A Journey of Needlework and Doukhobors by Wolviegurl https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a Inquiry project for PME 800-2 Self-Regulated Inquiry and Learning en-us 2021-02-06 23:53:10 UTC 2023-11-01 01:09:51 UTC hello@padlet.com Jan 25 - Why needlework? taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172309730 When I realized that for our inquiry project we would have the opportunity to learn a new skill, I was instantly overwhelmed with the possibilities! There are SO MANY THINGS I want to learn to do. How to begin, and what can I tackle in a finite period of time? I tossed around several ideas, hunted through Amazon for craft kits, read several pages of ideas online... and couldn't decide what to do.

My father's family hails from the Georgia/Armenia region, on the continent of Asia. They came to Canada in 1899, part of an immigrant group known as the Doukhobors. As a child I was aware that meant something (particularly when I said the word Doukhobor to someone I didn't know...) though I was not sure what... just that it didn't seem to be something good. We were not around my Doukhobor relatives very often, and my father did not ever talk about his experiences growing up... that entire piece of my heritage is hidden, secretive, 'shameful'. You see, my dad's family isn't just Doukhobor, they are Sons of Freedom Doukhobors, a group known for civil unrest and for shocking the nations around them. In the last decade, I have become more interested in this side of my family heritage, though it is extremely difficult to get any information, as the elders are almost all gone, and my father's generation does not generally speak of their community.

Last year, one of my cousins introduced me to a Facebook group called 'Doukhobors in Canada' where I have been able to make some connections, ask some questions, and slowly piece together an emerging picture of my heritage. As I was having so much difficulty deciding on a skill to learn, I decided to ask what my Doukhobor ancestors were best known for, hoping to find a skill I could develop a beginning awareness of within the next two months. I knew the men were talented wood workers, and that the women had an unprecedented ability to cook incredible foods... and that was it. I soon learned that the skill set of most Doukhobor women included some form of fibre art, specifically weaving and needlework. Upon consultation with a couple of the elder ladies that responded, I settled on learning some beginning needlework skills as a tribute to my Doukhobor heritage.

My distal goal will be to complete 6 needlework medallions, learning 6-8 needlework stitches by March 8th. Along the journey, I will research into needlework and its ties to Doukhobors, learning something new about my heritage. I like that this project will employ the learning goal orientation, allowing me to work toward mastery, rather than performance, as noted by Schunk & Zimmerman (2012) in 'Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning' (p.6). I feel this will certainly help me find more success and satisfaction, as well as actually developing a new skill, rather than a performance goal, where I would simply be jumping through hoops for the sake of jumping through hoops.]]> 2021-02-07 02:07:38 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172309730 Jan 27 - A plan emerges taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172317962 So I spent an hour hunting around on Amazon and found these adorable needlework medallions that appear to be a good starting place. One of the things I like most about them is that I will create something meaningful that I can pass on to my nieces, and share with them one of the handicrafts of their ancestors. I ordered two sets of three and will plan to make all 6 medallions for this project. Once they arrive tomorrow, I will be able to determine if that is a feasible goal at this point, or if that is too ambitious for the time period available. 

I have done cross stitch in the past, which is related, but completely different from needlework. This does tell me that I can follow a pattern, however, I know nothing about needlework patterns and markings. I guess time will tell!

I feel good about this project choice, and feel that it will help me to find real satisfaction in my achievement. I feel this is, as noted by Schunk & Zimmerman (2012), an opportunity to allow my happiness (or self-satisfaction) to help motivate me, and to push me to persevere in this endeavour. (p19)]]> 2021-02-07 02:20:52 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172317962 Jan 30 - The first medallion taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172337322 I did get the package a couple of days ago, but waited to open it until today when I would have time to sort through them and create a timeline. I noticed immediately that each project utilizes different stitches, and different levels of complexity. I will start with the Pansy, today (it uses two stitches altogether, the Satin stitch and the French knot), then progress to the mini roses (using 3 stitches), and then figure out the remaining order once I have a little bit of experience.

The Pansy took me roughly 60 minutes to complete. I feel like my stitches were decent, though in a few places I went over them a couple of times as they seemed to be much more sparse than in the directions. I realized pretty quickly that the instructions left a lot to be desired, as they were originally in Chinese, then translated (poorly) into English... a good for instance: the instructions refer to the French knot as the French Bean stitch. It took a while to find an instructional video as I was searching for French Bean :) I was VERY thankful for this instructional video as the written instructions made absolutely no sense whatsoever.]]> 2021-02-07 02:51:01 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172337322 Feb 4 - A critical friend takes a look taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172342317 One of my friends, Pam, is a needlework hobbyist who designs her own patterns and has been creating needlework pieces off and on for the last 30 years. Pam took a look at my Pansy pictures, zooming in for detail, and offered both praise and recommendations. To begin with, she noted that my French knots were very tight, and well formed. She then asked how many strands of floss I used to make them and to do the Satin stitching for the petals. I had only used 1 strand in both cases. She asked about how I was able to get the density in the petals with only a single strand of floss... I explained how many times I had gone over them to add depth and detail to the petals. Pam explained that in general, when using embroidery floss for needlework, one uses multiple strands of floss. She went on to explain that will impact the time I am putting into the pieces, as well as the number of needle punches in the fabric. I will take this information and move forward, trying that on the next piece.

