A key aspect of the Fibreshed philosophy is recognizing the connections between ourselves, our culture and traditions, and our textiles. Much of the work we have shared recently revolves around bringing locally produced fibres and dyes to local makers – a tangible connection. Here, we share an article written by Gabriola Fibreshed pod member Yarrow Aiko Kuntz, previously published in the Gabriola Sounder. Yarrow shares stories of textiles as agents of resistance and invites us to participate in collective actions on Gabriola Island this Black History Month (February 2025).
by Yarrow Aiko Koontz
Threads of Resistance is a community-led series of workshops that honours Black History, radical self-care, Rest, and activism through fibre arts. This initiative is deeply inspired by the covert political quilt-making of the Underground Railroad, the legacy of the North Buxton and Gee’s Bend Quilters, and contemporary Black textile artists who weave their activism into every thread. Historically, Craftivist actions like the AIDS Memorial Quilt, appliquéd banners, cotton-spinning in India, The Pussyhat Project in the US and the Palestinian Keffiyeh scarves to name a few, demonstrate how fibre arts symbolize resistance and solidarity, refusal and Trickster rebellion.
In a time where DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives are under attack, where movements for racial justice are being falsely blamed for economic and social woes, and where LGBTQ2S+ rights are under siege, the need for collective resistance has never been greater. But resistance isn’t always loud. Sometimes, resistance is quiet and slow. It is stitched together, in community spaces where healing and advocacy meet.
Inspired by The Textile Museum of Canada’s Rest Through the Arts, celebrating the author Tricia Hersey, these events are more than just a series of workshops—they become a space where self-care and advocacy merge and affirm that the struggle for justice is not just about fighting—it is also about healing.
Why Rest is Resistance?
For centuries, Black communities have been denied the right to rest. Enslavement, forced labour, systemic discrimination, and ongoing economic disparities have created generations of exhaustion. The demand to “work twice as hard” for basic dignity is a brutal reality that continues today.
Rest, in this context, is not just self-care—it is a political act of defiance. As scholar and activist Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry states, “Rest is resistance because it pushes back against white supremacy and capitalism.” When Black communities prioritize rest, they are rejecting a system that thrives on their exhaustion.
The events include artist-led workshops that encourage participants to create objects of comfort—scarves, pillows, and blankets and collectively craft radical banners and protest patches, piece together community quilts, and sew symbols of hope and resilience.
Celebrating Black history is not just about reflecting on the past—it is about shaping the future. As the fight for racial justice, gender equity, and climate action continues, textile arts offer a metaphor for the movement itself: this is about crafting spaces where people can breathe, grieve, dream, rest and create new possibilities together.
Film screening and Workshops:
Join us Wednesday February 26th at the Gabriola Library, 1-4pm for a screening of Origin, a powerful film directed by Ava DuVernay that explores the origins of caste and racial hierarchy. The film examines how systems of oppression persist across societies and weaves personal and historical narratives into a compelling exploration of injustice. Group discussion following the film. Admission is free.
Threads of Resistance workshops honouring Black History begin February 23rd at Nova Gallery, 2-4pm. If you need restful, radical transformation, we invite you to join us. Bring your hands, your stories, and your vision. Fabric and sewing supplies will be provided and bring what you have. These workshops are by donation. These events are funded by the Community Support, Multiculturalism, Anti-Racism Incentives (CSMARI) Grant generously provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Gabriola Art Council’s Breaking Bannock, Building Bridges programming
– Huy tseep q’u!
A previous version of this article was published by the Gabriola Sounder on 12 February 2025.
REST IS RESISTANCE image from the book cover image of Tricia Hersey’s Rest is Resistance: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tricia-hersey/rest-is-resistance/9780316365215/
