Sundays with Eileen
Antique Doukhobor Blouse, from a visit to the Doukhobbor Cultural Interprative Society with Eileen Kooznetsoff. I’ve spent time with Eileen in her garden as well; a magical place.
I have had the rare and profound privilege to act as the celebrant at a few funerals. Tending to the grief of the living and honouring the soul in transition is an honour. Of course, before I did my very first one, I dove head first into reading and research… a lot of it.
At one celebration of life, I re-told a story I read in Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesday’s with Morrie, that seemed to provide people with a little chuckle, a somatic release, if you will. That book had an impact on me. Not only did it provide me with the perfect reading to help ease the uncertainty that forms the faith portion of spirituality, I found myself yearning for the mentorship and life lessons the author received in his visits with his teacher at the end of his life. This inspired my Summer Staycation activity: Sundays with (insert name of an elder here). Now, by elder, I mean anyone that has more experience than me in life on any topic, the word is not a reference to age. I requested visits from people I felt drawn to spend time with, and I was moved when requests started appearing for me to meet and visit with others. I was hungry to learn more about my ancestral story, going deeper in conversation with people who share my Doukhobor roots, with the hopes to uncover meaningful questions, topics and themes to explore in this year’s Seasons of The Songkeepers and Malina.
I have wandered gardens, sat under Doukhobor apple trees, sampled homemade cheese, Spring borscht, crisp cucumbers, viewed inspiring original art and floated the Shoreacres beach float until my fingers were numb. I learned more about hospitality than I have ever known. I thought I would be asking these deep, poignant questions and I have been surprised to have received questions that have stirred me and made me reach for my pen. What I thought would be hour long chats turned into entire afternoons, over meals shared. I have come away with gifts I will treasure forever: a hand-turned solyanka from Nick and Wendy, a wooden box from Walter and Vera, a 1960’s songbook from Eileen, a song list, carefully planned, with page numbers from Nancy and homemade rhubarb cookies. Mostly, I have come away with valuable insights and stories that have given me so much depth and a new understanding and dozens of ideas for our new season’s choir book, which has come to include not only songs, but original art, poetry and song from the last season and conversation prompts. This year I’m adding other resources and books.
I recently started bringing a microphone to my visits, hoping that it wouldn’t make things awkward. Tyota Nancy Vanjoff was willing to spend hours singing songs in harmony with me and explaining the meanings, not just the literal translation. I wish you could have seen my reaction to discover a new harmony in a song I have heard many times, or to really connect to the context of a song I hadn’t pondered before. This will allow me to be a more qualified and informed choir director and facilitator, and has also helped me to more authentically make meaning of my Doukhobor story.
How will my specific deep dive inspire our Songkeepers sharing? I am creating a roadmap for others to do the same work for themselves. Whether you are exploring shared ancestral wisdom or another diaspora, we’ll notice where cultures share traditions, or where a “skin shedding” fairy tail might take different form in Ireland or Siberia. How do ancient Keening Rituals differ from the ways other cultures help souls on their way and comfort those left to process grief? These are some of the themes we will explore together in the coming weeks.
This season, our Sister choirs will gather together monthly to sing, and also to enjoy some special guests who will be sharing their stories. First to join us will be Ingrid Lovi, on October 13, at Tarry’s Hall. She was part of a human chain that spanned three Baltic countries in peaceful, singing resistance of an occupation that stripped her Estonian people of their freedom, music and cultural identity. What might it be like to sing with her? To hear her story? To discover yours?
We have an incredible new repertoire this year! In addition to our favourites, I’ve been working on some intentional song selections. We’ll be covering another local group, Oh Pray Tell. The other selections are a surprise for now. There is something special when your faces light up at the introduction of a “choir banger.”
Registrations are open now. We are filling choir spots as I confirm the participation (or not) of last year’s singers, and space is limited. Please register today to avoid disappointment. Things always move around last minute, so I am hopeful to get as many registrants spots as I can, but this year, we will be restricting the size to allow for more intimate connection.
The Songkeepersbegins Tuesday September 15, 6:30, Taghum Hall and is a choir and creative collective exploring ancestry through folklore, poetry and song.
Malina begins Monday, September 29, Tarry’s Hall, 6:30 is a creative collective and choir exploring Doukhobor folklore, poetry, story and song. Doukhobor interested members are warmly invited to attend, and Russian is not required, though 1/2 hour of each session will include Russian singing.
Malina’s Village is a hybrid gathering beginning Sunday October 4th, and monthly thereafter, 4pm PST. There will be a series of online workshops on Zoom, exploring our Doukhobor ancestry (or explore another lineage along with us). We’ll have some special guests joining us, Including Artist and Songwriter Sarah Orton and Artist and Author, Elizabeth Hlookoff. We’ll meet live for a workshop in Castlegar in May and share a performance at the USCC May Festival.
We have some wonderful shows planned as well as some appearances at local events and more community song, of course. We are also planning a couple of trips, the first being a tour to a National Doukhobor Historic Site in Saskatchewan. This season is going to be very special. Will you join us?
AI was not used in the writing of this post. I’d rather have a writing error than share robot generated slop.
