Learning with Lorrie Gallant

On Thursday, May 2, several secondary Religion and Family Life and Arts educators had the opportunity for professional development guided by artist, author, curator, professor and Expressive Arts Practitioner, Lorrie Gallant of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.  

Honored guest speaker Lorrie Gallant spoke on “Indigenous Art as Pedagogy” which included her own history and the histories and truths she experienced during her time as curator and coordinator for the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford. Lorrie wove poetry, song, and traditional sacred story together with expert knowledge and context on contemporary Indigenous artists from a variety of fields and expressed through an array of mediums.  

Supported by the Indigenous Education team and Academic Services, educators had an opportunity to center their own personal histories through artistic expression as Lorrie guided the learning through appropriation to art appreciation and ended on a hopeful note with a recitation of “Hope Matters” by Lee Miracle, Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter reminding learners, “Artists move people from inspiration to action and direct hope toward a new reality that can be shared by everyone”.