This practice of having a critical friend give their thoughts and recommendations helps to meed Locke & Putnam's (2006) proposition that, feedback is one of the key moderators of goal setting, and therefore of SRL. (p265) It has been valuable to show someone what I am working on, and to chat back and forth. Unexpectedly, this has given me more enthusiasm for starting my next piece!]]> 2021-02-07 02:59:28 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172342317 Feb 6 - The second medallion taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172348469 Today I was very excited to start the second piece, Mini Roses. There are two new stitches in this piece, the Rose stitch, and the Chrysanthemum stitch, neither of which I have even heard of before. When I took out the paper pattern today, I noticed that Pam's advice, use multiple strands of embroidery floss for my stitching, is actually printed on the instructions! I felt a little silly for not noticing it on the first one, but the layout is a little confusing, and I suppose I glossed over it on the first one, as I didn't know what it meant.]]> 2021-02-07 03:09:41 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172348469 Feb 6 - The second medallion - continued taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172352372 I thought the second medallion would take a little less time, but it still took over an hour to complete. I really liked the Rose stitch, though I felt like the small space of the working area made it a little difficult to do complete justice to the stitch. I ended up adapting the stitch and finishing the edges of it in a way that made sense to me and added shape to the petals. I like that I can adapt what I am learning and adjust it in a way that is pleasing to my eye! The Chrysanthemum stitch was a little harder to pick up, and I can see it will definitely take some time and practice to perfect this stitch. I was very pleased overall with how my French knots came out today! I continue to be very thankful for the instructional video that gave me the proper technique for the French knots. In hindsight, I probably should have looked for videos for both Rose and Chrysanthemum stitches. I will make a point of looking for them tomorrow afternoon, and will note them in my reflection for this week.]]> 2021-02-07 03:15:53 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172352372 Jan 29 - Monitoring document taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172358053 My working plan for this enterprise...]]> 2021-02-07 03:25:46 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172358053 Feb 1 - Project one reflection taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172365274 How was this first project? I really enjoyed this needlework project, and learning my first two stitches. It was a peaceful hour of working... but I learned a couple of things about myself. First, I'm getting old. I had a hard time threading the needle... and that is NOT usual for me. Second, I get very 'tight' in the shoulders when I am working on fine projects like this. Third, I am a perfectionist, and I am VERY aware of a flaw in this first piece...

Do I need to adjust expectations? I don't think so. I believe at this time that I've set up a reasonable timeline and will be able to achieve my end goal.

Did I enjoy this? Yes, as stated above, I did ;)

Am I feeling more connected to my family heritage? You know... I wish I could have learned these things from my Babishca or my Bra-Babishca. I don't even know if the kind of needlework I am doing is remotely close to the needlework they would have done. But I DO know that the feeling of doing something so fine with my hands, makes me feel somewhat connected to my ancestors. In reading the attached webpage, I learned several things I didn't know about how fibre arts became such a cornerstone of Doukhobor life. I appreciated that their dedication to weaving and working with fabric connected them to their homeland and the lives they left behind when they immigrated to Canada. I look forward to narrowing my focus to needlework and looking at examples, seeing where the projects I am doing may relate to what my ancestors would have done.


]]> 2021-02-07 03:36:41 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1172365274 Feb 7 - Project two reflection taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1174558592 Am I on track with my timeline? I believe I am. It works out well to dedicate an afternoon on the weekend to the needlework itself, and to do the reading and research during the evenings. I am finding that I spend part of every day ruminating on this project and the things I am learning, not only in terms of a new skill, but also in terms of Doukhobor history.

Will this goal be achievable, based upon my current achievement? I have no doubt that I will be able finish, based on where I find myself currently. In fact, I ordered another set of three of the medallions today, as I wish to gift all of my nieces, my stepdaughters, and my future daughter-in-law with one of these heritage pieces.

What new connections to my heritage have I created? Among other things, I reached out to my Aunties this week to ask for pictures of any pieces they may have from our family. At this time, only one has answered, and is looking for her head kerchief embroidered by her Auntie Eileen (my Babishca's sister). In reading on the Cultural Interpretive Site (CIS) this week, I learned that Doukhobor handwork officially falls into the category of lost skills. I know that my Bra-Babishca (great-grandmother) embroidered things... I have vague memories of visiting her home on my own as a young girl (neither of us spoke each other's language, so it was always interesting when I got to visit!), and watching her always busy with her hands in the evening. Everywhere in her home were hand embroidered tea towels, doilies, kerchiefs, table cloths... It never dawned on me at that point that she had made all of it, it was just part of going to Grandma Salikin's home. When looking through the pictures on the CIS, I noticed how fine and tiny some of the needlepoint pieces were, and couldn't quite put my finger on what they reminded me of. I was delighted to read that the inspiration for many of those beautiful pieces came from the JC Penny catalogue, and images of china patterns. Doukhobor women used every opportunity to find and create things that were truly beautiful.

