earnegienewsletter
.org
401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
(604) 665~2289
National Indigenous History Month is a time for acknowledging, learning about and appreciating the immeasurable contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis have made and continue to make today.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH AT THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE Monday June 6- Theatre S:30pm Cultural Sharing Program "Learn how to make a Drum'$tick" Tuesday June 7- Theatre 1:00pm Indigenous Crafts\with Eld;e.rs"drum necklaceu
t!day June 2'0 - Theetre 5:30pm Ctiltur~~~~aring Progt"Uln "Learnhoibtomake a beaded necklace"
tgi1)eaways, pop up 't.connect & smudging, muchmorer .
~.C
Monday June 13 - TJieatre: 6;OOpm Cultural Sharing Program "Burning the BannoJrk" live s,now Tuesday June 14 .. Tfteatre ):OOpm Indigenous Cr.afts w~thElders I'ceaal~'· i%,
Monday June 20 - 1:00pm-4:00pm Mount Pleasant Con'trrtunity Centre Cultural Sharing wiltbe up at Mount Pleasant for an afternoon of Crafts & Music- Join us!
26",Theatre 6:00pln Jtg - flEdge of the Knife!' ""T~eatre 5.:.30pm Bingo Night
TuesUa:,:~U~e28.. Theatre 1:00p'm Inaigc1)0lls1Crajts with Elders "mini h~ndrattIe"
SV• ..yO;(~WELCONlE!
On Friday May 27, both Musica Intima, a vocal ensemble, and the lexwst'i:lem Drum Group from Carnegie Community Centre performed under the image Nagamo, by Indigenous artist Sonny Assu. The territorial acknowledgement given by Carleen Thomas keynoted the history given in the program guide: inl778, when Captain lames Cook and his men first came to Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, local surrounded their ship in canoes and sang, making music with paddles and instruments to greet the strange people. Cook and crew responded with music and songs of their own and the exchange was friendly. The entire theme of the music of the evening, as scripted by Andrew Balfour, an Indigenous artist taken in the 60s Scoop, gave much in the early history of mutual respect shared with Indigenous Peoples and Elizabethan England. The ennui of drums and vocal deliveries portrayed the sharing and possible reconciliation that both Indigenous and settler need. "History shows that although there was a gopeful beginning between the Europeans and the Nations of Turtle Island, the relationship turned disastrous for the Indigenous nations and peoples from colonizing, disease, war, genocide and such. agamo a . reimagining of history and the fantastical idea of what might have happened if the sharing of music and the sharing of culture had contrived, and how different history might have played out if this had happened." Lexwst'i:lem means 'always singing' and states: "We are proud to keep learning the language, music and song while sharing and keeping Indigenous Culture strong." PRT
NAGANO <{
"Nayamo (Sings) reimagines history and the concept of nation-to-nation respect and musical dialogue"
Marr Dorvault I Les Nelson I Sam·McKay I Priscillia Tait Tiffany Anderson I Pat Mah I Raphael San Luis I Egor Marov Nicole Bird I Stanley Paul I Louisa Starr
Gila'kasla - Haw'aa - T'ooyaksim'
N'iisim' - Thank you.
INDIGENOUS HISTORY June is Indigenous History Month. Stories, articles and photos, artwork and research brought things to light that are usually in the dark, or not talked about or happened 'somewhere else'. Forced Sterilization "Author and activist Morningstar Mercredi is calling for the criminalization of forced and coerced sterilization, in the hopes that women - especially First Nations, Inuit and Metis women - will never suffer the physical and mental trauma it inflicted upon her." The focus of this article is on what happened to Ms. Mercredi when she was 14. She was young and pregnant and went to a hospital in her th month due to cramping. Unbeknownst to her the doctor, after delivering the baby, sterilized the young woman. This is a practice coming to light in many Indigenous communities across Western Canada, where native women find that they have been sterilized without their consent; some have been coerced with threats or dire warnings that made them afraid for their lives. The article goes n to say that class action lawsuits are being launched and any Indigenous women who are in this situation can and should inquire. The prime target of this movement is to make forced or concealed sterilization a crime under Canadian law. Mass Shootings There is a lot of coverage of the most recent school shooting in Texas. An intriguing article tied the listings of all such mass shootings in the U.S.A. to the history of mass shootings perpetuated by the American Government against Indigenous people; that the legacy of same goes back to the murderous treatment ofIndian Peoples dating back as far as Christopher Columbus and certainly with westward expansion of settlers as the Army massacred whole villages. It is now with so many people outraged and refusing to be placated with "prayers and good thoughts" that more and more of the actual incidents are no longer being swept away. Interesting to note that diehard conservatives in Alberta are making mucli of the need to relax gun laws in this country (or at least in AB) so people can 'defend ourselves" against any gun-toting madman we see or imagine near a school.
