七 (qī) Bannock
In a CBC interview (Blacksmith, 2024), mental health nurse Nathalie Duong described a pilot project for Cree community members in Quebec. The pottery workshops are organized by Eastmain’s Maanuuhiikuu (mental health) department and belong to their land-based programming which gives individuals the opportunity to reconnect with the land by repeating the same processes their ancestors practiced. Clay is collected from the river, and minerals are crushed to create glazes or mixed into the clay body to add colour before being pit-fired. There is also a parallel between wedging clay and kneading dough, which one workshop participant shared, “it brought back memories of going out to the teepee with [my] grandmother to make bannock” (Quinn, 2024).
"Working with clay helps overcome trauma, as clients are able to transform their pain through this tactile medium, reclaiming their sense of agency and natural abilities" (Quinn, 2024).
There are many journal articles exploring non-traditional approaches to healing, such as art therapy, often using case studies or qualitative methodologies. However, it’s equally important to trust our instincts and listen to those who speak from lived, embodied knowledge which is more experiential than theoretical. Working with porcelain has helped me to reconnect with my cultural roots, to process the grief of losing my loved ones, and ameliorate the negative impacts of cultural bereavement as a second-generation Chinese person born in Canada.