My last bit of reflection for this week involves going back and watching instructional videos for the Rose and Chrysanthemum stitches. My goodness, I will remember to do that next time. SO MUCH MORE HELPFUL THAN THE POORLY TRANSLATED INSTRUCTIONS!!! (According to those instructions, I am creating 'sweater chain hangings' :D) I also learned that both stitches have other names... the Rose stitch is also called the Wagon Wheel stitch, the Chrysanthemum stitch is also called the Lazy Daisy stitch. Good to know that there are multiple names for them! I also got side tracked and watched a video on a much more complicated stitch for roses, called a Bullion stitch. I may have to experiment with it and see what happens... maybe there is future pattern adaptation ahead!]]> 2021-02-07 22:41:01 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1174558592 Feb 12 - A critical friend takes a look taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1195318957 This time around, my critical friend was my mom. My mom is an expert in cross stitching and has some basic experience with needlework. I shared pictures of medallion 2 with her, and she had both praise and suggestions to share. She started off by telling me that it was beautiful, that she really liked how the Rose stitch turned out, and that my French knots were even better than on my first piece. We discussed the tension issues that are slightly evident in both pieces and I asked if I was doing something wrong (which seems like it simply shouldn't be, as they are stretched out on a hoop ahead of time to keep tension in the fabric), and did she know how would I go about fixing it. She answered, 'I do... PRACTICE!' All in all, she told me I am off to a great start and to keep up the good work. Thanks mom :)]]> 2021-02-12 04:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1195318957 Feb 10 - Cultural repression taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1195329190 While I was flipping through the Pinterest boards, looking at exemplars of Doukhobor handwork (weaving, embroidery, tatting, etc.) I ended up down a rabbit hole and found this video... watching it was SHOCKING. I knew many of these things in my head, but I had not watched anything factual about it before. This video tells the story of the 'legal kidnapping' of the Doukhobor children, and placement in a residential school. My family history shares many ties with the First Nations whose culture was stolen from them, repressed, something to be shamed out of a generation in order to force acceptance of Canadian culture and way of life into a people. I know enough to know that my father was not put into a residential school, though only by a couple of weeks... however, his older cousins were. I didn't get what it was that they went through... I now have a greater understanding of why there is so much hurt and secrecy in the culture as a whole.]]> 2021-02-12 05:06:25 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1195329190 Feb 15 - A Snowy Family Day... Guess I will stitch! taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1205395824 Woke up to several inches of snow on the ground, and a burning need to go out and get groceries. After some hard core shovelling, and a trip to the store, I decided to spend the afternoon snuggled up, working on some of my needlepoint projects. I completed number 3, which you will see below, through all three stages from pattern to installation on the medallion piece itself. I am still not completely thrilled with the Satin Stitch, and I am realizing a big part of that is because of the size of the pattern itself. The completed medallion is only 2 inches from top to bottom. The bottom left leaf shows me that I CAN do the Satin stitch and be happy with what I accomplish. I am becoming more confident with the French knots, and am able to do them without really spending a lot of time thinking about the steps anymore ;) This piece took a little under an hour, and I was feeling so good that I completed one of the bonus pieces that I ordered last week. (I'll add a separate picture of it as well.) I also took all 4 of the current, completed pieces, soaked them in water so the water soluble ink disappeared, and mounted all of them on the medallion forms. I have yet to attach any of them to the actual medallion backs yet, as I don't like the simple hot glue they sent and would like to explore different glue options for fabric to metal application.

I did learn a two new stitches for this piece... the Straight stitch, and the Contour stitch. They are quite similar to each other, though they vary in needle positioning. The contour stitch naturally allows you to curve your stitches, while the straight stitch stays exactly that way... very straight.

I also want to note that this was the week that my small group met online for the first time. I appreciated this opportunity to check in with everyone. In a way, it was very much like a goal-setting conference, though in a group format. It allowed all of us to assess our goals, to hear important feedback from neutral observers, and to make adjustments as necessary. Schunk (1990) discusses these ideas in his paper, "Goal Setting and Self-Efficacy During Self-Regulated Learning." (p71)]]> 2021-02-16 03:46:31 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1205395824 Feb 11 - Pinterest exploration and family musings taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1205415339 I found so many things while I was travelling down the Pinterest pathway. Beautiful examples of Doukhobor handwork and traditional costumes (which I have actually never seen... and which I chose to picture below), stories, images of gatherings, newspaper clippings... Each one I click on, taking me to another page filled with more of the same. I am fascinated by all I see... there is so much I do not know, so much I will not ever be able to learn. What I DO know is that my ancestors left their homes, in their villages of rural Russian provinces, and ended up with thousands of others who held the same beliefs and desires for peace... I know that the family name was changed to Nevokshonoff, but from what, I have no idea... nor do we have any idea what cities or villages we came from... everything before getting off of the boat in Canada is simply gone. I know that Queen Victoria and Leo Tolstoy were central to the immigration of Doukhobors to Canada. I know tiny little bits and pieces of the truth, and it saddens me that I will never know the whole story... but with every new picture, every new article, every new story, I am brought a little closer to knowing some of my heritage.]]> 2021-02-16 04:00:34 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1205415339 Feb 16 - Project 3 reflection taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1205434266 How has the expertise of my contacts improved my learning up to this point?
My contacts have helped me to examine my pieces and see where I need to make improvements. I noted that I did not have the same tension issues in today's piece that I had with the last 2 pieces. I have taken their suggestions and applied them to improve my overall achievement. I am including a picture of the bonus piece I completed yesterday as well. There are parts of this one that I am quite happy with (I changed a weird pink bug into a pretty little butterfly by using a Satin stitch, instead of a Straight stitch), and parts I am not so thrilled with (the Chrysanthemum stitch that I still really need to practice). Overall, the improvements I see from the first piece to this one are definitely a reflection of the feedback my critical friends have provided.

Do I need to adjust my expectations?
At the moment, I still feel confident that I will meet my initial timeline. Finding the time to do an extra piece today was absolutely the bonus of a snowy day and no other responsibilities. I do not anticipate falling behind, and I am still enjoying the time to explore and discover more about the connection between my heritage and these new skills I am learning.

How can I share what I am learning about this skill with my family, and increase our mutual connection to our heritage?
I reached out to one of my cousins, the one who is most interested in our family heritage, and shared the link to this padlet with her. I have been speaking with my sister by phone and sharing with her what I have been learning. As well, I have shared some of my findings on Facebook, with my general friend list. At this point, I think the best way for me to share, is to engage in conversations where I am able to.]]> 2021-02-16 04:13:27 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1205434266 Feb 16 - A voice straight from my past taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1208264177 Today, I weep. One of my elder cousins sent me a link to a piece he posted on his blog... attached was this beautiful recording of my Bra Babushka... my great-grandmother... a voice I have not heard in more than 20 years. I believe that if I had not begun this journey, and started reaching out to family, this is a treasure I would have missed out on. I am blessed to hear my beloved Babushka...

Posted with permission of Garry Tarasoff]]> 2021-02-16 18:46:57 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1208264177 Feb 17 - Critical friends take a look taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1213356865 This time round, I shared my pieces in the Facebook group Doukhobors in Canada. I received the following feedback from one of the elders I have been chatting with:

 "The orange one would be similar to the type of needlework that would have been done on the old-style vests that originated in Russia. It is also similar to the embroidered plotki (headscarves). The other one is not a needlework style (the knots) that was traditional however, needlework in itself is still a Doukhobor tradition no matter the style of stitches, or knots... used."

