Through Our Eyes©

Youth Stories & Photos from the Nuu-chah-nulth Territory

Wickaninnish Community School & Ucluelet Secondary School Opitsaht, Ty-Histanis & Esowista Community Youth

Through Our Eyes©

Through Our Eyes© place-based photovoice project, focuses on the voices and images of the young people who live in the Tla-o-qui-aht Territory. The project encourages youth to use photography and writing as a means to express and empower themselves by sharing “what is important to them and/or their community”. From April to July 2022 Christine Germano, assisted by Ivy Cargill-Martin, mentored youth to write stories and compose images using professional photography equipment. The intent was to utilize the media in a positive way and to give the community an opportunity to celebrate the students’ creative achievements so they may continue to seek similar artistic opportunities throughout their lives. The final photos and stories by the youth were exhibited at the Shore Pier, during the Carving on the Edge Festival, September 8th to 13th 2022. In November 2022 the exhibit was shown at the Wickaninnish Community School.

Thank you

The stunning results of this project are due to the amazing collaboration and support from the Wickaninnish Community School, Ucluelet Secondary School, and the communities of Opitsaht, Ty-Histanis and Esowista. A huge Thanks goes to: Aaron Redican, Miranda McIver, Dani Stone, Rebecca Tuck, Grace George, Deb Masso, Kourtney Yeske, Monique Copeland, Drew Ryan, Sheena Charleson and the wonderful staff at both schools. A BIG thank you goes to our funders and supporters: BC Arts Council, First People’s Cultural Council, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, London Drugs, Paddlers Inn, Clayoquot Cedar House, Hélène Descoteaux, Norma Dryden, the Constant Arts Society and the Carving on the Edge Festival.

A sample of stories

Skateboarding

BY: Ali Swan

Skateboarding is important to me. It is the thing that makes me happy. It is fun and it can be for anyone. You can have so much fun because you can ride on ramps and there are so much good skateboarders in Tofino. They do cool tricks, and it is so cool but sometimes it can be raining or snowing.

And sometimes you cannot go skateboarding and it can be boring, the only things you can do is go on your phone. But you can go outside, and you can still have fun. I love it cause I can have lots of fun. I have more fun when I skateboard, I can have so much fun. I’ve got tired fast, and my first trick was an Ollie. But it is the hardest trick in all of history, and I learned it when I was 9. It is hard to learn it makes me feel good a lot.

Quinn Hughes Hockey Stick

BY: Avery Desilets

When I was younger, I used to play ice hockey but, I don’t play too much anymore. I watch it with my dad though. Once me and my dad went to a Canucks game in Vancouver. Before I went to the game I went to their practice at Rogers Arena. My dad said he wanted a picture of me, so I put my back against the boards. I was wearing my Canucks jersey that has “Hughes” written at the back. He is my favourite hockey player. Quinn saw my jersey and went to the bench to get me a hockey stick. The stick says his name on it. That stick is very important to me, it reminds me of that one time I went to the hockey game and watch the Canucks beat the L.A kings. That stick makes me play better. 🙂

Trees

BY: Kingston Bruno

Trees are strong because they can generate oxygen for the Earth. Trees are almost like wolfs they come in huge packs, and if one dies another comes back on top of the dead one and that is called a nurse tree. Trees are cool because they are good to sit beside to get away from reality. You can also hear the thoughts running through your head. Sometimes when I climb a tree it makes me feel like I am powerful because I am on top of the world.

View the entire collection of stories

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