Cedar Headband Regalia Making Workshop - Cultural Workshop Series for NIPD

Zee Zee Theatre is thrilled to be offering Coast Salish youth-lead cultural workshops on June 14th in recognition of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, curated by our Indigenous Community Engagement Manager Alysha Collie. This is her final project with us in this role - SIGH! - so let's make it a big success!

Car Andres, a Coast Salish youth Artist from the q̓ic̓əy̓ First Nation, will start us off in a good way with a traditional welcoming and Indigenous songs. Refreshments of bannock, Coast Salish smoked salmon, jams and Indigenous tea will be offered to welcome all community members into the space.

Bella Casey, a Coast Salish youth Artist from the shíshálh First Nation, will lead a closed-community for *Indigenous kin to learn how to make regalia in the form of cedar headbands.

Cedar headbands and headpieces have ancestrally been used by Indigenous Peoples from coastal communities where cedar trees grow as regalia in ceremonies and special events since time immemorial. By providing an opportunity to create regalia, this will allow Indigenous folks living in urbanized locations or far away from their home communities to affirm and strengthen their cultural identities.

Indigenous youth Bella acknowledges that “there is a significant need for urban Indigenous folks to access regalia making supports”. Given that this is a traditional cultural art form passed down for generations within her family, it is a special opportunity to have an Indigenous youth teaching a variety of age ranges and skill sets.

Adornments of cedar roses, abalone, shells and rabbit fur will be offered to create unique regalia styles. This workshop allows participants to explore both traditional and contemporary styles of cedar headband creation.

By the end of this workshop, Indigenous participants will each have a piece of regalia to take home with them and wear during ceremonies.

Bella will be facilitating the Cedar Headband Regalia Making Workshop in Green Thumb Theatre’s Studio B from 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Space is limited to 20 participants. All workshop supplies needed to complete the headband will be available to participants.

*This Cedar Headband Regalia Making Workshop is specifically reserved for Indigenous folks from nations who traditionally wear cedar woven ceremonial regalia. Since this is a closed-community workshop, please refrain from taking this workshop if your nation does not specifically wear cedar woven ceremonial regalia.

We look forward to sharing this day with you and uplifting incredible Coast Salish youth leaders in our community.

Thank you to the sponsors of this day: The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, We Matter, Rise Consulting, and TD.

Event space donated by Green Thumb Theatre.

IMPORTANT:

Participants may only select one workshop per person. Multiple tickets purchased for family, friends or community members must be registered with each person's name. Multiple Eventbrite tickets purchased under the same name will be refunded without prior communication with Zee Zee Theatre staff. Refunds will not be offered otherwise.

Due to the time and resources which the instructors are putting into their workshops, we want to ensure they have a full and robust audience. For that reason there will be a $25 deposit, which will be returned in full with physical cash upon attending your workshop.

If this deposit is a barrier for you please email Alysha@zeezeetheatre.ca or DM Alysha at (@Collie.Collective) on Instagram, and we will happily waive this requirement.

ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION:

• Green Thumb Theatre Studios are fully wheelchair accessible.
• Free Parking is available at Green Thumb Theatre Studios.
• Green Thumb Theatre has gender neutral bathrooms.
• Previous cedar weaving experience is a benefit, but not necessary.
• Limited adornments for the headbands will be offered. You are also welcome to bring your own embellishments and supplies
• Ages recommendation: 10+. There will be a use of strong adhesives, needles, scissors and other sharp metal tools. Caution is advised.
• Unfortunately there will be no childcare available on site. Please plan accordingly
• Masks are not mandatory in this space, and your personal choice to wear or not wear them will be respected
• Space limited to 20 participants. Participants must show up to take this workshop as an at-home kit is not available. If you know in advance that you cannot attend the workshop, please email alysha@zeezeetheatre.ca.

BELLA CASEY (SHE/HER)

CEDAR WEAVER & MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST

Bella Casey and Ali Casey are twin Indigenous youth cedar weavers and artists from the shíshálh Nation with ancestry in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation. They are cedar weaver educators and workshop facilitators at Red Cedar Women Weaving Studio, a family run studio created by their mother and master Salish weaver Jess Silvey from the shíshálh Nation. They work as a family to revitalize cedar weaving and educate about the cultural significance of cedar for Coast Salish Peoples to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.