Vermilion RMH Connection Derek Collins

This week I feature a chat I had with Cora. She is the photographer of Little Inuk Photography. She has set out to capture and feature the art and beauty of Inuit tattoos. The Inuit population is another group with a rich history, and we are very fortunate to have such talent in our community. Her work has been featured in museums around the world and Chatelaine magazine.

Meet Rikki, who is the Indigenous Director for Lakeland College. We discuss her position and the work in Truth and Reconciliation. We go beyond that to her story and experiences growing up in the area. We talk about stereotypes. The variety of experiences around us continues to astound me as we explore and learn from each other.

David Graves is a teacher who has worked with Braided Journeys with Edmonton Catholic Schools. I reached out to him as a friend who has helped guide me through several topics over the years. He has learned the power of Story, and he is willing to share his insight with someone who is looking to learn more about the Indigenous story in our area. You will hear about place names, the two-row wampum and David's struggle with knots.

I have been working on learning more and hearing more Indigenous stories over the past few months. The episodes that are coming are conversations I have had with people who are willing to share their own experiences. Some of these are local and powerful stories. I set out to learn as a part of Truth and Reconciliation. I hope you will join me on this journey.

I am excited to share the chat I had with Charlotte. We talk about how Chatworth farm helped out during the pandemic by connecting people with animals. I also ask her about her experiences in 4-H and even living in a community far from Canada.

The Primary Care Network has two Navigators that are helping clients find the appropriate service for their needs. Jaclyn is serving Vegreville and Vermilion and Donna is serving the Hardisty and Killam area. To reach Jaclyn call 587-441-3535 and Donna can be reached at 780-632-2091.