I approach this project with a decolonized mind set, pushing the boundaries of what is proper for the students to create. I want each students work to shine as unique individuals they are.

On our first day we created a safe space with in our art shape, how we all have different ways to create and express ourselves. The project I created was about finding our voice and strengthening each individual. I wanted to create a set portrait of our self as an animal with traditional north west coast form line. We spoke about how if you can talk to an eagle, bear, dragon, beaver, salmon how would they be. Would they be kind, strong, smart, empathetic? I would have a list of kind words that describe ourselves each day we would start with a talking circle to share our voices but also practice our listening. Each days question asking how they feel? What is their favourite food? What makes them happy? Ending each day with banging a traditional indigenous elk skin hand drum. Three strikes to the drum Bang! “I” Bang! “Am” Bang “Creative” “Enough” “Me” “Beautiful” with each session the confidence of the students grew greatly.

As I’ve shared with the students being the loudest voice doesn’t mean you are the strongest. Each student pick an animal to represent them and added personal touches favourite hats, sweaters and hidden gems. They learned about graffiti and how to create a style all their own, adding kind words about them selves around their art piece. The nice thing about learning about the steps to the project is that there was no wrong way to create their animal, graffiti and kind words. I watch the students build up these amazing art pieces and empowering moments I shared with each class.