Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Two-eyed seeing

Welcome to the world of natural dyeing!  Nadine McSpadden, a fibre artist from the Secwepemc Nation and Zoe McDonnell, a fiber artist and biologist will host this weekend’s dye workshops.  Participants will be introduced to the notion of Two Eyed Seeing.  This is a perspective that takes Indigenous knowledge and merges it with science.  This way of viewing the world sees how both perspectives can complement each other and can impact the way in which we forage, connect with land and place and create dyes that are not harmful to the environment.

On Friday night, participants will spend time getting to know each other.  Zoe and Nadine will introduce the history of dyeing and the significance of two eyed seeing as it relates to harvesting, making natural dyes and passing down Indigenous knowledge. Saturday is a hands-on day.  Weather permitting, we will do a nature walk and explore the possibilities of harvesting materials for dyeing.  Nadine and Zoe will also bring some natural dye materials that won’t be available on site so that we have a variety of materials to create numerous colours.  Saturday we’ll create a rainbow of colours.   On Sunday, we will use the wool we dyed to weave a small bag.   Participants will also leave with handouts, their small bag  and an appreciation of  the wonders of natural dyeing.

All materials will be included in this session.