Overview

The recent publication of The Spiritual Journey Within the Four Directions of Reconciliation is another example of what reconciliation looks like when we work together. Podlubny, working along side Cree artist Sam Bighetty, created a book that allows the reader to go on the same journey that he did. Podlubny reveals 18 short stories that impacted his beliefs and guided him through the fears and mis-understanding that needed to be faced during his own personal journey of decolonization and reconciliation.Illustrated by Cree Artist Sam Bighetty. His black and white drawings capture the spiritual nature of the stories and lead us further down the inward path. Taking us to explore places that might seem magical or unreal and to question our beliefs to see the truth in our experiences. Calgary Arts Development is proud to have Sam Bighetty and Joey Podlubny as one of our 2019 applicants to our 1st annual Original Peoples Investment Program. Their project, The Spiritual Journey Within The Four Directions of Reconciliation, is a true story of reconciliation and highlights the beautiful illustrations of Cree artist, Sam Bighetty. The friendship and creative collaboration between Joey and Sam is truly inspiring. - Sable Sweetgrass In this day and age of reconciliation with First Nations people, how do we understand the path forward? The polarization of ideas and perceptions are continuing to create friction and mis-understanding. Author Joey Podlubny has been working for over 12 years on discovering how to create the relationship that the Treaties originally intended. A partnership based upon The Four Directions of Reconciliation: Knowledge, Solution, Agreement, and ConsultationIt is without a doubt that this journey of reconciliation is personal for everyone. There is no template or manual to follow. There is no right or wrong way. It is based upon our understanding of each other, based upon our experiences with each other, and based upon the actions we take.These books help reveal some of the missing pieces. They help the reader gain a more balanced perspective about our colonialist past and understand our treaty partners. These books reveal the hardship that we need to face in order to overcome our past. These books help guide your heart, your mind and your spirit to a place that reveals your own understanding of who you are, and who our treaty partners are.Podlubny's first book held a dialogue with Elders and Leaders from many different First Nations in Canada. Hetravelled hundreds of thousands of kilometers, onto reserves, and into First Nations communities to learn howto live a way a life that did not include a colonialist future. It is about the respect, care, and love that is needed tohelp direct us in a way that we see each other as humans beings and partners on this journey.The first book provided context around the United Nations Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous People(UNDRIP) Where it displays all 46 articles next to images of First Nations in Canada, either exercising theirrights or fighting for them to be recognized, so we as Canadians can see how far we have to go honour theagreements we live under. The first book also helps fulfill 13 of the 94 Truth and Reconciliation's Calls to actionsby disseminating UNDRIP and providing historical and current context of First Nations way of life. Its intentionis to fulfill the educational components of the calls to action. The personal journey you share with the reader as well as your fulfillment of the Calls to Action are importantexamples of healing and reconciliation. The touching stories, elders' words, and the striking pictures give thereader a unique insight into some of the fundamental issues faced by Indigenous People and certainly fulfill theeducational purposes behind your work. - Hon. Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., MP. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Canada

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9781999046538

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Reviews

Calgary Arts Development is proud to have Sam Bighetty and Joey Podlubny as one of our 2019 applicants to our 1st annual Original Peoples Investment Program. Their project, The Spiritual Journey Within The Four Directions of Reconciliation, is a true story of reconciliation and highlights the beautiful illustrations of Cree artist, Sam Bighetty. The friendship and creative collaboration between Joey and Sam is truly inspiring. - Sable Sweetgrass

Author Information

Podlubny has been a photojournalist since 2000 working for newspapers, magazines, governments, NGO's and other clients across North America. He has received many awards for his photography and his images have been used in art galleries, museums, books, private collections, and as public art. His first long term project was documenting street people in Calgary. For over five years, Podlubny followed hundreds of street people, jumped in garbage bins, picked bottles, cigarette butts, and documented the human beings behind homelessness. He created a book entitled 83 Cents which he donated all proceeds to the Mustard Seed Street Minstry, a homeless shelter in Calgary. His photography and his goals are aligned to promote dialogue, create awareness and break through the limiting beliefs many people have. When I discover that there is a lot more behind something than what I was told or believed it's where I am drawn to. To understand what the truths might be, and help open my mind to see what we can learn from it. We are all human beings but we treat each other so differently. I like to look at the pathways we go down and I think why do we have to think anything at all? Why can't it just reveal itself to an open mind that is not hanging on to what it might be or what we think it is. Lets let go and rediscover it for ourselves so that we know what it is as a human being. Podlubny currently lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his wife and two children. Sam is a Woodland Cree Artist from Pukatawagan First Nation, MB although he now calls Calgary home. He started drawing when he was 14 years old and has been painting since he was 20. He comes from a long line of family artists, and grew up watching other family members drawing and painting before trying it himself. His older brother recognized Sam's talent with drawing and was instrumental in helping him learn to paint. He works in ink or acrylic depicting animals, warriors and instruments filled with scenery, all in brilliant colours. Every painting contains symbolism to honour women, to recognize a life well lived or a life of hardship and spirituality. Sam has participated in many shows in Alberta, Winnipeg, Regina and Toronto. He has his work exhibited at Delree's Native Art Gallery. He produces commissions such as designs for tattoos, clothing including the design for a 2017 T-shirt for Canada 150 and was the illustrator for a comic book. His works is featured in Colouring It Forward's 2018 Indigenous Art Calendar as well as the Colouring It Forward's series of educational colouring books. He loves the way people react to his paintings and it makes him very happy to give them that enjoyment.

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