably saved my life by knowing who to call (friends) to get me to treatment when I was in severe depression. And then there is the garden.
starlings being a scourge/ and crows a murder/ owls a parliament/ strangely/ and peacocks/ quite rightly/ an ostentation/ and birds in general/ a congregation or dissimulation/ you’d think that someone somewhere/ would have just the right noun/ for grosbeaks/ not the waxy, yellow/ puffin-aspiring glossy/ evening types/ that gorge and depart/ without a fare-thee-well/ but the others/ the ones we have (“mine”)/ the pine type/ that gather on roads/ to scatter at the approach/ of a horror of cars/ and sit at the tops of tall poplars/ singing for God’s sake/ and ours/ in the middle of winter/ during dawn early glimmer// these pine types/ of gentle browns and reds/ of beauty muted or startling/ these treasures/ of the snow season/ I say/ we should term/ a pleasure. . . / a pleasure/ of grosbeaks/ yes/
Anniversary with “borrowed” grandchildren Our grandchildren live in Hamilton, Ontario, and we see them usually once a year when they come to visit in the summer. Sometimes we travel there, too, at other times in the year. But that’s not enough! And the transportation costs are usurious and prohibitive. These four children “belong” to our young friends who are homesteaders and home-schoolers. This photo, taken before the Covid pandemic, was taken at our wedding anniversary.
“Where two or three are gathered. . . “ Tiny, century-old, country Christian church is a place of thanksgiving, support, and encouragement whether at harvest time or throughout the rest of the year: a vital, if tiny, community.
The outdoor skating oval provides fresh air and exercise for people of all ages. This a popular facility that is very special and a type not found in every community.
The Guru Nanak free food programme helps to relieve food anxiety in our community. This is one of several social agencies providing food relief.
Dog walking is necessary for dogs and their owners. Walking conditions can easily become a challenge. People and pets depend on help to keep paths safe and clear.
Intellectual health requires support. In Prince George we have a fine public library plus bookstores. A real bonus are these Free Little Libraries. There were two of them situated in city parks; however, the municipality decided it was too much bother to maintain them. Apparently they were unaware that there were volunteers who were looking after them.
These days we all must keep social distance in order to keep healthy. Does this have an impact on our social and emotional well being?
A current local issue is the fate of Watrous Park in Prince George. The city wants to sell it to a developer. Certainly we need affordable housing for seniors. However, there are competing interests because our health depends on things like parks.
These First Nations drummers have been coming to the hospital every Monday evening at shift change time for eight months. They support the vital health care workers.
Path - You notice a new path clearly defined by an opening in the forest. The familial play of light on leaves made crisp by an early frost renders you still. You are welcomed home. Sturdy trunks anchored deep within Mother Earth authenticate what you understand about this place. Your life path walked you here to awaken your adventurous spirit. This new path may appear foreboding, but without you, it will be left to grow into itself. Now to take the first step.
Bird - The Hairy Woodpecker is distinguished by the length of its bill which is longer than its head. In the late fall they can be heard drumming on surfaces – sometimes metal fluting on the gutters or in this case, the newly installed deck railings. With the picture enlarged you can see a string of woodpecker spittle dangling from his beak to the railing where he drummed. Bird watching and identification is a fun pastime. Living in the north there can be up to twelve bird varieties at the feeder in one day, and sometimes the neighbour’s cat. Like the Hairy Woodpecker we are compelled to make noise, to draw attention to our plight – to aspire to the bird with spittle hanging from its beak.
Santa – My grandson likes to wear disguises. Here he is on a snowboard careening down our driveway wearing his Santa Claus suit. He dug this suit out of the basement and when he called on me to take a picture, I came out of the house, camera in hand just in time to catch this pose. His energy and imagination are contagious and when you spend time with him, you are drawn into his world where all bugs need to be touched, where all injured birds must be saved and where all things are possible when you are outdoors.
Stop sign – This stop sign with the red crossing sign next door, says much about where we are during this pandemic. We are being told to stop and remain in place, despite the view and the lure to proceed to the beautiful life beyond the tracks. For those who live on the ‘other’ side of the tracks there is always the hope they will overcome their misfortune and move to a less impoverished part of town. The irony in this picture is – which side is the wrong side? The dangerous, undesirable side? They say the virus knows no boundaries. Does your upbringing or your postal code guarantee the same treatment regardless of which side of the tracks you live.
Writing – The long shadows that snake from the fence posts partially covered in snow, appear like a hastily scribbled message left on your pillow. The crisp-white carpet of snow a gentle cushion upon which to rest your head. Who are we to interpret the language of nature?
Shadow me – This is a shadow of me – not my former self, but the present self. Like a selfie but without the fun effects and top hats and floppy bunny ears. We doubt if we are heard or seen some days. We forget we are ultimately responsible to our shadow which we lug along with our camera case wearing woolly mittens.
Clara – My granddaughter is akin to perfection with her fake giggle, bright eyes and undaunting trust in us all. Being a preemie with arms the size of your finger, we could only stare for days before she could be held close. Now at almost two years of age, she jibber jabbers and grabs your finger tight when going up the stairs onto the deck. She is the reminder that age is just a number and when she nestles into you and turn her back it’s your cue to make a slide and let her ride to the floor with a gentle bump.
