Award-winning Nipissing First Nation youth writer hopes to inspire readers to honour relationships

Nipissing’s Kelsey Borgford was recently recognized with the Runner-Up award at the Second Story Press 2021 Indigenous Writing Contest for her short story, What’s in a Bead?. – Photo supplied

By Rick Garrick

TORONTO — Nipissing multidisciplinary artist Kelsey Borgford was honoured to be recognized on July 25 with the Runner-Up award at the Second Story Press 2021 Indigenous Writing Contest for her short story, What’s in a Bead?.

“To me, the story is one of resilience,” says Borgford, who began beading about five years ago. “I was inspired to write this story when I was working as an early childhood educator and I was thinking of my longtime friend and co-worker Tessa Pizzale’s relationship with her late Gokum. I remember being at her house a couple years ago sewing skirts with her mom, Lauree, and she told us about how she learned to do a two-needle stitch from her and now she will only bead with a two-needle stitch.”

Borgford says the story, which is about the bond forged between a Cree grandmother and her young granddaughter, “just sort of came to” her, as though it was meant to be written.

“It all just flowed very easily and I found I had to make very minimal changes to the actual content of the writing, mostly just the grammar,” Borgford says. “It presented itself to me and I just had to put it on paper. Most of my writing happens like that, there is never a rough draft. I can’t just make myself write, I have to be inspired, but when I am inspired I find I really enjoy the stories that come out even if they are few and far between.”

Borgford’s story explores the significance of Indigenous beadwork in relation to art, history and healing.

“I find, for me, beading is almost a symbolism of resilience,” Borgford says. “When you see those old-school floral styles or different geometric patterns specific to certain nations in the beadwork being made today it’s a show of strength, showing that our culture is strong. We are still practicing the things we have been taught.”

Borgford says she taught herself to bead as a way to connect after losing her grandmother Doreen Couchie Miller when she was 14-years-old.

“When I hear stories about how and see how many people loved her in the community, I wish I had been there with her more,” Borgford says. “So I honour her through my connection and beading, dancing, learning.”

Borgford says she hopes people will learn to honour their relationships after reading the story.

“Especially with the older people in their lives, there is so much knowledge that we aren’t taking in,” Borgford says. “When you look at traditional teachings about life cycles, it’s the Elders’ job to teach and ours to listen. My generation and the young ones right now have the potential to make or break it. A lot of the skills are passing away with the Elders and we have to take those skills and carry on their life in our art and the way we walk our paths.”

Borgford says she decided to apply to the 2021 Indigenous Writing Contest after writing the story late last year.

“I have always had a dream of doing something with my writing,” Borgford says. “I have been writing since I was young, mostly short stories and poetry. I really didn’t think I would be one of the recipients but I was really hoping that I was.”

The co-winners of the 2021 Indigenous Writing Contest were Hali Heavy Shield, a Blackfoot storyteller and visual artist from Alberta, for her story My Grandma is an Artist!; and Heather O’Watch, an Okanese First Nation citizen from Saskatchewan, for her story Auntie’s Rez Puppy.