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Letters
September 15, 1988
A f t e r r e a d i n g Don e arson's l e t t e r , " J u s t t h e F a c t s " , i n t h e September 15, 1988 e d i t i o n o f t h e E a s t Ender I j u s t had t o respond. M r . Larson i s s o f u l l of h i m s e l f i t ' s no wonder h e ' s a l i e n a t e d h i m s e l f from most o f t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e community (which h e h i m s e l f d o e s n o t l i v e i n ) . H i s simple h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s regarding who was i n v o l v e d i n g e t t i n g CRAB P a r k i s s o f u l l of mashed p o t a t o e s ! Any " o r g a n i z e r " knows t h a t n o t h i n g i s done w i t h o u t t h e h e l p and s u p p o r t of many people. The more p e o p l e i n v o l v e d , t h e b e t t e r o r g a n i z e r you a r e . M r . Larson c o n t i n u e s t o c a l l h i m s e l f t h e CRAB o r g a n i z e r and f l a u n t h i s d i s t o r t e h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s t h a t he a l o n e gave t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e community CRAB Park. CRAB P a r k became a r e a l i t y b e c a u s e of t h e h a r d work of many many p e o p l e from t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e i n c l u d i n g F i r s t U n i t e d Church, C a r n e g i e and DERA. We'd a l l b e b e t t e r o f f i f M r . Larson r e t i r e d t o h i s own communi t y i n Vancouver S o u t h t o f i g h t f o r a p a r k down t h e r e . S. Schnee
The a p p r e c i a t i v e r e s p o n s e I had on my q u i l t s and h a n g i n g s , which were on d i s p l a y i n t h e t h i r d f l o o r g a l l e r y , made me f e e l good. Thank you s o much f o r your g e n u i n e and g e n e r ous comments. The compliments I
r e c e i v e d from C a r n e g i e p e o p l e have meant more t h a n any 1 ' v e r e c e i v e d e v e r , b e c a u s e t h e y came from p e o p l e I know t o be s i n c e r e and h o n e s t p e o p l e who d o n ' t b u l l s h i t . I was a s k e d by some i f I would s e l l them and I a m v e r y much f l a t t e r e d by t h e o f f e r s . Though I t o o am poor and am c e r t a i n l y tempted by t h e money, t h e s e a r e a l l I h a v e l e f t of t h e v e r y many p i e c e s which I have made. I f I s e l l them I no l o n g e r have them t o s h a r e w i t h p e o p l e from t i m e t o time. I f I keep them I have something o f myself t h a t I c a n g i v e a s was my i n t e n t i o n i n p u t t i n g them i n t h e C a r n e g i e G a l l e r y . Had I world enough and t i m e I would l i k e n o t h i n g b e t t e r t h a n t o make one and g i v e i t t o anyone who wanted i t . I would a l s o l i k e t o u r g e anyone a t C a r n e g i e who makes a n y t h i n g t h e y would l i k e t o s h a r e w i t h o r show t o o t h e r s t o have a d i s p l a y i n t h e third floor gallery. There a r e s o many who c r e a t e h e r e i n t h e downtown e a s t s i d e t h a t i t seems a shame t o i m p o r t works from o u t s i d e t h e a r e a . I f you have o n l y one o r two t h i n g s t h e n you c o u l d have a group show w i t h o t h e r s who a l s o do n o t h a v e enough work t o make a whole show. There c o u l d be mixed media d i s p l a y s of any and a l l k i n d s of works. There a r e few t h i n g s more u p l i f t i n g and i n s p i r i n g t h a n t o h a v e something y o u ' v e c r e a t e d s e e n and a p p r e c i a t e d by o t h e r s . E s p e c i a l l y p e o p l e whose o p i n i o n s you v a l u e and r e s p e c t . I was a t a c r e a t i v e ebb and f e l t v u l n e r a b l e and t e n t a t i v e a b o u t showing my work. But t o s e e i t up t h e r e and t o have p e o p l e r e s p o n d t o i t h a s h e l p e d me g r e a t l y . I would e n c o u r age o t h e r s t o r e a p t h i s b e n e f i t . Thank you a g a i n . Cuba Dyer
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Ministry of Social Services & Housing
Ministry of Social Services 6 Housing
Dear
Dear
7/9/88
Please be advised that due to a change in the employable classification policy to take effect Nov.1,'88, your Income Assistance amount will be reduced. Unless you are a single parent your medical coverage will also be cancelled. If you are unemployable for medical reasons and want to retain your unemployable status and/or your medical coverage, you must submit medical documentation (showing) the following: 1. The medical condition that precludes seeking and/or keeping employment. 2. The expected duration of the medical condition. 3. If the condition is ongoing or permanent, what remedial medical treatment is available that would enable you to seek and maintain employment. Please attach any documentation you are submitting to this letter and return to your Financial Worker by September 21, 1988.
