Home Lands in Our Bodies

Brenda Kent Colina aka Bee in a workshop exchange with Fior Saoirse, Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands (Prince Rupert) 

‘Home Lands in Our Bodies’ is the result of a dance-based artist exchange between multidisciplinary artists Fior Saoirse and Brenda Kent Colina. 

The short film produced was reached through a series of workshops that were offered primarily to youth through Change Makers’ Education Society, a non-profit dedicated to creating social change in Prince Rupert, on the unceded Ts’msyen La̱xyuup homelands. 

This project unfolded as a dynamic tapestry of creativity and community, encouraging participants to explore dance as a means to forge deeper connections with themselves as well as with each other.

Throughout the entire planning process, it was deemed important for the focus to be intentionally shifted away from rigid dance form and technique. Instead, the emphasis was placed on tuning into one's body and relishing the joy of dancing as a form of play, release, and integration. Thus, the workshops unfolded as a holistic journey, encompassing various forms of expression such as meditation, journaling, walks in nature, and even participating at an open mic night. 

As a whole, ‘Home Lands in Our Bodies’ aims to capture the beauty of embodied art and the importance of collaborative expression. 

Orchestrated in partnership with Change Makers’ Education Society and Dance West Network, this initiative was supported by the BC Arts Council Arts Impact Fund.

Changemakers’ Education Society, March 1 2024 monthly open mic

The film showing of Homelands in Our Bodies was followed by a writing workshop - with prompts generated from the film - which all culminated in a public reading.