It was such a treat to virtually speak with students from grades 1 to 3 via Richmond Hill Public Library for Ukrainian Heritage month, discussing how art can be used to talk about the refugee experience and to discover the power of storytelling. I showed them a simplified way of creating pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) and how when the first Ukrainian pioneers came to Canada they wouldn’t have survived without the guidance and friendship of the Indigenous community. We talked about the cultural exchange of kokum scarves and I showed them a beautiful Polish beaded necklace (thank you Mateusz) and how the craft in its making blended so many cultures. I think there will be many kids making stick-tak or bubble-gum pysanky soon, and they all liked my bookshelf!