 It was wonderful to read this and know that some of what I am doing bears at least some passing similarity to the handwork of my ancestors, and that ALL needlework really is a tribute to my heritage.

Another elder commented: 

"Thank you for keeping the craft alive. I love all things textile myself. I really need to make more time to get back to it again." 

These simple pieces of feedback really made me feel like I am on the right track, in terms of pursuing a handcraft, and learning about my family along the way.

Below is a piece from one of the elders on the Doukhobors in Canada Facebook group. I have not seen this type of pattern since I was a young girl. This gives me a direction to focus in the future, and a next step goal when this project is over.

Picture below used with permission of Irene Stushnoff Lukinuk
]]> 2021-02-18 00:12:41 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1213356865 Feb 20 - The 4th medallion taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1224674206 I am so proud of myself! Yes, gonna brag for a moment... one of the amazing things that is happening due to my project is conversation. The Doukhobors in Canada Facebook group has been helpful, welcoming, and this week, has been absolutely BUZZING with conversation about needlework. I posted my last piece, and suddenly, several elders started posting their pieces, some they created themselves, some created by THEIR elders. The younger generation began asking questions and wanting to know how to get started... I feel like I had a small part in that buzz, and it feels great!

My latest creation came together well. I feel like I actually have the hang of the Satin stitch now and can shape the petals the way I'd like them to look. I can't wait to see this piece without the patterning ink :) The picture I am sharing this time is of the back, and for an important reason. One of the online conversations was about how Babushkas could make the back look as neat and tidy as the front, keeping their stitches even, and crossing threads as little as possible. After reading that bit, I realized I have not paid attention to the backs of these pieces at all, as I didn't know that was a thing ;) Now I do... so I paid attention when I was stitching, and was pretty careful not to cross over more than necessary. All in all, I am fairly pleased with it and though it isn't the way a seasoned Babushka would do it, it's definitely smoother than any other piece I have done. This piece took an hour (though truth be told, it's because it took me forEVER to thread the needle with the triple strand for the French knots...) I could probably have finished in 45 minutes, had it not been for that.

I am understanding better the importance of help-seeking to help with my own autonomy in this skill set. Zimmerman et al (2011) note the importance of doing this regularly, and of having a skilled set of experts, or knowledge sharers to draw from. (p12) It has certainly helped to have several people to share my pieces with, to ask questions of, and to receive feedback from.]]> 2021-02-22 03:48:36 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1224674206 Feb 21 - Background Information taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1224691917 There was nothing really new in this particular website for me. I was hopeful as I had not actually visited this one at any point in my past. However, I was happy to see that this was a simple, understandable history of the Doukhobors of Grand Forks and the Boundary area. I am surprised that there is absolutely no mention of Sons of Freedom, whatsoever. I realize that most of them moved to the Krestova region, however, I know from the family history that I am aware of that there were plenty in the Grand Forks region, and that they were as active in terms of civil unrest and disobedience as they were elsewhere in the province. 

One of the things that I have slowly pieced together in these last few weeks of research and digging, is that the Doukhobor women continued to utilize natural resources, making their own thread, their own cloth, their own dyes, for as long as they could, as they felt a close tie to the land. In the Doukhobor religion, their belief is that everything contains a spark of divinity. This is part of the reason that true Doukhobors are pacifists, and vegetarians. It is also why they love natural resources as they do.]]> 2021-02-22 04:00:24 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1224691917 Feb 22 - Project 4 reflection taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1224692294 At this point, I have attempted each of the 6 stitches. I also realized today that I accidentally switched the last two medallions and did them in the wrong order. Fortunately, each of them use an equal number of stitches, and I didn't do one that was significantly harder before an easier one.

What has been the most challenging technique to this point?
By far, the most challenging stitch for me has been the Chrysanthemum stitch. It seems like it should be super easy, but the tension of the stitch is always too loose or too tight. I can't seem to get it just right.

Which do I need to practice further?
Definitely the Chrysanthemum... I also need to continue to work on the tension issues that I have been experiencing in the overall piece. Finally, the Contour stitch is one I need to continue working on, as it doesn't look as smooth as I would like at this time. We will see how it is by the end of medallion 6 :)

What are my projections for the final two medallions?
I believe I will finish in good time, though we are also moving in a couple of weeks, so I will not finish ahead of where I wanted to be. Taking an hour on Saturday for the stitching, and time over the remainder of the weekend to research and reflect, is a valuable use of my time. An added bonus for me has been that it provides me with necessary downtime to focus on something just for me... time to escape from the rest of the craziness of life :) I think I will continue to enjoy the final two pieces as I have the first few. I must also note that the last two pieces are significantly more difficult in terms of the number of stitch types each one uses, as well as the variety of flowers in each piece. I think it will be important for me to be relaxed and at ease when I begin each one, and to ensure I have a good chunk of time available.

What recommendations do my ‘experts’ have for me?
My experts have reminded me that the things that I am unhappy with are the things I simply need to practice further. Practice, practice, practice... I think that after I am done with these medallions, I will plan my own pattern on a hand towel, allowing my stitching surface to be a little bigger than on these medallions.]]> 2021-02-22 04:00:37 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1224692294 Feb 23 - Critical friends take a look taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1233186509 I shared my piece with my general Facebook feed and invited all of my friends with needlework skills to share their comments and suggestions. Here are a few of the comments that were made:

Ruth H - Very nicely done. Your stitches are even and smooth, love the French knots, and the back of the piece is well done with longer threads woven behind the shorter ones.

Krista W - From what I know, your back should be as tidy as your front which yours certainly is. I say, great work.

Debby B - Very beautiful. I think the only thing that I have heard is some don't use knots. They leave the tail long and weave it in. However when I have done embroidery my back side was very messy. So, your is very neat. You are making me want to try embroidery again. Keep the beautiful work.