A Year after Kamloops, What's Changed? The discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools brought promises of action. But critics say it's painfully slow. This is the title and lead for an excellent article by Amanda Follett Hosgood, published in The Tyee, an online media service. Go to thetyee.ca Quoting a chief in the interior, Hosgood lays out "We all knew it was true. We have always known. Children were taken from their parents and homes and so many never returned." Apparently the Pope apologised but in a coming tri
to Canada he will not be coming to B.C. Apparently the records may give low numbers - 4,000 - 6,000 but over 100+ years of residential schools and 150,000 children, over 50,000 died. If conditions and treatment led many ofthese children to die of disease or other causes it is still on the churches and government for operating such institutions. It is in the face ofthis history that reconciliation is something to seek, to work towards. It is incumbent on people alive now to acknowledge the darkness of the past and to welcome the unearthing of such incidents, events and legacy to make living together fair and equitable. It's not a case of being guilt-ridden for the wrongs done, but it's also a wake-up to the folly of saying "let's just forget the past and start fresh to be decent." Individually and collectively it's necessary to learn from the past. ByPAULR
TAYLOR
Errors in the May 15,2022 issue! The lead story ending was cut off. The missing person's name is Cameron. The poetry Dirty, Damaged, Different by Jaqueline Angharad Giles was cut off. Compassion is by Jathinder Sandhu. Waiting/or the Muse is by Patrick Foley. I apologise to the authors for this. There was a computer mix-up when the file was too large & an earlier version was sent to the printshop. PRT
From 'the Library: On May 26th the Carnegie Centre and the Library invited Nikki Reimer to present their digital elegy project titled GRIEFW AYE. For those who were unable to attend in-person or online there is a link on the communitydeathcareproject.ca website to look out for. GRIEFWAYE is an elegiac response to the life & death ofNikki's brother, Chris Reimer (1986-2012), a Calgary-based indie musician. It is also a meditation on the oscillating nature of loss and grief, and the ways in which mourning changes when it takes place in public, digital spheres. Nikki's recent (not so recent) poetry book My Heart Is a Rose Manhattan is available at the Library. It is a darkly humorous book about grief and isolation. The poems
are cutting yet tender; sorrowful yet filled with righteous anger, absurdist at times but still recognizable, reassuring us that "it's ok to grieve forever." There is death and loss, architecture, alcohol, horse statues, and catalogues of life away from the urban centres of Canada. This book wants to "subvert the literary industrial complex" but also crash in like the koolaid meme with all caps non sequiturs and "overdrawn affiuenza." These poems are addicted to social media and simultaneously well-versed in feminist theory. If you are at all in need of some reading materials to help you navigate grief, come to the library where we have many self-help books and other perspectives to share with you. -- Danielle
CHECK IN: 6:15PM MEETING
TIME:
6:30PM
- 7:30PM
Narcotics Anonymous is a non profit international, community-based organization for recovering addicts, which is active in over 144 oountrtos. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) members tearn from one another how to live drug-free and recover from the effects of addiction in ~h~irlives. LOCATION: CARNEGIE COMMUNITY IN THE THEATRE ••.•'0
Free HAIRCUTS with Tuan Are now at the Fieldhouse In Oppenheimer Park
Wednesdays & Fridays
1:30-4:00
CENTRE Narcotics Anonyrnoug'
Neighbourhood
Small Grants " Britannia I carnegie RaYMCam Strathcona
The Neighbourhood Small Grants program supports neighbours of any age, experience or background take part in building community
Ne,ed help with your application? l!Il'II 'l!I ~
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dtesnsg@vancouver.ca www.neighbourhoodsmaligrants.ca Facebook & Instagram: @nsgnetwork
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vancouver foundation
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This is a model for a letter that people all over the world should write to various levels of government.
