Category: English 11

Poetry Talks – Metonymy and Synecdoche

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     The poetry terms that Scarlett and I have decided to research, and share are metonymy and synecdoche. The term metonymy comes from the Greek word metōnymia, which means “change of name”. It is a figure of speech in which the name of an object or concept is replaced with a word closely related to or suggested by the original. For example, “crown” is used to substitute a king or royalty. This is because the two are associated since a crown belongs to the king. Other examples include, “dish” used to replace a plate of food or “hand” used to substitute assistance. Synecdoche is very similar to metonymy; a synecdoche is a word or a phrase in which a part of something is used to refer to the whole of it. For example, “new wheels” refer to a new car because wheels are a part of the whole car. Other examples are “asking for her hand” which refers to asking to marry someone or “plastic” which refers to credit cards. Metonymy is important because it gives writers the opportunity to make words or phrases more powerful. The importance of synecdoche is that it allows authors to emphasize certain parts of a whole object or idea showing the importance of the part by using it to replace the whole.

First People’s Talks – Blood Memory

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In Class Spoken Word Presentation

First, we would like to acknowledge that we are not indigenous, and we are simply sharing this project to continue to recognize the importance of the indigenous peoples to lead to reconciliation. We acknowledge that we are sharing this project on the land of the Kwikwetlem first nations. All my relations.

Before we begin our word is “blood memory”

Body, bones, soul, and blood.
A thought, a feeling, a moment.
Through the stories of the one that is older
the connection is unfurled upon the generations
surging strength in a culture.

A communal understanding of spirit or a teaching.
Trauma passed to differ one from speaking.
A song that may flourish to bring back the voices that were fleeting.
The survival of tradition, a language built on lineage.
Mutual interconnection, a group that is bonded.
Fastened by a feeling, the relation of a genealogy.

A blood memory.

A reality to the first peoples.
A way to grasp their history.
Own their identity, remember, and recover.

To recover their heritage
Move on from the trauma forced upon their peoples.
Their ancestors live within
Sharing the pain yet sharing the traditions
Surfacing their origins from under their skin
Ones brain may only experience what is seen from interchangeable blood.
Only from shared ancestral blood may one experience what has been felt.

A blood memory is sacred to the first peoples.
It is essential to pass their philosophies.
It is the physical connection
A tale told by another interpreted indistinguishable.
Divergent individuals holding a succinct and conclusive idea.
And idea imbedded in their genes, in their essence.

The importance of this value to the first peoples is exceptional.
It is the foundation of their existence. It fuels their intentions and aim.
It is a purpose that is great and significant in their way of life.
It is how they pass knowledge.
Thoughts and lessons of light and pain.
Sharing darkness, ideas, teaching, trauma, and connection to the rain.

It’s how they learn and grow collective as a nation.
Songs, dances, warnings, tales, natural connection, moments of their reinvention.
Its importance is beyond spoken words.
Much greater than a simple memories implication.
It is an impactful way of life developed, idealized. Created.

We must know the proper use for this term.
It is because it’s not ours to steal and return.
It belongs to a group that is unique and kind.

This is the magic they share in their minds.
You should know the truth of this term to comprehend the significance of ours wrongs.
What we attempted to take, but how this idea stayed strong.

A blood memory is binding, it cannot be forgotten.
It is a beautiful thing that is cherished.

It is made only for them who bare the consequence created by our settlers.
It is unique to those who own it, cannot be taught only understood.
A thought, a feeling, a moment, A MEMORY.

A blood memory.

In Class Activity Explanation

Now we are going to do an activity so that you can understand a blood memory. Everyone picks up your egg. Now we want you to think about one of the lines from our spoken word as you complete this.
“A tale told by another interpreted indistinguishable.” I am going to shake my egg and I want you all to repeat the pattern I am shaking. Currently you have been told what to do. I have taught you how to shake your egg. Now Simultaneously, to the same pattern you are experiencing the same or an extremely similar thing. You all can hear the whoosh of the rice, the same type of rice on the same type of plastic egg. You can see the motion, the same motion and sound that your neighbour is doing. That is the idea of a blood memory. Something that is passed down, although our example does
not include the further generation that understands the lesson without being told because it is within them, their blood, their genes. But they experience something like what you are doing right now. A clear concise thought. My shared experience that I have shown you has now become collective. “A tale told by another interpreted indistinguishable.” A Blood Memory.

Paragraph

     For this assignment Scarlett and I chose to learn about the term "blood memory". A blood memory is a term used to describe behaviors or experiences that have not yet be taught or experienced but have been felt by the individual. The significance of this term for the first peoples is that it is in their beliefs that memories are found in the blood and the bone. Meaning stories are passed not just verbally but also genetically. Blood memory plays a large role in the recovery of the First People's culture. They are able to feel their culture from their ancestors. However, this means they are also able to feel the pain and trauma of their ancestors in regards to discrimination and residential schools. Blood memory can relate to intergenerational trauma because not only are the newer generations dealing with the effects of being surrounded by traumatized people but they also have that feeling in their blood. Initially when choosing our term, blood memory stood out to me because it was a new term to me and I instantly assumed that it would be something negative or violent due to negative connotations around the word blood. However, after looking into it, I quickly realized that I was absolutely mistaken and the concept of a blood memory is quite balanced in relation to negativity and positivity. Moving on through the process, we decided to share our knowledge with the class in the form of a spoken word poem. We decided to do this because it relates to oral storytelling which has a great significance in the First People's cultures. Also, with our interactive activity we wanted to make the shakers because music is also such a big part of the First Nation's cultures so we really just wanted to incorporate and embrace their elements without overstepping. We hope that we were able to clearly share this term with our peers so we as a whole can continue spreading proper information about the First Peoples.

Works Cited

“Blood Memory and Identity.” First Light, https://firstlightlearningjourney.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Blood-memory-program-description-1.pdf.

Indigenous Knowledge Epigenetics – Assembly of First Nations. https://www.afn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Indigenous-Knowledge-Epigenetics.pdf.

Pember, Mary Annette. “Blood Memory.” The Daily Yonder, 30 Nov. -1, https://dailyyonder.com/blood-memory/2010/07/16/.

Turner-Jensen, Nola. “Blood Memory.” LinkedIn, 19 Dec. 2019, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/blood-memory-nola-turner-jensen.