Lilian M - Awesome job!!!
My backs never looked that tidy more like a zigzag crazy mess!! Lol

I will take Debby's suggestion into the next piece and work on creating something without knots on the backside. I was pleased to hear that the general consensus was that the back was nicely done.
]]> 2021-02-23 18:58:53 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1233186509 Feb 19 -Time for a reward :) taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1233230566 I am well pleased with the progress I have made to this point. I feel I am on track, even a wee bit ahead of my original plan as I have completed a bonus medallion. My husband and I also learned last week that we were successful in our purchase of our first place together... many, many things to celebrate! So, we will go outside of our normal 'cook at home' box, and splurge on Chinese food for dinner tonight. A well earned treat, I believe! 

I also want to include a collage of heirloom pieces from my cousin, Garry Tarasoff. This is a combination of pieces from his mom, Lucy Tarasoff, and my Bra-Babishca, Helen Salikin. I received these pictures from Garry earlier this week.]]> 2021-02-23 19:06:41 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1233230566 Feb 25 - An unexpected gift taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1243597349 One of the unexpected side benefits of this project has been this reconnection with my heritage... and with my family. I have reached out to several family members and have been blessed with unexpected gifts along the way. This week's unexpected gifts come in the form of several pictures, and of information, all from my Tetya (Auntie) Helen. She found this incredible heirloom piece that was hand embroidered and edged by my Babishca's sister, Velikaya tetya (Great-aunt) Eileen. One of the wonders of this experience is that my family members don't even know what they have in their homes, and when they take them out to take pictures of them, new conversations are created about the quality of the workmanship, the attention to detail, the absolute beauty which our ancestors created. Tetya Helen had not looked at this scarf in a decade, and she said it was like looking at it with fresh eyes. Then she went on to tell my that my own Babishca was responsible for several pieces of this quality and type, however, none of them are in the family possession anymore. This information STUNNED ME!!! Never, in all of the 40 years of my life did I know that my Babishca could work fine textile art. By the time I came into her life, she was a single mother, who had worked hard for decades to provide for her family, and who was simply tired from life. She had no time or interest in working these fine things any more... but Tetya Helen told me today about how my Babishca worked circular needles and created fine doilies, and of the head scarf Babba had made in her early years for her hope chest, and of the other fine pieces that she made along the way. I have a whole new perspective on who my Babishca is, and of what she was capable of doing. I had absolutely no idea my Babba ever did any of these things... I am blessed beyond measure with my new learnings about my family.]]> 2021-02-25 23:09:09 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1243597349 Feb 27 - The 5th medallion taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1250381101 Oh. My. Word. This one was SUPER HARD! It used every stitch I have learned to this point... constant thread changes... tangled threads like crazy... It took me two full hours to complete. TWO FULL HOURS! It is NO BIGGER than any of the other medallions! I was so frustrated and angry at one point that I threw it across the room (and may have sworn just a little bit). When I reached that point, I almost quit and came back to it the next day... but I didn't WANT to leave it unfinished, so instead, I took a break, left the room, made myself a cup of my favourite loose leaf tea (Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea, a lady's cream Earl Grey), savoured it (and some peace and quiet), did a little mindful breathing, and got back at it. I looked at where the problem was, and realized I had crossed some threads on the back and that they were so tangled with each other that I couldn't easily work the remaining stitches without leaving a huge snarl... so I got out that dreaded tool... a stitch ripper. All things considered, it was the first time I've needed to use on in this process, so that felt good. I picked out the two bits that had become a problem, and redid those stitches, paying more attention to the way they crossed in the back. (I'll show a pic of the back in a later post this week!) In the end, taking that small break when I was super frustrated, coming back to the piece of work once I was calm, and completing the piece as I had originally intended, was satisfying. It was a good lesson for me in realizing that though I feel fairly confident and know that I can successfully work these stitches, I am by no means an expert, and should avoid the cockiness of thinking that this will be a piece of cake... because it really, really was not. ]]> 2021-02-28 17:01:58 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1250381101 Feb 28 - Crafting the Canadian quilt taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1250424667 WHAT AN AMAZING SITE!!! I ran across it when I was looking for unique sources for continuing to dig into my Doukhobor heritage, and I had never heard of this site before. I will be taking this into my classroom and exploring it with my students! The idea behind the site is a living museum, capturing pieces from Canadians from all walks of life. Each piece contains an image (or several), the provenance of the item, and a brief history of the peoples it came from. I looked at 3 different pieces related to Doukhobors, beginning with the wedding suit pictured on the link below, a man's hand woven linen suit, and a knotted pile rug. Each piece taught me something I didn't know. Before beginning this project, I had not once seen a traditional Doukhobor wedding ensemble. My experience with women's dress was limited to a head scarf, worn usually with one's Sunday finest (usually a blouse and a skirt). I'd also never seen a man's traditional suit, nor did I have any idea that Doukhobors were known for their Linen skills in terms of growing, weaving and creating. I most definitely didn't know that Doukhobors made fine hand knotted rugs. I feel like I knew nothing good about Doukhobors before this journey... I only knew the same inflammatory, derogatory stories that ALL Doukhobors are painted with... the stories of The Sons of Freedom. I am blessed beyond measure to learn that there was so much more to these resilient people... there was beauty, community, industriousness... They are as much a part of Canada's rich tapestry, as anyone else who has immigrated here. And oh... their incredible skills with handcrafts... I am so sad that I didn't know these things before now, that I didn't learn any skills from my Bra-Babishca, or my Babishca...