Dear Mayor and Councillors It has come to our attention that were we to plant one tree for every person on Earth for the next seven years, we could reverse the worst effects of climate change and keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. We know that the most vulnerable people are the ones most affected by climate change, People suffering from mental health and substance us issues, seniors who are isolated, and the homeless. During last summer's heat dome, from June 24th to July 1st, in British Columbia the combined overdose and heat death emergencies contributed to 815 deaths. The usual number of deaths during that time is under 200. Before Covid, the Carnegie Community Centre located in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside had a membership of to 5000 of our most vulnerable citizens, many with mental health and addiction issues.; many are homeless or inadequately housed. We realize that the City of Vancouver has been planting 120,000 trees a year and that the province has planted over a billion trees in the last 3 years, thus exceeding our share of planetary requirements .under the one tree per person per year plan. However, it would be great if the City could itself meet this target. Does Council have any plans to increase to at least 750,000 or more trees planted per year, one for every Vancouver resident for the next seven years and beyond in order to enhance this absolutely essential work to reverse the worst effects of the climate emergency. In the Philippines students are required to have planted at least five trees in order to graduate from high school. We know young people who are worried about their survival, are passionate about this issue and school programs could also make an essential contribution. Thank you, Gilles Cyrenne
Gilles Cyrenne President, Carnegie Community Centre Association
Article 1:
Engraving Words! Hi, Everyone! I just wanted to introduce members,
myself to the board
staff and of course the surrounding
community
by sharing a very fitting poem written by
me during my active using years here in the DTES back in my late 20's to mid 30's, before I ventured off 10 northern
BC where I finally reached
my clean
date; May 3rd 201 Ol It's also the year f left. I never intended
to be gone so long, but I have now
returned,
arriving
celebrating
back on May 1st 2022 and
my 12 yrs clean HERE in the DTES with
ALL OF YOU on May 3rd 2022! You can be certain you will get 10 learn more about me and read a lot more of my work as Ihe year ahead unfolds! - Welfare Day -
So now with that being said I am ready to get down to
living
business, with my mission in my return to B.C. and of course most specifically here in Vancity and the
in a dizzy array
there's so much on display
DTES. I'm back to make a difference, to help improve upon matters that need advocacy, voicing, support
.. all the shelters where I've stayed, so much can be said about all the people
and organizing, to see that these over-do changes are met and do reach our Nation's capital, our Countries'
the ones I've come to know. Their stories shared along their paths towards
Parliament and are ultimatelytachieved! Ergo the inspiration for my (Engraving Words) writing segment
improvements,
Money spent Sometimes
it's clear whallhat's
here in the Carnegie Newsletter!
meant
'Some event!' No place to rent, They're
hard to find. nothings
something
Thus bringing me to my first mission of activism and support for BC, which is the Petition of increasing the
for a dime,
to afford, no more need be said.
PWD benefits; as well as the amount of earnings a person can have and claim without penalty! Once this
Bed bugs a riot, they're everywhere So not jusl anything
will do
after just one has bit you.
Provincial change is met, it is my hope to tie it together with my other path of advocacy from my time
Beware of what else m~ht get you despite what you're trying to do, it's nothing new.
in Ontario which is ENDING WELFARE ALL TOGETHER! Creating instead a BASIC INCOME for
So it's been said a thousand
ALL in need: to live being treated respectfully, fairly and live with decency, to allow for a life where people
times before,
knowing what's in store. But hard times don't mean the end, especially
A show of strength; a determination someplace
can afford their rents and living needs and be a productive part of society and the economy! Though
when you've got some friends, ones fortitude
to get through to someplace
better,
new.
A room with a view, something
good has come your
this goal may still be a way off, !will remain goal oriented and focused on the shining light of the times ahead when this too is achieved here in Canada and Universally as welll
way, this time around, Finally, on Welfare day!
I lost a friend of mine who was approved to be a part of the first ever pilot project for Basic Income in
Ontario. He was a key player and a very important part of the fight with Parliament regarding Basic
not interested in sharing their information online or have no other options or opportunities in which they
Income and our human rights! Along my joumey with his story a part of my life and what I'm now doing, I
can participate and support So keep your eyes & ears open for more information, as I will let you all know
will speak more about it in future issues down the line as those matters fit the timing and information needed! The tragedy of Ooug Ford taking office as the
what's happening from here through my published Engraving words articles!
