KarunaNews Story

Cree in northern Quebec are using clay from their land to make ceramics. The Community Miyupimaatisiiun Center in Eastmain, located about 1,200 kilometers north of Montreal, has been hosting clay-making workshops since last November as part of its land-based programming for mental health. Nathalie Duong, a mental health nurse who piloted the project, was asked to bring programs to help manage anxiety, depression, and grief. She found beautiful natural clay on the banks of the Eastmain river that needs little processing." The idea is to make everything from the land like the clay from the river, colors from the minerals and fire to harden the pieces, just like the ancestors did a long time ago," she said.