Local social justice poet holds workshop
Poets have, for centuries, been frequent targets of political abuse. From state-based censorship to exile to executions to murderous disappearances, poetry has turned writers into targets.
The power of poetry can be harnessed, said one Prince George creative scribe, and she wants to show local thinkers how to turn observational anger into motivational verse.
What Erin Bauman is suggesting is a single day for Prince George residents to exercise their poetry muscles. The veteran poet and social activist is leading a session that aims to focus the energy of language on a particular cause within the north-central region. It is called WordPower: A Workshop and Fundraiser for the Unist’ot’en Camp but she really intends for it to unlock whatever strongly held convictions you might have.
“The workshop is something I’ve done before, first at Robson Valley Music Festival,” Bauman said. “Someone recently called me a social justice poet and I agree with that. I think it’s important for those of us with voices to use those voices to advance important subjects.”
Her poem Time To Stand Up got turned into a song, all pertaining to the Standing Rock environmental and aboriginal rights confrontation in the United States.
Recent poems she’s penned have zeroed in on the Me Too revelations and on material commercialism.
She hosts a monthly poetry/ spoken word jam at Books & Company called Wordplay.
“I have a specific process that I use, and that’s what I’m going to show people, to find inspiration towards topics,” she said. “I try to design my workshops for everybody. To me, poetry is something anybody can write. You should know the very basic rules of writing, so you know how to throw them away, but you don’t have to follow the conventions of regular writing. Anyone can do that.”
She is interested in guiding the writer’s mind towards subject matter. She used popular music as an example. Britney Spears writes very catchy, memorable songs but they lack any intellectual complexity. Meanwhile, said Bauman, Kym Gouchie also writes catchy, memorable songs that are infused with deeper meanings and social commentary.
Neither are wrong, neither are purposeless, but she will be showcasing the latter form of composition.
“My politics are different than a lot of peoples, so I know that and I don’t discuss the politics you should be looking into,” Bauman said. “I’m just talking about turning your mind towards topics that have a deeper importance. I think of that guy I see standing with the anti-abortion signs on the sidewalk in front of the hospital. Now, there’s a guy I disagree with pretty strongly and I really wish he would look more deeply into the realities of women’s health and human rights, but I really do respect him for being so devoted to something he believes in and stands up for. If we were all a bit more like that guy, it would certainly bring us to a higher level in our social dialogue.”
The workshop does have a cause to use as a starting point. The Unist’ot’en Camp is a territory west of Prince George in the vicinity of Houston on which a branch of the Wet’suwet’en First Nations steadfastly refuses to yield their unceded land to a particular pipeline proposal. Bauman is a longtime supporter of the Unist’ot’en Camp.
“We have a supply drive underway. The camp is in need of some things, so we have a drop-off point at Studio 2880 and I am available to come pick up donations,” she said.
Information on the camp and the necessary supplies will be available at the workshop, or log on to the Unist’ot’en Camp website and read the Support Us suggestions.
No matter what your views on aboriginal concerns, environmental issues, political policies, etc., Bauman hopes you will write about your strongly held beliefs. Poetry is a peaceful way to express yourself, spark inspiration, stimulate education, or just stir the ol’ pot.
WordPower: A Workshop and Fundraiser for the Unist’ot’en Camp happens on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at Artspace (above Books & Company).
Admission by donation (suggested: $20), with no one turned away as long as space allows.