_ Human rights lessons |
taught in tapestry

A beautiful display of 12
Chilean artworks called ‘‘ar-
pilleras’’ (pronounced: ar-
piyeras) is presently touring
School District No. 88 schools,
courtesy of the Terrace and Dis-
trict Teachers’ Association and
Northwest Development Educa-

tion. The artwork and related

lessons for the different grade

_levels teach children a profound

lesson in human rights. The tour
is a project of CoDevelopment

7 Canada,

Arpilleras are a type of tapes-

Vickers —
Continued from page 6

and David Lane to make ar-
rangements for a helicopter trip
to Kitselas Canyon — to ex-
amine the petroglyphs (ancient
drawings carved into the rocks
along the banks of the Skeena
and on Ringbolt Island), to revel
in the history of the area, and to
gain inspiration for a very
special painting.

Last Thursday afternoon
Dave Newman, manager of
Canadian Helicopters’ Terrace
base, took Roy Vickers, Charlie
Meints, Bill McRae and this
reporter on an awe-inspiring
look at Kitselas Canyon, from a
helicopter with a door removed
to allow direct access to the
history and feel of the canyon.
To touch the petroglyphs. To be
overcome by the sense of history
captured in that tumultuous
river canyon. Vickers jumped
out of the helicopter onto Ring-
bolt Island, where the stern-
wheelers used to be pulled

through the canyon by the fleet-_
footed young natives straining

on ropes threaded through the
ringbolts. With reverence, he
touched the petroglyphs. With
pride, of his people and all the
people who lived during those
times, he traversed the small
island. And returned with two
river rocks to place. in the
fireplace of his new longhouse
home in Tofino, as a memory of
his contact with his ancestors,
and a camera full of exposed
film from which to draw inspira-
tion for his painting upon his
return to Tofino.

“We, as British Columbians
~— all of us; no matter what race
— have the heritage of the
Northwest coast Indians. And
it’s a rich heritage because it
comes from the land we live in.
So we should all be more aware
of the people who used to live
here because that knowledge can
help us live here and feel more in
tune — in love — with the land
we live in,”

For over two hours, we ex-
plored and marvelled at the
history and beauty of the place.

Then, just as we were making a.

last turn to head back to the air-
port, Roy asked Dave to pause

for one last photo. Of Ringbolt —

Island in the foreground, with
the protective Bornite Mountain
in the middle ground and the
majestic Seven Sisters towering
in the background. The sun

highlighted the scene as the shut-. .

ter clicked one last time. Vickers

sighed, ‘‘This really is God’s -

country — Tsimshian country.”

try traditionally made by Chile-
an women. In recent history,
they have become a testimonial
to the injustices committed by
the Chilean government against
its own people. _
Women whose men had dis-
appeared were faced with the
reality of economic. survival.
They formed workshops and be-.
gan to make arpilleras to sell to
help support their families.
These women had suffered from
the harshness and injustice of
the system under which. they
were living. And this they por-’
trayed in their work. Arpilleras | §
were also being made by politi-
cal prisoners in Chile. _ 7
Funding for the provincial .
tour comes from the British Col-
umbia Teachers’ Federation.
Ray Walker, librarian at Skeena

Junior Secondary School, or THIS PIECE. OF ARTWORK, KNOWN AS AN ARPILLERAS, is one of twelve presently touring
Frances Birdsell of Northwest School District #88 schools to teach the students a profound lesson in human rights. Arpilleras are
Development, can be contacted - faditionally made by Chilean women. In recent history, they have become a testimonial to the

if you'd like to view the detailed |njustices committed by the Chilean government against its own people.

and moving works.

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