At the end of June, we (the cohorts of the education program) went on a field trip to Barkerville and other related areas along the way. We did a variety of place-responsive activities at each location! I have details for each below:
Blessing’s Grave
[ID Begin: A white fence surrounds a single grave surrounded by lush green space. The part of the headstone that shows over the fence says “IN MEMORY of C.M. Blessing” ID End.]
A solitary grave near the highway of one, C. M. Blessing, who was murdered on his journey to find gold in the Caribou. It is a historically significant place as it was one of the first cases of justice in the BC gold rush. We were split into groups based on preferred grade level and design a lesson (or series of lessons) to explore if you were to take a class to this site. I have been to Barkerville a handful of times in my life but this was the first time I had even heard of Blessing’s grave. It was interesting how this part of history was just out of view.
[ID Begin: A closer view of the grave from the last picture. There are people standing on the outside of the fenced area. The full headstone reads “IN MEMORY of C.M. Blessing. A Native of Ohio, Age 30 Years, was murdered near this spot MAY 31st 1866” ID End.]
Stanley Graveyard and Hotel
Our next stop was Stanley. We first stopped at the graveyard and connected ourselves to place through a sketch. There was a variety of options of restrictions that you could apply to the drawing exercise for different abilities. I had chosen to do two sketches, the first was of one of the exhumed Chinese graves – all but one of the original graves of the Chinese residents of the area were exhumed and they were returned to China for a more traditional burial. The second sketch I had done was of the grave of NAMES. The connection I had created with the area following this activity was much deeper than if I had just been left to
We walked along the road to the last standing building of Stanley, the Stanley Hotel. We were told some of its history and the future (potential) plans for the space. We were supplied with goldpans and headed down to the river.
[ID Begin: A series of three photos. They feature Molly wearing a bright yellow raincoat, holding a goldpan in a river. The first picture is of Molly, hunched over, holding the goldpan just above the river. The second image has them stood up and picking through the remaining gravel in the goldpan. The last photo is Molly smiling and posing with the goldpan showing off the gravel within it.
Wells
[ID Begin: A group of people huddled on benches under a large wooden structure surrounded by tall trees.. Lindsay stands to the right of the frame. She is wearing a navy knit sweater, brown leggings, and a blue, white, and green tuque with a blue pom-pom on it. ID Begin.]
We arrived at Wells a bit early for our activity so we stopped for lunch, a warm beverage, and souvenirs.
Once enough time had passed, we met Lindsay K. from Island Mountain Arts. We walked from the studio, through the school, and along the boardwalk to that brought us to a wooden shelter. We were tasked with making nature mandalas using organic materials found in the area. We were asked to be respectful to the land and only take what was already broken or what there was plenty of.
[ID Begin: A series of two pictures. The first is an overhead view of our nature mandala. It consists of bundles of green grass, rocks, and sticks arranged in a circular pattern. The second image is of my friend (and classmate) Evann placing the final touches on the nature mandala from the first picture. ID End.]
Barkerville
At Barkerville we were tasked with conducting a sound walk and then either doing some narrative fossicking or creating a photo story throughout the day. Being in such a historic location there was a lot to take in. Like I mentioned earlier I had been to Barkerville a handful of times in the past but I was able to find new ways to connect to the area and new ways to learn and experience what it had to offer.
[ID Begin: A set of three pictures. The first depicts a group of five, from left to right: Natasha, Evann, Molly, Jessica, and Aine, sat around a wooden table at one of the restaurants within Barkerville. The second is a group of seven people, from left to right: Opinder, Hart, Natasha, Aine, Jessica, Molly, and Jillian, gathered in a campsite. Two of them are holding instruments. The last picture is a group selfie with four people, from left to right: Molly, Jessica, Evann, and Aine, in front of the goat pen. There is a sign that reads “pack animal era” with further information beneath. ID End.]