Disrupting Colonial Amnesia via Land-Based Sensory Fieldwork

Authors

  • Geneve Berkenkamp University of Calgary
  • Surya Butterworth University of Calgary
  • Noah Derkat University of Calgary
  • Chelsea Godschild University of Calgary
  • Alison L. Grittner University of Calgary
  • Shane Yu University of Calgary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18733/cpi29627

Abstract

The authors, Geneve Berkenkamp, Surya Butterworth, Noah Derkat, Chelsea Godschild, Alison L. Grittner and Shane Yu combine film, poetry and photography to disrupt settler amnesia narratives regarding colonization of Canada.

Author Biographies

Geneve Berkenkamp, University of Calgary

Geneve Berkenkamp is a fourth year BSW student at the University of Calgary, living, learning and practicing in the Treaty  7 region of Southern Alberta.

Surya Butterworth, University of Calgary

Surya Butterworth is a fourth year BSW student at the University of Calgary. He resides on Treaty 7 territory where his practice involves working from a harm-reduction lens with structurally vulnerable individuals.

Noah Derkat, University of Calgary

Noah Derkat is a research assistant and fourth year BSW student at the University of Calgary. Born and situated on the Traditional Territory of Treaty 7 (Calgary), his interests are in both working with and understanding 2SLGBTQ+ identities among youth, mental health concerns, and issues of queer community members in homeless populations.

Chelsea Godschild, University of Calgary

Chelsea Godschild is a fourth year BSW student at the University of Calgary whose practice passion is poverty reduction, child abuse prevention, and family support work. Her Metis teachings emphasize building connection as a pathway for healing.

Alison L. Grittner, University of Calgary

Alison L. Grittner is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Her transdisciplinary praxis is underpinned by the belief that sensory and arts-based ways of knowing are a potent means of exploring emplaced experiences and raising critical conciousness. She is deeply grateful to be raised on the unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan People.

Shane Yu, University of Calgary

Shane Yu is a fourth year BSW student at the University of Calgary. When the opportunity arises he uses watercolour paintings as a powerful medium to discuss religious, philosophical, and social justice issues.

An intuitive self-portrait, inspired by the pieces inclluded in this journal that explore memory through multi-sensory experiences. I tried to create through various ways of knowing. I wanted to make something that you could run yur fingers along, and feel the different textures, the bumps in the grain of the wood, the brush strokes, the paper flowers, the cloth material, all of it. If you got close to it I wanted you to be able to smell the mix of coffee, acrylic paint, and the subtle aroma of dried flowers. I wanted to invoke textures through sight with various patterns and mark making. Lastly, I used past journal entries to create the flowers adding another layer of memory to the artwork that is unique and persona to me, reflecting on how each person's way of remembering is their own. Mihaela Slabe.

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Published

2022-07-15

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2021): Multisensory Storytelling: Creating Different Forms of Knowing, Being and Living in our World

Section

Articles, Illustrations and Verse