Through the thoughtful leadership of jaz whitford, x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓ Outreach & Program Developer, in collaboration with Jerome Tisiga-Bradford, Artisan & Masonry Foreman, the new oven bakes in practices of harm reduction with the community members it serves.
From material acquisition to worksite safety, every hand involved in replacing a weathered cob oven included users affected by a lack of harm reduction infrastructures.
“Because this oven was built in a spiritually energetic way, it’s going to totally transform the garden into a more welcoming space for the community we intend to serve and collaborate with,” says jaz. “I could feel it the whole time we were building.”
As the cement was mixed and stones were laid, forepeople were also invited to walk gently in the garden—integrating intention, trust, and acceptance while making the transition from the dynamic of traditional worksites.
“I could slowly see everyone become more mindful in how they moved on the site,” says Jerome. “There was lots of learning going on like that was uplifting for all of us. Not everyone can say exactly why they felt so good walking away, but they could feel it.”
With free wi-fi as part of 221A Fellow Christina Battle’s Stolon Mesh, the stone hearth oven is yet another addition to the x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓ garden as a gathering place, simmering new opportunities for Downtown Eastside and Chinatown residents to gather safely for ceremony.
