Our First Week

So our tour begins. This week we went up North to Buffalo Narrows, to start our teaching. I have never been there. I have to say that the landscape is unique. Sand dunes and fresh water lakes dot the landscape, and with the poplar trees in their mid autumn turn, the colours are beautiful. The school staff was generous, and many of them were very proud of their school. It is a sad note to say that the elementary schools are busting at the seams up north, but by the time the students get to high school the drop-out rate is more than 60%. It is not for lack of trying, these teachers are at times everything to their students; mentor, friend, sometimes parent. I am not sure how much of an impact we made on them as Artists in their community, but they were intrigued and asked a lot of questions. I get the impression, that for many students, professional artists, are something so outside their day to day life, that to make a living at it, we come from some kind of privilege that they don't have. I hope they got from us that the voice of the North is beautiful, and asked for, and needed. That this Art thing we do is not for others it is for them.


Next, we then traveled to Ile A La Crosse. I can say that the students and teachers there are such a strong force in the community. The way this school is run is outstanding. The students have excellent facilities and now all they need are more teachers. As funding budgets are tightened arts programming is usually the first to go. Art has a less tangible impact on the life of a student and so the justification moves along. The elementary students have enthusiasm and are very eager to see us, our presence is like a breath of air in a tight space. They have a room full of instruments, with no one to teach them.



Off to La Ronge next, and after a 4 hour drive through the winding dirt roads, we arrived. I have always liked La Ronge. It is a bigger centre with more opportunities for the whole community. The social problems are less apparent, and the Drop-out rates are a little less. I asked some of the kids why they dropped out and their answers were surprising. The normal answers were to work to help support my family. When they said because they really didn't need it to make money I was surprised. It reminded me of the old west, farm kids, ranchers, it was as though the need to be educated, past some basic level, was inapplicable. Money was the focus and jobs were there for the taking. I found it very helpful for myself to be forced to explain the practical applications of Art in the working world. The dialogue was useful for everyone. I feel sometimes we as artists can become insulated in our own bubble, and forget, that 90% of people out in the world, are not artists and have no idea what we do. I think this kind of perspective forces us to articulate, in a concise manner, why what we do is important or relevant at all.

I am thrilled for this next coming week.