Chimes – An afterthought, a windchime is a colourful sound in your ear. Seemingly unaware of their beauty, they react to even the slightest breeze that walks through the back yard. While you don’t see them at night, their sound is a reminder that time is carrying on even while you sleep. Their incessant tinkle, notice to wear a puffer coat and those mitts you like from the box by the front door.
Dogs – The Yellow Lab Caesar and Chesapeake Bay Retriever Venus could fetch sticks and swim for hours. There is boundless energy in this photo and this snippet in time and these two make no apologies for being in your face and happy. This picture captures them one day in July at Black Point on Francois Lake. It’s a spot we love to hike into to fish from shore and have a picnic by the rocky point. There is a shallow spot beyond the point where you could step out of your boat into knee-deep water. The dogs always loved the hike into this shallow bay, and it wasn’t unusual to tree a bear, or see otters playing in the mud along the mouth of the river that empties itself there.
The beauty of many places in Northern BC, surrounded by the natural environment: hills, mountains, rivers, and lakes, with easy access to. In a fast, busy technological world, Nature replenishes my spirit, is a reflective essence of who I am, the freedom of spirit, the bond, interdependent relationship, and I am a spec, with the vast natural environment and the universe surrounding me. Moments intuitively connect -watching an eagle stay put as I pass below. Nature’s wonders bring recognition of a great architect, a creator. “I cannot control the wind, but I can adjust my sails” Anonymous. Winter challenges - I adjust my thoughts to encompass surviving the cold (clothing +), and distances – difficulty in travel, carry sandbags and emergency kit for a fire, food, and extra blankets. Roads blocked by snow or ice, cell phone charged…but expanses without cell service and darkness comes early. And I must recognize the dangers. I live beside the “Highway of Tears”. I work to keep my spirit in participation in and with the environment and accept my limitations.
In my rear-view mirror, I can see the ancient mountains bring long felt history and ground me, in meditative wonder. In my car on that highway brings me freedom, so I can feel the excitement of going anywhere. I can see both the beauty and the challenges around me. Through my windshield I can see the danger. Winter driving conditions can be treacherous: you may not see what I can see - a moose standing on the highway. Living with driving conditions winter brings, cold temperatures and snow, also means being aware of the wildlife who are travelling in their natural environment. The highway brings resources, jobs, and provisions to more rural and remote areas. To a major city for medical resources.
Climate change can be felt and seen in the North. Fire is awesome to watch but also scary seeing it spread so close to human habitation. Cabin and homeowners on the North shore faced challenges of where to live as they evacuate, along with many others as fire was all around the area. Health risks rose for breathing in the smoke and fire ashes, spread in the smoke and air. Clear cut logging, pine beetle damaged wood and extremely hot weather creates a perfect storm for a fire to take hold and spread fast. Living in the north brings extremes of weather and I feel the extreme cold and bundle up in modern thermal clothing – but still feel the cold and limit my time outside. The cars also do not like to start, even if plugged in.
It’s hard to describe what helps make me healthy but for me, it’s about working to find a balance in my life: family, and friends’ relationships, work, fitness and health, emotional well-being and travel. There are challenges living in the North including physical distance and cost to travel from the North. Even the simplest journey requires a major logistical planning! At the same time I choose to live beside a highway that gives me access to cities, crosses the country and gives access to the rest of the world.
We have gratitude for having some medical services close at hand in our small community, caring doctors, nurses, paramedics, fire-fighters. Once our needs are more complex, we are back to Reliance again on the Highway for specialists, operations, and other more serious treatments. Lack of more services in the North has always been a challenge with costs, less population density and difficult to recruit or inspire people to move to the North, to live and work.
Berries – I am an artist and creating art is very important to my mental health. I look forward to the Mountain Ash trees losing their leaves in the autumn, exposing the vibrant red berries, which are then capped with the first snow fall. This is one of my favorite images to paint – it makes me happy.
A Shadow of my Former Robust Health - This photo happened serendipitously while I was searching for other opportunities. When I looked down I was in shadow and the impact, for me, was to highlight how my health has diminished over the last two years. Age and illness can affect health in strange and disappointing ways.
Angels in the Snow - I like to get outside in the fresh air and sunshine as much as possible. Play is important to a healthy life style.
Blow that snow away - Living in the north is a challenge, particularly in the winter. I do like to snow blow the driveway. There is a visible sense of accomplishment when all the snow is removed.
Placard required - A challenge for the disabled is to find a parking spot that is not occupied by a driver with no placard. This photo shows every car with a placard but that does not always happen.
Sports Centre - My main form of exercise has been to attend aquafit classes at the Aquatic Centre. With the arrival of Covid-19 I discontinued going to the pool. Walking in our subdivision was fine before it snowed and the roads were icy. I joined the UNBC sports centre to walk on the indoor track which offers many alternatives. Along with the exercise options there is an opportunity to meet other walkers and after time a community of like-minded walkers formed. Both the exercise and community are important to a healthy life.