8/9/88
Your income assistance file indicates that you have been classified as an unemployable person, which has allowed you to receive a higher rate of income assistance. This is to advise you that in order for you to remain eligible for this higher rate, we must receive confirmation from a physician outlining your medical problem and its duration. In addition, the information received from your physician must include information that the medical problem keeps you from seeking or maintaining employment, and, that medical treatment which would improve your ability to seek or maintain employment is not available. To remain eligible for the unemployable rate of assistance, you must submit the medical confirmation to your financial assistance worker, no later than September 20th, 1988. Yours truly, Financial Assistance Worker
Yours truly, FINANCIAL WORKER Dear Ministry of Social Services and Housing: Having received your application for continued functioning we firstly, before aceeding, must determine a few fundamental if purely formal (please be assured) facts pertaining to the existential validity of your claim for status within the framework of our reality. Please be so inclined, therefore, to define to our satisfaction the following term: DIGNITY Please be'advised that should your organization fail to comply with our request within a reasonable quiltzob of disbobulationary conflexity, we will be unable to further process your claim. Sincerely, THE LUMPEN-PROLETARIAT
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4 Dreamina
She'd had a couple of c h i l d r e n t o r a i s e , alone. & her w i t h h e r d i v o r c e & bad f e e l i n g s & n a u s e a & h a t e f o r h e r ex. & home, a l o n e , w i t h her children. A t night i n f r o n t t h e T.V. & them d o i n g t h e i r school-work & t h e n o f f t o bed. & h e r f e e l i n g l i k e s h e ' d l i k e t o know a man a g a i n .
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An i c e s t o r m blew i n t o T h i s Texas c i t y I had used up a l l my t i m e In the hostel. I d i d n ' t have a dime So t h e y s a i d I c o u l d S t a y one more time. I n t h e morning I hopped a f r e i g h t On i t s way t o t h e sun.
t o t o u c h and t a l k and g o s s i p w i t h o v e r food What a way t o spend a t the kitchen table New Y e a r ' s i n a box c a r a f t e r t h e k i d s been gone, up t o bed. u l l of cold, A man's p r e s e e c e C.L. E c k e r t w i t h h e r a t n i g h t , l a t e a t n i g h t and e a r l y i n t o morn. Someone t o s l e e p w i t h , h e l p s h a r e t h e warmth o f h e r bed w i t h . C a r e s s h e r , k i s s & poke h e r . Touch, f o n d l e and s t r o k e t i l l both f e l l asleep.
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& s h e woke, a l o n e & time t o g e t t h e k i d s , up and o u t t o s c h o o l . & dreaming s h e went o f f t o work.
Death i s a l l around m e p a i n k n a s h e s my b r a i n blinding, pulsating Shoot t h e b o o t a t me So 1'11 know y o u r agony l e t ' s s h a r e t h e same j o k e and by t h e way pass t h e jug chug, t h e j u g
a liquid retreat met h i s manhood on t h e s t r e e t dreams l i e s h a t t e r e d . a l l h e knows i s d e f e a t d e f e e t d e f e e t kick out and smash a l l i n s i g h t m a i m and t h r o t t l e that's l i f e i n a bottle. Taum D.
