I've been noticing something lately that I can't stop thinking about. I want to try to wander through it today, carefully, because I think it lives in more of us than we'd like to admit. Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Pipi7íyekw, Joffre Lakes, twice: once in December and again in April. It is truly magical, and at these times of year, a winter wonderland. It sits on the unceded territory of the Lil'wat Nation and N'Quatqua, land that has been in relationship with...

After our longhouse event, someone asked me a question I've been sitting with ever since. They had heard Len compliment me on "not being stingy with your teachings." And they wanted to know: how did I feel confident the blanketing would be received well? Was I nervous that people outside the bighouse might have thoughts that could knock me off centre? It's a beautiful question. And to answer it, I have to start at the beginning. In the weeks leading up to the event, I kept thinking...

This past Saturday I was up before my alarm, like a little like a kid on Christmas. A mix of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety had been building for weeks, and the day had finally arrived--our Longhouse Experiential Workshop in Stz'uminus First Nation. I arrived at longhouse shortly after 8:30, push broom in hand. A friend and Stz'uminus member had advised me to come early and sweep the benches, as she told me that they can get dusty. So there I was, alone in the nearly empty room,...