Self-actualization through dance- conflict is vital 
Friday, December 29, 2017, 04:41 PM - Inspiring
Met an inspiring dancer/professor, Jo Blake, at a meditation/yoga retreat in Nepal. He uses dance and movement in community. He introduced me to Crystal Pite who also uses dance and theatre to work through trauma, freedoms, self-actualization. I've really come to realize, in my work, that these forms and explorations are so critical to our collective analysis and action. The spaces it opens for connection, healing. We are somatic, individually and collectively.
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Divine 
Friday, December 8, 2017, 09:13 PM - Poetry and Writing
Dragon flies in drag
over river spits,
mustard grasses,
tissue wings
zim hummering.
Their needled bodies
threaded beads, azure
hyphened by ebony
to the period of their
tails. Tumid eyes to tips
to eyes, waging circles
where another begins,
where mist and sigh,
early sky shaking its wings,
water below splitting,
spreading hemispheres
a slow spinning blue
mouths
consuming
tails
consuming
mouths.

(earlier version published Antigonish Review 151, Autumn 2007)




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Changing the gender narratives 
Friday, December 1, 2017, 03:42 PM - Adult and Popular Education
Working with The Story Kitchen and the Coady Institute in Nepal co-facilitating with an inspiring leader, Jaya ji Luintel, who heads up this organization. Increasingly, I've found in my work that technical solutions around alternative economic or community based models bump up against gendered social norms. Turning more and more to address these issues where media, artists, elders play such important roles. Jaya ji and I facilitated on the Rao/Kelleher feminist framework for change that has so grounded my work around gender and power. We met in a feminist leadership course at the Coady Institute.

From their site: "The Story Kitchen (TSK) is driven by the passionate belief that upholding the stories of women can unravel systems of gender oppression and patriarchy that continue to exist in Nepal. The domination of stories from men's perspectives leaves women out of the history of Nepal and fails to recognize the extent to which women are currently contributing and have always contributed to the development of the country." TSK works with women of different castes, ages, communities to share their stories nationally. They also train justice reporters. Their work with survivors of armed conflict, particularly the self-formed network that came out of it, has led to meetings with the Truth and Reconciliation Council as well as a special meeting with the President.
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Medway Lakes Wilderness Area 
Friday, September 15, 2017, 11:14 PM - Outdoor adventure


Photo credit: Maggy Burns

There is a stunning wilderness area just an hour north of Bridgewater. One of the prettiest campsites in the Province. One of the starriest nights I've ever seen in Nova Scotia. Great trip with Maggy and earlier in the year with Oliver and Maggy.

Hyang Cho  
Sunday, May 28, 2017, 04:37 PM - Inspiring
Cho's work is so provocative and inspiring. Erasure. Text. Trial. Check it out at the link below.
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