By: Allan Chan Photo credit: Gracielene Ulu Originally published at The Colloquium on July 12, 2022 Gracielene Ulu Co-creation is defined as the development of new ideas as a result of collaboration between creators. It is characterized by the sharing of ideas between parties, as opposed to working individually. When I had first heard of the term “co-creation”, a blurry idea had formed in my head, but it was not until I had met with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist Grace Ulu that I would gain a deeper understanding of what co-creation was. I had previously been acquainted with Grace’s work with the David Suzuki Foundation in devising the native pollinator map of Vancouver. With this opportunity to meet her presented to me, I jumped on the chance to get to better know Grace and talk to her about her art and personal journey.  This story is entitled “co-creation” because Grace was an integral part of our team as we worked together on the Indigenous Story Circle project. Our project could not have been done without her participation alongside Gail Sparrow, former chief of the Musqueam Nation. Not only that, but Grace’s artistic journey and her process features the collaboration of her family and those around her every step of the way.  One of the first things I noticed about Grace was her smile. It was a warm smile. She was so full of life and kindness, and she knew how to bring a smile to someone’s face. During our interview, she would laugh and ensure each of us emerged feeling the same way she felt. Grace was such a busy person, balancing both motherhood, work obligations, and our project. The name Grace is short for Gracielene, a combination of her grandmother and grandaunt’s names, Grace and Arlene. Gracielene...

By Keiko Honda Photography by Noriko Nasu-Tidball We continue to ask ourselves: how can cultural differences and unique heritage benefit everyone? How can we utilize these cultural differences as a multigenerational and multicultural force for good? Going a little further, what do you know about Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) or Indigenous knowledge? I want to begin by acknowledging that we live, work, and play on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam people.  The Kerrisdale Community Centre sits in the heart of the Musqueam’s traditional land and was once an ancient Musqueam village site. One of the important things for us all to remember, one of the reasons that we wanted to be here at the Story Circle is to celebrate the unexpected unfolding of life. For instance, I would not be here doing what I’m doing [facilitating the event], if Gail Sparrow, the former Chief of the Musqueam Nation, did not stop to talk with a stranger – me – on Dunbar street 10 years ago, shortly after I moved to Vancouver from NYC. Despite the vastly different histories and experiences, there are many things that connect us. Empathy, for example. That is what Gail shared with me back then and thereafter. I’ll never forget our chance encounter and the many beautiful shared memories, but these are stories for another time. I met Gail Sparrow, the former Chief of the Musqueam Nation, 10 years ago. Back then, I interviewed her shortly after I joined the board of the Kerrisdale Community Centre. When we preserve stories in stable forms such as recordings, people from different times and places can access them year after year. And, stories become part of who we are, what we believe, and how we see our future. The reason why...