I feel the need to note that all of the family members I have ever met, be they Sons of Freedom, or traditional Doukhobors, are wonderful, kind, loving people. Though I know the stories of the difficult years in the history of BC, I have never once experienced any form of violence or civil unrest with any of them. I think it is extremely unfortunate that any time I share with someone that I have Doukhobor heritage, that I get that famous head tilt, or the look of 'oh, you're one of THOSE'... it is a significant shame that 50 years later, ALL Doukhobors, for the most part, are still painted with the same brush, and the same cultural judgment. A good lesson in the importance of LEARNING about people and getting to know them... we are all more than history paints.]]> 2021-02-28 17:23:59 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1250424667 March 1 - Project 5 reflection taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1250455407 How might the documentation of this experience be used to inform future generations connected to Doukhobor heritage?
Well, one of the things I didn't consider in choosing this particular platform for sharing, is that I only have the free version of padlet, which means I can only ever OWN 3 padlets that are live, to share with others. I will be looking, this week, into the cost of expanding my padlet, how to share this padlet somewhere more permanently, what happens if I archive it, and those sorts of questions. In the meantime, I will share my completed padlet on the Doukhobors in Canada site, on my general Facebook feed, and with my family and friends who are interested. I will talk with my nieces and the children of my cousins to share with them the experiences I have had along the way, and hopefully all of these things will lead to even one more person wanting to dig in and learn more about where they come from.

Will I reach my final goal?
I remain confident that I will reach my final goal... the end is in sight, I have one more medallion to stitch to meet my original goal, and then I simply need to shape them and attach them to the back pieces. I anticipate this process being complete by Sunday of next week, which works out perfectly as we move the following weekend ;)

Do I need to make any adjustments to cross the finish line?
I don't believe so at this time, though it would be wise of me to use my evenings this week for shaping the 2 medallions that are stitched and not placed on their metal plate, in anticipation of attaching all 6 to their back piece on the weekend.

What suggestions do my ‘experts’ have for me?
They are all thrilled with the progress I am making, and probably the most common thing I am hearing from them is that I need to carry on with the needlework when this project is over, and not simply stop. Also, though this is not a suggestion, I learned about silk thread this past week, when my Tetya sent me the headscarf pictures... I'd like to explore this further in my future endeavours.

Another extra share here... my cousin Garry Tarasoff gifted me with photos of some of his mom, Lucy Tarasoff’s, machine embroidery, one of the more modern techniques Doukhobor women have embraced.]]> 2021-02-28 17:39:58 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1250455407 March 3 - Critical friends take a look taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1265504509 Along with sharing my newest piece with a critical friend, I also shared my padlet with the Doukhobors in Canada (DiC) Facebook group, asking for feedback and recommendations. 

First, the newest medallion: I shared this piece with my mom and asked for her feedback. She noted that my straight stitching was much advanced from the last piece she critiqued for me. I expressed my utter unhappiness with the French knots on the pale pink flower at the bottom. I followed the pattern, but I find them overwhelming and feel they take away from the piece overall, though I know that it is done as recommended. I continue to debate picking that part out and fixing it so that it is more pleasing to my eye. Overall, my mom felt that my skills are developing nicely and that I am better able to 'see' what looks right to me compared to what is recommended.

Feedback on my padlet: A large cross section of people have now read my padlet. I have shared it with my family and friends, with specific Doukhobor family members, and with the DiC Facebook group. The first suggestion was a name change, as the original title held the negative connotation of needles (which was suggested could be interpreted as drug issues), and to expand the title to include 'work' added to the word needle, thereby identifying more clearly the topic. That was a quick and easy fix. I learned that the way I have written great-grandma in Russian (Bra-Babishca) my whole life, is incorrect. Turns out it is pra-babooshka. I chose not to go back and edit it in the previous posts, but rather to turn this into a learning moment for myself, to note the change I need to make, and to move forward with the correct writing. A final note was made that I had a historical figure incorrectly listed, based upon my childhood remembrances. I stated that it was Leo Tolstoy and Catherine the Great who were key members of the effort to bring Doukhobors to Canada, when in fact it was Leo Tolstoy and Queen Victoria, which I went back and fixed.

Several family members have read, commented on, and begun conversations around my new learning. As well, I was privately contacted by one of the people in the Doukhobor group, who shared with me two files of dissertations, one from one of her family members, both of which speak to the history of Doukhobors in BC, as told from the Doukhobor perspective... unique, as Doukhobors currently do not have their own written history. Another tremendous, and unexpected gift of this journey!]]> 2021-03-03 18:55:06 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1265504509 March 4 - Couldn't help myself taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1271570003 I was SOOOOOO unhappy with the centre of the smallest pink flower on my most recent medallion that I picked it all out and fixed it :) It just wasn't filling my soul to leave it the way it was! 

For me, this entire process has closely mirrored the continuum of Self-Regulated learning, as diagramed by Zumbrunn et al (2011) in "Encourage Self-Regulated Learning in the Classroom." (p6) Today in particular, reflecting on this experience, realizing I was deeply unhappy with the outcome, and that to be satisfied with my achievement, it was worth my time to redo the portion I was unhappy with, was a valuable SRL experience. For much of this project, I have simply been satisfied and happy with my work, it was kind of nice to be unhappy with something and then to fix it and feel the joy of knowing it was the right decision... so much joy, in fact, that I started the last 'required' medallion today! ]]> 2021-03-04 22:32:27 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1271570003 March 5 - The 6th medallion taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1277405219 OH MY WORD!!! Is it okay to have a favourite?!?!? Because I totally do! Everything about this one is pleasing to my eye. Again, it used all 6 of the stitches I have learned, and was a lot of thread changes and nit picky work, totalling another 2 hours of stitch time... but I am IN LOVE with this piece! I like the way the leaves look, I'm thrilled with the French knots, and the sunflowers are so happy and cheery!!! 

