Every year the Toronto chapter of the YWCA hosts an awards ceremony called "Women of Distinction" to honour the important work of remarkable women and raise funds for YWCA programs that support women of distinction of tomorrow.
This ceremony is the YWCA's premier fundraising event, supporting more than 40 YWCA programs across Toronto, helping women and girls achieve equality, economic sustainability and lives free from violence.
Several years ago YWCA organizers approached The Guild Shop in Toronto to design special gifts that could be presented to award winners. For this occasion I was commissioned to make special keepsake boxes with bottoms and lids crafted from a single block of solid wood.
The wood used to make these boxes came from a special sampling of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) that was specifically chosen for its traditionally use in holistic healing. Native American medicine women discovered through many generations of trial, error and observation that this wood has medicinal properties that are conducive to the prevention and treatment of disease.
In recent years a scientific basis for this traditional wisdom has been discovered, and these active molecules (known scientifically as ellagitannins) are now at the leading edge of research into finding a cure for cancer.
This ceremony is the YWCA's premier fundraising event, supporting more than 40 YWCA programs across Toronto, helping women and girls achieve equality, economic sustainability and lives free from violence.
Several years ago YWCA organizers approached The Guild Shop in Toronto to design special gifts that could be presented to award winners. For this occasion I was commissioned to make special keepsake boxes with bottoms and lids crafted from a single block of solid wood.
The wood used to make these boxes came from a special sampling of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) that was specifically chosen for its traditionally use in holistic healing. Native American medicine women discovered through many generations of trial, error and observation that this wood has medicinal properties that are conducive to the prevention and treatment of disease.
In recent years a scientific basis for this traditional wisdom has been discovered, and these active molecules (known scientifically as ellagitannins) are now at the leading edge of research into finding a cure for cancer.
Inlaid into the lid of each box was a specially design avatar, symbolizing woman as Goddess. The bottom of the box shown is lined in Caiman leather.