Many hands have been busy in preparation for Dalhousie鈥檚 10th annual Mawio鈥檓i鈥攁nd some of them just about have their contributions sewn up.
This year, Mawio鈥檓i volunteers will be wearing re-usable vests that have been crafted right here on campus thanks to a collaboration between the Indigenous Student Centre, the Costume Studies Student Society and the Dalhousie Bookstore.
Mawio鈥檓i event organizer Michele Graveline, Dal鈥檚 Indigenous student advisor, has been thinking about this project for a while. 鈥淚鈥檓 very eco-minded,鈥� Michele says. 鈥淚 take it really seriously, so I鈥檝e struggled with handing out new cotton t-shirts every year. I wanted to do something different.鈥�
On the advice of colleagues, Michele reached out to Anneke Henderson, senior instructor at the Fountain School of Performing Arts to see if the Costume Studies Student Society would be interested in taking on the project. They were thrilled with the opportunity.
鈥淔irst, we identified what the garment would be,鈥� says Anneke. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really simple vest that you pull on, no closures. And then we thought, wouldn鈥檛 it be wonderful if we could use custom-printed fabric to incorporate some imagery that makes them really special and significant.鈥�
A rewarding collaboration
Michele embraced the idea of a custom-printed fabric, hand drawing a design that includes hieroglyphics from Mi鈥檏maq and other Indigenous nations. Natalie Mike, Student Affairs communications officer, digitized the drawing for the fabric company. The resulting material 鈥� which is predominantly black and white with a few red flowers to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirits 鈥� adds a one-of-a-kind binding around the edges.
With the fabric collected, it was time to start creating. Anneke contributed her time for design modification, pattern development and sizing of the vests, including a fitting to be sure everyone was happy with the design and fit. She invited volunteers from the Indigenous Student Centre to the Costume Studies studio for a tutorial and then, through the summer, the volunteers set to work cutting out the pattern pieces. Once they鈥檇 finished, Michele brought the back pieces of the vests to the Dalhousie Bookstore for screen printing.
鈥淲e looked for a word in the Mi鈥檏maq language that means volunteer but there wasn鈥檛 a direct translation,鈥� Michele explains. 鈥淟ast year we researched the hieroglyphic for 鈥榳e take care鈥� so that鈥檚 what鈥檚 on the back of the vests 鈥� it鈥檚 fitting for a volunteer.鈥�
The pieces literally started to come together last week when at least a dozen students from the Costume Studies Student Society met for an evening to get started constructing the vests. There will be 22 in total, in four different sizes.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to see them in use at Mawio鈥檓i,鈥� Anneke says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a deep red, so they鈥檒l definitely stand out. The project was well thought through with lots of details that make it meaningful.鈥�
A taste of something new
The volunteer vests aren鈥檛 the only new feature at this year鈥檚 Mawio鈥檓i. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be having frybread tacos,鈥� says Michele. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fried bannock round
as your shell, with the usual taco fixings. There will also be a vegetarian version.鈥� Aunt Sheila鈥檚 Mi鈥檏maq Taco, pictured right, will serve until 1pm or until supplies last.
This year the Mawio鈥檓i falls on Orange Shirt Day, so a table will be set up to share information about the legacy of residential schools in Canada. Everyone is encouraged to wear an orange shirt to honour the Indigenous children who were taken from their homes and communities. There will also be a table acknowledging Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirits with an opportunity to create a doll as part of the Faceless Doll Project.
鈥淭here are all kinds of layers,鈥� Michele says. The Mawio鈥檓i is an opportunity to learn about those things but also to celebrate. We鈥檒l have dancers and the big drum. A vendors market with beautiful things to sell. And student performers鈥攖hey鈥檒l be sharing spoken word, flute playing and contemporary dance. And if there are any other Indigenous students who want to take part, just let me know,鈥� she laughs.
The 10th annual Dalhousie Mawio鈥檓i takes place on the Studley Quad, under the Mi鈥檏maq Grand Council Flag, on Monday, September 30. Vendor Market set up at 10:30 a.m., the feast starts at 11 a.m. (until supplies last) and the Grand Entry begins at noon. Rain location: Studley Gym.