I feel like all of the pieces before this one were stepping stones along the way to get to this particular piece. I think one of the important elements of SRL is setting yourself up for success by tackling smaller pieces of your end goal in the beginning and working your way up to a culminating event. I am super thankful that I took the time to practice all of the stitches again and again before coming to this medallion. This week will be completion week for me, finishing the final products, mounting them on their back plates, and showing off the completed series in order. I have enjoyed this process immensely, simply for the delight of learning a new skill. To have the added bonus of all that I have learned of my family heritage?!?! That makes this project one of my absolute favourite life experiences :) Absolutely worth it the whole way through!]]> 2021-03-07 00:05:43 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1277405219 March 6 - Doukhobor shawls, or platok taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1277412104 It is fitting for me that the final piece I read online today was that of the Doukhobor platok. Last week, I shared pictures of one created by my Great-aunt Eileen, and shared the story of my Babba's fine needlework skills that were heretofore unknown to me. There was not a lot of information available on this web page, but it was nice to learn how these headscarves developed through the years into true works of art and fine craftsmanship. When next I am in the Brilliant region, I will be going in to the Doukhobor Cultural Interpretive Society and making connection with some of the women there. I would imagine that in light of their dedication to preserving the Doukhobor platok, the history, and the skills, that there may be some interest in creating an online group for those of us who are likeminded and interested in moving forward, learning these much finer needlework skills. It was also educational to look at the patterns that the DCIS has managed to preserve at this point and to see the delicate detail that is present in these designs. It is easier for me to imagine Doukhobor women poring over the latest JC Penny catalogue, carefully tracing the china patterns and plotting out how to showcase these on their hand made headscarves.]]> 2021-03-07 00:13:55 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1277412104 March 7 - One final medallion taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1279480398 I had a little extra time today and finished medallions 8 and 9 (for those of you keeping track, I purchased a bonus set of 3 once I realized how much I really liked doing this!). In the end, I had two medallions that had the same pattern, and I decided that for a final push of my skills I would not only learn a new stitch not included in all of these pieces, but that I would design my own pattern for the final medallion... and am I ever glad I did! The new stitch I learned is called Poliknot, which is kind of a long French knot, or maybe better explained as a long straight stitch ending in a French knot. I watched a YouTube tutorial by a Russian woman, detailing 9 stitches for miniature flowers designed for beginner stitchers. I really liked what she was creating, so I took the idea, adjusted the stem and leaves, used different colours, and plotted it out so it would fit the final medallion. I am SO PLEASED WITH IT!!! I feel like all of the effort I have put in along the way has led me to a place where this is now a part of my skill set. Yes, I have a lot of practicing to do before I would ever consider myself anything more than a hobbyist, but I feel like I can work some pretty stitches, and that I have the ability to envision something and make it come to fruition. You can see the original design underneath in the pale purple ink. This piece was meant to be the same as medallion #2.]]> 2021-03-07 21:51:08 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1279480398 March 7 - Everything starts to come together taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1279489486 The kits I purchased originally had hot glue with them as the bonding agent. I didn't feel that will be adequate to stand any test of time, so I researched fabric to metal glues and found the most strongly recommended adhesive, E6000. Fortunately, Canadian Tire happens to carry it, so I was able to go out and get it right away. I applied the glue this afternoon and the pieces are currently drying. I used clothespins to help hold everything tight together, and I am hopeful that everything will bond as intended.]]> 2021-03-07 21:58:13 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1279489486 March 7 - The completed series taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1280114252 I awaited with great anticipation, the drying of the adhesive. I discovered that I hadn’t used an appropriate amount on 4 which required a second application. Overall, I think they turned out okay!]]> 2021-03-08 03:18:36 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1280114252 March 8 - A critical friend takes a look taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1289247013 I asked my friend, Pam Krause, to look at the formal final medallion (the sunflowers) and offer her thoughts and suggestions, as she critiqued my first piece and I thought that would be a nice comparison to end with. She had the following to say:

"I see a marked improvement in your tension. The yellow orange flowers are nicely done, yet look 3-D from the picture. Stitches look evenly spaced and same length. The leaves are nicely pointed and look like they have texture. French knots are perfect! In my opinion, Excellent work."

It made me feel so good to hear this from her, and to know the specific areas of improvement she was able to see. This whole process has helped me to better understand the value of the feedback we provide to students when they are engaged in learning they are enjoying, and how important it is to give guidance and direction, rather than 'do this' or 'do that' instructions. 
]]> 2021-03-09 18:34:31 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1289247013 March 11 - A final reflection before I go taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1300695588 Oh my word! How is it possible that this portion of the journey is over? I read back through my whole padlet, paying attention to where I started and where I ended. I LEARNED A WHOLE NEW SKILL!!! One I didn't possess before beginning this journey. I made connections with several people beyond my initial 'expert' panel, each of whom offered critical feedback and positive support. I read and connected with online sites I would never have run across were I not reading for intent of learning a new skill set and exploring its connection to my heritage. I discovered beautiful things about the people I come from, and learned they are so much more than the stories that have become associated with their name. I learned about my Babba and a skill set I had no idea she possessed. I reconnected with family members and received tremendous gifts from them. I learned things about myself along the way, regarding how I learn, how frustrated I can get when I focus on perfection instead of process and the learning journey itself, how motivating a simple reward can be, and the incredible value of regular reflection of my experience and the process I am using to get there. I also learned the profound value of learning alongside others. My partner in this course, and another friend engaged in a different Master's program, and I all get together on a weekly basis to check in and to encourage each other to focus and keep on track. Walking this journey with them and having people to bounce ideas off of, to share frustrations and successes with, and to simply feel that sense of accomplishment, even though we were engaged in completely different sets of skills, made it an even greater journey than the satisfaction each of us found individually. 

My next steps are threefold. Now that I have developed a new skill, I have no desire to let it flounder or fall by the wayside. As soon as we have finished our move, I have already found the next book I would like to own, which specializes in tiny flowers and designs, something I have really been enjoying up to this point. I intend to further my skills by making bookmarks for my penpals (I have 42 of them ;) ). The second part of my plan is to take what I have learned, from the initial choosing of an idea, to the planning of the process, to the process of working through the steps and reflecting on my learning, to the sharing of the entire experience, and bringing that into my classroom, inviting my students to find their own path to learning something new. The final step is to carry on with my journey of heritage discovery. I have made some connections that need to be nurtured and maintained. I have been pointed in the right direction for seeking some family information, and I would definitely like to pursue that. I think that one more step beyond that, which I had not yet considered until I began typing this particular sentence, is to continue the pursuit of new skills and knowledge.

