Dragons of Haida Gwaii

DRAGONS OF HAIDA GWAII

Elementary school teacher Emmy O'Gorman, from Agnes L. Mathers School in K'il Kun, Sandspit, invited me to come into the classroom to introduce the children to felting.

Through 9 or 10 sessions, we work towards a large felted mural depicting the view from the school, creating a Sense of Place within the realms of Land, Sea and Sky.

Sleeping Beauty Mountain, Kuu Jad TlldaGaaw (Skidegate Haida Language) and Skidegate Inlet provide the main backdrop.

During our first session on February 21 2025 we explored the Sky and created Cosmic Seeds. We looked at the planetary movements and alignments within the Solar System. At this specific and unique point in time, 7 planets align in a row behind the Sun in the Evening Sky.

Through felting we started with a yellow tuft of wool, to represent the Sun, followed by wrapping silver/grey wool to represent Mercury's orbit around the Sun. Followed by pink wool (Venus) and green for Earth. Finally we wrapped a black cloak around to represent the Night Sky.

Through the wet felting process, alchemy happens, as warm water, soap and each child's energy, creates a unique expression. Fluffy tufts of wool are transformed into a firm black sphere, which we cut open to reveal unique art pieces.

We create
beautiful
art.

Session 2, March 7 2025

Design

Today we shared Haida Gwaii Dragon stories. Each child has quite a clear idea of their dragon, their colours and their powers.

There is a dragon who lives on rainbows, a dragon who breathes hearts and blows kisses, others who live behind waterfalls, breathe fire and love anything stormy and dark. There is another whose name is Whisper and whose quiet sound is so enchanting that you'll drop dead if you hear it. One of the dragons brings Eternal Youth to the second person who find it (beware, the first one who finds this dragon drops dead). Big themes run through the light and dark Haida Gwaii Dragon realm!

For now, the children expressed this wide spectrum of dragon stories through watercolour paint. Sleeping Beauty Mountain, Kuu Jad TlldaGaaw, provides the backdrop and home of the dragons. These paintings and stories help design elements for the big felt mural we will create later on.

"There is nothing that can hurt this dragon. There is only one of them"

"If you hear this dragon, you will die. The sound enchants too much"

"My dragon lives on cotton candy clouds and blows kisses"

Session 3, April 4 2025: Dragon Eggs and Caves

Today we explore the (hidden) powers of dragons. Some dragons are invisible; others have magical powers of love by entering into the hearts of people; some have freezing powers, hypnotizing powers, and are capable of shooting love arrows, teleporting, entering people's dreamworld and can turn bad feelings into hot dogs! Such creative ways to transform heavy energies!

"Green dragon in the cave. The boulders are Guardians of the Sunset"

Each child worked hard to embed their special dragon powers while wrapping stone dragon eggs, harvested from Tarundl Creek at the base of Sleeping Beauty Mountain, with 3 different colours of wool. Their wool eggs came alive and hatched in the creative birthing process. These pieces will be incorporated into the large felted mural.

"My dragon can make the earth move, so there's no school for the day"

Session 4, April 17: Painting Session

A glorious day to be outside and create art with found materials on the beach, as well as plain air landscape paintings. First the children were asked to gather stones, bones, shells or other items from the beach that caught their eye and had something in common; texture, pattern, colour, material, etc. While the students roamed the beach to find stones, bones, shells to create a simple nature art piece, they also discovered an eel in a little tidal pool.

Session 5 May 23 Felting Dragon babies

Today we created felt dragon babies to be incorporated in the large mural. The eel inspired our creations. Children love the magic of felt making, from the soft and colourful wool, to immersing it in water, to letting go of some energies by throwing the wet felt pieces on the table. So much fun!