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A graphic novel that shares the historical past of the Homalco First Nation (HFN), as remembered by Elders, is on monitor to launch later this yr.
The Homalco First Nation has a big territory spanning from elements of central Vancouver Island to B.C.’s central mainland coast, with its primary workplace situated in Campbell River.
The brand new graphic novel, which remains to be engaged on a last identify, will depict “correct historic moments in Coast Salish historical past,” and will probably be illustrated by three Indigenous graphic artists: Alina Pete, Valen Onstine and Gord Hill.
The graphic novel relies on information shared by Homalco Elders within the early Nineteen Nineties, which was not too long ago digitized into a podcast miniseries hosted by radio station The Raven 100.7 FM, which can also be owned by the HFN.
The undertaking is being managed by CHEK’s Tchadas Leo, whose podcast Our Native Land has been the topic of a number of awards, together with a spot on Amazon Music’s current “Best Canadian Podcast of the Year” checklist.
Preserving historical past
Leo says the concept to make the graphic novel got here after his crew helped digitize the Elders’ recordings for The Raven.
The podcast miniseries for the radio station was funded by Schooling With out Borders, and as soon as the radio undertaking was full, the group supplied extra funding to proceed the purpose of preserving HFN language, tradition and historical past.
The crew for the graphic novel then issued a call-out for 3 Indigenous artists in Western Canada, and Pete, Onstine and Hill have been chosen to tackle the undertaking.
The graphic novel will probably be cut up into three elements, with every artist main their very own story and part of the e-book.
“A number of the matters that I can’t wait to see are the canoeing with a younger little one, bringing them to the seaside and educating them the right way to dig clams,” stated Leo.
“There’s one other looking one they usually’re speaking about looking within the mountains, so I’m excited for a way the tales are going to be informed.”
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One of many pages of the graphic novel is proven on this preview. (Submitted)
He provides that whereas every of the three tales will probably be distinctive, one widespread character will probably be seen all through the graphic novel.
“One factor that’s going to be constant is the raven, and the raven goes to be the narrator,” stated Leo.
“Historically, the raven is a little bit of a trickster so I feel it’ll be a little bit cheeky and enjoyable.”
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A web page of the graphic novel is proven on this preview. (Submitted)
Whereas the writing and illustrations of the graphic novel are largely being taken on by the artists, Leo will oversee the undertaking on a wider scale and also will assist combine the usage of Homalco phrases.
“It’s not going to be all Homalco, however any of these necessary phrases or phrases that we wish, we’re going to place the Homalco language into it,” he stated.
Total, the purpose of the undertaking is to protect Homalco information, tradition and language, and Leo says the graphic novel is only one means that new generations can have interaction with historical past.
He says that the beforehand launched podcasts are one other method to be taught in regards to the historical past, and that it’s necessary to have alternative ways to entry and benefit from the previous to assist with its preservation on an ongoing foundation.
Leo stresses that the undertaking is “undoubtedly not for revenue” and that the purpose is to have a hardcover graphic novel able to current to the Homalco First Nation this summer season.
As soon as it’s within the Nation’s fingers, it may possibly determine what it desires to do subsequent, whether or not that be promoting it or translating it to different languages, which Leo says has already been pitched to organizers by a number of exterior sources.
The undertaking is being funded by Schooling With out Borders, the UBC Comics Research Cluster and the UBC Neighborhood Engagement workplace.
SEE ALSO: Island-based, Indigenous-focused podcast is one of the best in Canada: Amazon Music
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