Premier of the Province and what happened to Michael because of it, has made this mission much
I look forward to community interaction and contact with readers as I move ahead with my 2022 missions
more personal and meaningful for me now more than evert So it an starts here in BC with helping to achieve
and participation with the Carnegie Newsletter and more. I welcome emails, and letters from people, you
that FIRST STEP of success in increasing PWO income & earnings, towards that Canada Wide End
can send your mail to the Carnegie NewsRoom and send your ernails to: camnewS@shaw.ca or you can
Goal of mine to one day finally see Basic Income and rights in place for everyone!
email me directly at thewriterwon@gmaiLcom Please DO let me know more about what topics, thoughts,
Increasing the PWD benefits, requires fighting fire with
poetry, stories, etc ... you all want to see written about and discussed or the work and matters that you
fire, involving my need to return here and fight alongside with all of you in this battle from home
yourselves would like to share? I will do my best to try and read and reply to each and every one of you, so
(BC.) in seeing this through! So here I am folks, and as someone I once spoke to about it all said before
long as time and opportunity will allow!
me ... "I'M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUU' So you better believe we are going to get it done right and hopefully by the end ot tnis 2022 yeart :-) The links 10 all the information you need to know about and what has already laken place and been established
publicly online are as follows:
1. https:/Iwww.bcdisability.comlpwd I do encourage you all to read everything written there to find out how you can sign your name to the letter already available there and the list of parliamentary leaders you can send that letter in email too. You can also leam more about what Spencer has to say and offer as well.
2.
Thank-You and God Blessl Stay Wen & Stay Strong!
hltps:llwww.change.org/plraise-bc-s-pwd-rates-to-180 O-a-month This is where you can go to sign the
Sincerely, The Writert
petition itself, the first goal of reaching 1000 people has almost been met. So please help the petition
Jennifer Cooley! httpsJlfutureproductionsonline.com/
FINISH reaching its first goal! From there a NEW
httpsJlvocal.medialauthorsljennifer~cooley-48hfjkOyqk
MARK for signatures can be set for continued support in the times aheadl As the old saying goes regarding such a matter as this of course, is ... "The More The Merrier!" :-) In dosing if all goes well for me according to my desired plans, I will be setting up tables and times in different places, like community centers and libraries where people can come sign up in person if they are
Dirty, Damaged, Different My father and mother became parents burdened with pain, loss, bitterness. To their graves they took their secrets. During life they'd each likely felt dirty, damaged, different.
CRITICISM vs. INSULTS Are the words: Kind? Cruel? Necessary? This I ask myself, while relating the following: "You're stupid!" ... "Who me ... ? You're saying it's me who's the stupid one? At least i know how to treat others which is more like a brother ... " for pushing our buttons to get our attention is often the reason behind an insult.
Without intention they'd passed on their poisonous legacies by what is clearly defined abuse. I was not exempt from feeling dirty, damaged, different.
Throughout the years I've expressed sincere sorrow
It's the perpetrator's low self -esteem causing them to blow off steam by intentionally hurting others; in order to try and raise their own perceptions of self; but constructive criticism is a whole other matter it is designed to help - not hurt another and can often come from the love of a brother who wishes you to rise and abide to your most excellent potential. Inga g.
to those upon whom I'd inflicted pain as a result of my feeling
The woods
dirty, damaged, different.
As I focus on compassion and forgiveness from others, I feel the guilt and shame lift. I feel less a d less dirty, damaged, different.
Nowadays, I am more at peace. I envision some day feeling more clean, whole, in sync. Over time I feel less dirty, damaged, different. © Jacqueline Angharad Giles
first came earth one small hard seed planted in deep soil we are anchored in a green forest cottonwood trees stretching forth I think of Aaron in the midst of the wilderness, standing before the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant the maple, the fir, the birch burnt offerings offered like this Lazarus asking for crumbs nature in her wisdom calls after her own kind where the wood witches play By. J.T. Sandhu aka ruby diamond
The
2022
ACCESS Festival
ACCESS-ABILITY
presents the first Annual
PARADE
Saturday June 4
Celebrate at 12noon in Emery Barnes Park (Davie & Seymour) with
Jim
Byrn e s,
Digger Dan, Randy Tait and more!
Parade assembly at 2:30pm on Granville Street at Davie. Process with the Carnival Band and Calpulli Cemanahuac along Grarrvifle Street to Georgia for finale performances, Decorate your wheelchair and other mobility equipment, Everyone welcome ~ join the Parade!