I can not stress enough the joy that this project has brought to me. I always love to learn new things, and I knew there would be some new learning regarding my family. I never, ever imagined the places this particular journey would take me. I am thankful for every step along the way.]]> 2021-03-12 00:10:31 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1300695588 IMPORTANT NOTE!!! taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1301344144 In order to properly peruse this project, you need to scroll all the way to the bottom and then work up from there. The oldest post is at the bottom, the newest is at the top... I hope you enjoy the journey!]]> 2021-03-12 04:35:08 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/1301344144 October 2021 - Surprising addition of family history from a Doukhobor Genealogist taleen_candy https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/2141297093 Taleen Candy, the following is a very brief summary of your Nevokshonov ancestry. 

1. In 1847 the household of Fedot Nevokshonov settled in the Doukhobor village of Karaklisi in the Bashkichet uezd (district) of Tiflis guberniya (province), Russia.  Today the village is known as Vake and is located in the Dmanisi rayon (region) of the Republic of Georgia. Fedot is your great-great-great-great-grandfather.

2. In 1853, the household of Fedot Nevokshonov appears in Karaklisi village in the kameralnyi spiski (cameral registers) as follows: 

Fedot 55 head 1845 
Yakov 37 son
Semyon Yakoblevich 8 grandson
Konstantin Yakoblevich 3 grandson
Fyodor 20 son
Mikhailo 18 son

Note that at the time, Fedot had six males and three females living in his household. However only the male members of the household were listed by name. Note also that Fedot's son Mikhailo is your great-great-great-grandfather.

3. By 1873, Mikhailo Fedotovich Nevokshonov relocated from Karaklisi to the neighbouring village of Ormasheni, also located in the Bashkichet uezd of Tiflis guberniya.  They appear there in the kameral'nyi spiski taken that year as follows: 

Mikhailo Fedotovich 41 head
Mikhailo 15 son
Kuz'ma 11 son

Note that once again, only the males are listed by name; however, Mikhailo Fedotovich had three males and five females living in his household at the time.  Note also that his son Kuz'ma is your great-great-grandfather.

4. In 1886, the household of Mikhailo Fedotovich Nevokshonov appears again in Ormasheni village and are listed as follows: 

Mikhail Fedotovich head (deceased 5 months)
Mikhail son 28
Kuz'ma son 24
Pavel Kuzma's son 3
Pelageya Mikhail's wife 26
Pelageya Kuzma's wife 20
Fedosia Kuzma's daughter 1
Mariya Mikhail's mother 56
Luker'ya Mikhail's sister 14
Elena Mikhail's sister 10

5. In July 1895, after participating in the Burning of Arms which took place in the neighbouring Akhalkalaki uezd near the village of Orlovka, the household of the brothers Mikhail and Kuz'ma Fedotovich Nevokshonov was exiled to the Gori uezd of the Tiflis guberniya. There in the hot and fever-ridden valleys, the family was distributed among Georgian villages and prohibited from obtaining work or property. Many Doukhobors died of exposure, starvation, fever and malnutrition during this period. 

6. In August 1898, the Nevokshonov family were among 1200 Doukhobor exiles permitted to resettle to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.  Unfortunately the island settlements allotted to the Doukhobors lacked sufficient fresh water and adequate housing and many Doukhobors died in the subtropical climate from famine, disease and exhaustion. 

7. In April 1899, the surviving Cyprus Doukhobor resettled to Canada aboard the SS Lake Superior. This Beaver line steamship departed April 18, 1899, under Captain W.H. Taylor, from the port of Larnaca, Cyprus. It carried 1,036 Doukhobors. After 26 days at sea, the vessel arrived at the port of Quebec on May 9, 1899. Following a brief quarantine
examination at Grosse Isle, the passengers disembarked that day. The Nevokshonov family appears in the ship passenger manifest as follows: 

Ivan 30
Kuzma 10
Semyon 28
Maria 55
Vasilisa 30
Maria 28
Anastasia 8
Kuzma 37
Pavel 15
Elizaveta 25
Fedosia 14
Anastasia 10
Marfa 17
Ivan 23
Anna 17

8. Upon arriving in Canada, the Nevokshonoff (as the name came to be spelt) family settled in the Doukhobor village of Ormasheni (by 1901 renamed Truzhenniye) along Dead Horse (later Kamsack) Creek south of the present town of Kamsack, SK.  They appear there in the 1901 Canada Census as follows: 

Kuzma head 1861 Oct. 1 40
Elizaveta wife 1876 25
Pavel son 1883 Sept. 17
Fedosia daughter 1886 April 16
Marfa daughter 1888 Sept. 18

9. While living in Truzhdenniye, the Nevokshonov family joined in the eastward trek of Doukhobor zealots seeking warmer lands, free from government restrictions which took place in late 1902 and subsequent treks and demonstrations by this group. In October 1903, Kuzma Nevokshonoff was one of 6 Doukhobor zealots arrested and tried in Yorkton, SK for burning binders in protest against materialism. They were sentenced to two years incarceration at Stony Mountain Penitentiary near Winnipeg, MB. There, two of the men, including Kuzma, were tortured to death by being chained to the walls, hands and feet stretched stiff and held in this position for three days in the midst of winter. Both swelled up beyond recognition through the cold and expired after great suffering. 

10. In 1905, the rest of the Nevokshonoff family appeared in Truzhdenniye village and are listed in the special Doukhobor village census taken that year as follows: 

Elisaveta 29 mother
Nikolai 5 son
Pavlo 22 step-son
Anastasia 17 step-daughter

Note that your great-grandfather Nikolai appears in the above record. He would have been too young to have known his father before he passed away in the tragic circumstances outlined above.

Unfortunately I do not have the time to provide a more detailed analysis of your Nevokshonoff family roots. However, hopefully this provides you with a firm basis for further research into the details of your particular family history.

JJK]]> 2022-04-12 18:28:49 UTC https://padlet.com/taleen_candy/z3iztz3bdguzwa6a/wish/2141297093