When Klahoose First Nation staff and community members got together for a paddle-making workshop, they learned a lot more than how to shape wood.

Michelle Robinson, the nation’s social development manager, said “It was so nice to see everyone waking up their spirits.

People are really missing their culture and workshops like this will help them understand that we still have it.”

She said many workshops involve having an ‘expert’ visit the community from Vancouver or other cities.

“My idea was to have Sherman Pallen come over from Powell River to create a group of teachers from our own carvers.

Sherman is an amazing teacher and we were so lucky to find someone like him who was willing to come in and teach.

“People from town might have a hard time understanding what it means to miss our culture. But we need to wake it up and acknowledge it. It takes a lot of courage for someone to say ‘I want to learn’ and they did that at this workshop.”

For his part, Pallen said it was a joy to be involved in the workshop. “I loved the looks of pride the came from the heart,” he said of participants.

Robinson said she hopes to hold other workshops. Her ideas include sessions with elders on stories and songs, perhaps another on canoe building or drum making.

“There are a lot of ideas, but people have to come to them,” she said of future workshops. “It’s all about the community and how we work together. Culture is more than just drumming and singing. It’s all that we do. It’s about fish and about finally getting a longhouse for Klahoose.”

She hopes gatherings such as these will “connect it all” for members when it comes to the ongoing comprehensive community planning projects and other initiatives.

As for her own paddle making, Robinson said special things happened. “Cedar talks to you. It makes dreams and helps with healing.”