By Becky McMullen
BELLEVILLE – Loyalist students gathered in the cafeteria during universal break this week to celebrate a piece of traditional Indigenous culture.
About 10 students spent the break crafting medicine bags. In Indigenous culture, medicine bags are a personal belonging to hold anything the owner chooses. Everyone uses them differently according to Dustin Brant, an Aboriginal outreach worker at Loyalist College. Brant says that since people put the work into making the medicine bag, they can do whatever they would like with it. He says even just to have them as decoration is great.
A small table in the dining hall was home to a small group of students who concentrated on their craft over the loud music in the background. The busy cafeteria didn’t break the focus of Azhia Bacon, 19, who says she was really trying to understand how to make the bag properly and what significance it had. “At some point, I can see myself going up there (the Indigenous Resource Centre) to learn more.”
Brant led the event with enthusiasm, celebrating his culture.
“It’s an awesome opportunity. Any chance that I get to share or display some of the knowledge that I have just makes me feel really good,” he said.
Brant said he was happy with the turn out.
Bacon, a first year practical nursing student, says that she was interested in attending because she just wanted to experience something new.
“I’m from a town that doesn’t really show a lot of outside culture, so it’s pretty cool that Loyalist offers these opportunities.”
She says her time crafting was great. “Everyone was so friendly, and they just really seemed like they wanted to help and make our time here fun. I’m definitely going to their next event.”