​The Elder Project

What is Historical Collage Poetry?

How do you take one's life experiences and write it as a poem?  In the Elder Project chapbooks students interview Elders.  They ask a series of questions (e.g. What are your favorite memories?) and the students write a poem from their notes.  During the process, Wendy teaches the students to hear and see the poetry in the Elder's life and words.  

An example of this happened  in the chapbook Together with the Children.  A niece was interviewing her aunt.  The aunt said, "We ate straight from the dirt."  The student wrote, "My aunt had a garden."  I happened to be sitting in on the interview and I interjected.  I said, 'we ate straight from the dirt' is an example of hearing the poetry in the Elder's words and this phrase deepens the impact and visual insight into your Auntie's life.'  The student listened and it was evident she was thinking about it.  When she wrote her poem, she put both her line and her Auntie's words into the poem.  

Historical Collage Poetry keeps the integrity of the Elder's words and student's writing intact.  Edits, alterations, changes to any phrases, words, or poetic structure is only done with the Elder's and student's permission.  This process takes time and it's worth every moment and conversation.  The resulting poem is magical!

Now go open one of the many wonderful chapbooks and read a lot of poetry!

Sandra  Lynn Lynxleg

HISTORICAL COLLAGE POETRY

Metis Elder, William Gagne

Webpage design by Sandra Lynn Lynxleg

Copyright © The Elder Project. All rights reserved.

​​​William Gagne aka Blackie
"Chickens today, feathers tomorrow,"                                           They called me a bad boy, told me to kneel on rice,
words that repeat in my ears.                                                          gave me a dunce hat.
I was born in Edmonton Alberta.                                                     I remember being in a foster home, battling cancer,
A place I learned to make my own butter                                      recovering from a car accident.
and pick fresh apples.                                                                     
I have eight sisters and two brothers.                                            Despite all the trials that come in the end, 
Family that I love very much.                                                           life is what you make of it.

They will always come first; my happiest memory.                      I can make anything.  I can sew.  I can knit.               
 I remember my childhood,                                                               I can bake.  I can build cars.
remember sleeping in a sunroom,                                                 
remember working hard,                                                                 Life is about treating others with respect
remember residential school…                                                       and finding joy everywhere.

By Sabrina Fink, BC First Nations 12 student Fulton Secondary 

Poem from Together with the Children