For more Information: https://gatheringfestival.wordpress.cOln
Governments announce $49 million for new Downtown Eastside social housing Previously approved by the City of Vancouver, the project at 508 Powell Street - just east ofOppenheimer Parkby Lookout Housing and Health Society will provide 114 units of social housing for low-income seniors, Indigenous people, women fleeing domestic violence, newcomers, refugees, working singles, and couples and families. "Through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, our government is committed to helping individuals and families here in Vancouver access affordable homes that are near support and amenities that will allow them to thrive. This is the National Housing Strategy at work," said Ahmed Hussen, the federal minister of housing, diversity, and inclusion, in a statement. The unit size mix is 66 micro units, four studio units, four accessible studio units, 21 accessible one-bedroom units, nine two-bedroom units, and 10 three-bedroom units. On the ground level of the seven-storey building, there will be full-time health and wellness supports, referrals to ser~ vices for tenants, and the Powell Street Getaway (PSG), o- which offers food, health, and social programs to both building residents and the wider community. Residents will also have access to various indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, 'I' including an internal courtyard. The building is designed by NSDA Architects. The redevelopmentreplaces the site's existing two-storey buildings with the PSG and a Vancouver Coastal Health facility. "Lookout Housing and Health Society recognizes the substantial need for affordable homes and a full continuum of wrap around support services for those who call the Downtown East Side home. This project is just one step towards addressing these needs," said Shayne Williams, the CEO of Lookout Housing and Health Society. By Kenneth Chan [Urbanized]
A major housing project on unceded Squamish territory took another step forward Wednesday as the City of Vancouver agreed to allow developers access to critical infrastructure, such as sewage and transportation. The Squamish First Nation's Senakw housing development will be built on 11 acres of land at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood, and will be home to 6,000 residential units. Squamish spokesperson Sxwixwtn (Wilson Williams) says the project will generate billions of dollars for the First Nation. "Today is such a big celebration," he told On the Coast host Gloria Macarenko. "It's a historic event for our people. • In 2003, the.Federal Court of Canada returned control of a portion of the original 80-acre reserve land in that area to the Squamish Nation, so the project does not need city approval to move ahead. However, it does need the city to agree to connect the buildings to infrastructure to make them livable. The Squamish Nation has the power to collect taxes on the land. The nation has said some units will be strata-owned, and property taxes will be comparable to the City of Vancouver's. Some of the units have been designated as affordable housing units specifically for Squamish Nation members. "When this project comes to construction and is built and people are moving in, we're going to have Squamish people living in Senakw again," said eouncilor Khelsilem, referring to howthe Squamish people were forcibly removed from their land more than 100 years ago. Construction is set to start this summer and expected to be complete in 2027. Posted by CBC with files from Bridgette Watson and On The Coast
of the
Carnegie Community Centre Association Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 5:30pm in the Carnegie Theatre 401 Main Street, Vancouver. The Board of Directors election, nominees from the May 5, 2022 board meeting, will be held at this meeting. To vote at this meeting you must have purchased a membership card on or before May 18, 2022. Registration will take place between 5:00 and 5:30pm
CARNEGIE BOARD ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY JUNE 2ND 2022 IN THE CARNEGIE THEATRE @ 5:30 PM NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD WERE HELD AT THE MAY 5TH MEETING TO RUN FOR THE BOARD A PERSON MUST; HAVE A MEMBERSHIP CARD DATED NO LATER THAN APRIL 3RD 2022 BE OVER 16 LIVE OR WORK (paid or unpaid) IN THE AREA BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CENTRE HAVE CONTRIBUTED 30 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK TO THE CARNEGIE CENTRE OR THE ASSOCIATION IN THE YEAR PREVIOUS TO THE ELECTION [NOTE: Due to pandemic restrictions, this last point has been modified for this year only to be 30 hours of volunteer work for the Downtown Eastside community".] TO VOTE AT THE AGM ON JUNE 2ND YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD SHOULD HAVE A DATE NO LATER THAN MAY 18, 2022
CARNEGIE NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU The Carnegie Board runs our Community Centre. We are a group of volunteers who care about the Centre and the way it functions. We advise the Centre Director • There is one board meeting a month and committees oversee different aspects of the Centre. Volunteer - chooses those honoured at volunteer dinners and other volunteer matters Program - recommends events and activities Education/Library - deals with issues from our library, one of the busiest VPL locations, and with the Learning Centre on the third floor Seniors -: Our seniors are active and this committee is dedicated to them. Community Relations - hears from the community about issues and events and requests for support, as well as overseas CCAP staff and reports Oppenheimer Park - The park and its programs are a part of Carnegie. Indigenous Advisory - now a standing group bringing concerns and recommendations Finance - All requests/recommendations for money go here as well as grant requests. Financial statements are monitored here. In the last year the number of separate meetings has been reduced to encourage participation. Volunteer and Seniors meet together; Program and Education & Library meet together Most Board members commit to three committees a month. We thank existing Board members for their hard work and are grateful for all those who have served the Board in the past. And we look forward to working with those who will serve in the future.
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