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Cultural connections: flint knapping workshop shares Tk’emlúps traditions with police officers

Kamloops City

2023-10-13 15:31 PDT

A group of uniformed police officers gathered around Ed Jensen while he demonstrated flint knapping on a checkered green and white table. Bandages, tools, and other supplies were on the table.

View larger image: demonstration

SNAP, SNAAAAP, SNAP. As Ed Jensen chipped away at a piece of obsidian stone, a group of Kamloops police officers gathered attentively around him.

In a Tk’emlúps workshop, the Master Flint Knapper was teaching a group of Kamloops and Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Detachment officers the art of arrowhead making – an
initiative intended to foster understanding and appreciation for indigenous traditions and cultures.

You guys were easy to teach, said Mr. Jensen to the group of uniformed officers, who left the session with a glass and obsidian stone arrowhead they flint-knapped under his guidance and instruction.

The idea to hold an arrowhead-making workshop for local RCMP officers came after Indigenous Police Service Constable David Bigcharles attended one of the Tk’emlúps First Nations Band’s cultural camps, during which Mr. Jensen was offering a demonstration.

Cst. Bigcharles thought the workshop could be an interactive way to get police officers involved in understanding the process and significance of some of the items they may come across in their day-to-day duties.

Opportunities like these ones provide a better understanding of the culture instead of just reading about it and seeing pictures, they also build on personal and working relationships together, said Cst. Bigcharles.

Mr. Jensen was hopeful the teachings provided insight, connection, and respect into appreciating the cultural ties and territory of the First Nations people.

An over-the-shoulder image of a uniformed officer chipping away at a piece of obsidian.

View larger image: flintknapping

Stone and fire are where we come from, he said.

During the session, Mr. Jensen talked about the importance and relevance of obsidian stone and the protective properties it’s believed to have.

I look forward to continuing the relationship with the RCMP through these lessons and bridging the gaps between the physical and cultural connection, Mr. Jensen added.

A second workshop is planned for fish-spear building.

Standing technique: An officer uses a standing position to flintknapping