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Chief S e a t t l e ' s r e p l y , i n 1852, t o t h e U.S. g o v e r n m e n t ' s i n q u i r y a b o u t buying trj.ba1 l a n d s f o r t h e a r r i v i n g settlers. "The P r e s i d e n t i n Washington s e n d s words t h a t h e w i s h e s t o buy o u r l a n d . But how c a n you buy t h e sky? The l a n d ? The i d e a i s s t r a n g e t o us. I f w e do n o t own t h e f r e s h n e s s o f t h e a i r and t h e s p a r k l e o f t h e w a t e r , how c a n you buy them? "Every p a r t o f t h i s e a r t h i s s a c r e d t o my p e o p l e . Every s h i n i n g p i n e n e e d l e , e v e r y sandy s h o r e , e v e r y m i s t i n t h e d a r k woods, e v e r y meadow, e v e r y humming i n s e c t . A l l a r e holy i n t h e memory and e x p e r i e n c e of my people. "We know t h e s a p which c o u r s e s t h r o u g h t h e t r e e s as we know t h e blood t h a t c o u r s e s t h r o u g h o u r v e i n s . W e a r e p a r t o f t h e e a r t h and i t i s p a r t of us. The perfumed f l o w e r s a r e o u r sisters. The b e a r , t h e d e e r , t h e g r e a t e a g l e , t h e s e a r e o u r brothers. The r o c k y c r e s t s , t h e j u i c e s i n t h e meadow, t h e body h e a t o f t h e pony, and man, a l l b e l o n g t o t h e same family II The s h i n i n g w a t e r t h a t moves i n t h e s t r e a m s and r i v e r s i s n o t j u s t w a t e r , b u t t h e blood of o u r a n c e s t o r s . I f we s e l l you o u r l a n d , you must remember i t is sacred. Each g h o s t l y r e f l e c t i o n i n t h e c l e a r waters of t h e l a k e s t e l l s o f e v e n t s and memories i n t h e l i f e o f my p e o p l e . The w a t e r ' s murmur i s t h e v o i c e o f my f a t h e r ' s father. "The r i v e r s a r e o u r b r o t h e r s . They quench o u r t h i r s t . They c a r r y o u r c a n o e s and f e e d o u r c h i l d r e n . So you must g i v e t o t h e r i v e r s t h e k i n d n e s s you would g i v e any b r o t h e r .
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I f we s e l l you o u r l a n d , remember t h a t the a i r is precious t o us, that the air shares its s p i r i t with a l l the l i f e it supports. The wind t h a t gave o u r g r a n d f a t h e r h i s f i r s t b r e a t h a l s o r e c e i v e s h i s l a s t s i g h . The wind a l s o g i v e s o u r c h i l d r e n t h e s p i r i t of l i f e . So i f we s e l l you o u r l a n d , you must keep i t a p a r t and s a c r e d , a s a p l a c e where a man can go t o t a s t e t h e wind t h a t i s sweetened by t h e meadow f l o w e r s . " W i l l you t e a c h y o u r c h i l d r e n what we h a v e t a u g h t o u r c h i l d r e n ? That t h e e a r t h i s o u r m o t h e r ? What b e f a l l s t h e e a r t h b e f a l l s a l l t h e s o n s of t h e earth. " T h i s we know: t h e e a r t h d o e s n o t b e l o n g t o man, man b e l o n g s t o t h e e a r t h . A l l t h i n g s a r e connected l i k e t h e blood t h a t u n i t e s u s a l l . Man d i d n o t weave t h e web o f l i f e , h e i s m e r e l y a s t r a n d i n i t . Whate v e r h e d o e s t o t h e web, he d o e s t o himself. "One t h i n g we know: o u r god i s a l s o y o u r god. The e a r t h i s p r e c i o u s and t o harm t h e e a r t h i s t o heap contempt on i t s c r e a t o r . "Your d e s t i n y i s a m y s t e r y t o u s . What w i l l happen when t h e b u f f a l o a r e a l l s l a u g h t e r e d ? The w i l d horses. tamed? What w i l l happen when t h e s e c r e t c o r n e r s of t h e f o r e s t a r e heavy w i t h t h e s c e n t o f many men and t h e view o f t h e r i p e h i l l s i s b l o t t e d by t a l k i n g w i r e s ? Where w i l l t h e t h i c k e t be? Gone! Where w i l l t h e e a g l e be? Gone! And what i s i t t o s a y goodbye t o t h e s w i f t pony and t h e h u n t ? The end of l i v i n g and t h e beginning of s u r v i v a l . "When t h e l a s t Red Man h a s v a n i s h e d w i t h h i s w i l d e r n e s s and h i s memory i s o n l y t h e shadow of a c l o u d moving
6 across the p r a i r i e , w i l l these shores and f o r e s t s s t i l l be h e r e ? W i l l t h e r e be any of t h e s p i r i t of my p e o p l e left? It We l o v e t h i s e a r t h a s a newborn l o v e s i t s m o t h e r ' s h e a r t b e a t . So, i f we s e l l you o u r l a n d , l o v e i t as we have l o v e d i t . Care f o r i t a s we have c a r e d f o r i t . Hold i n your mind t h e memory of t h e l a n d as i t i s when you r e c e i v e i t . P r e s e r v e t h e l a n d f o r a l l c h i l d r e n and l o v e i t , as God loves us all. ' "As w e a r e p a r t o f t h e l a n d , you t o o a r e p a r t of t h e land. This e a r t h is precious t o us. It i s a l s o p r e c i o u s t o you. One t h i n g w e know: there is o n l y one God. No man, b e h e Red Man o r White Man, c a n be a p a r t . We brothers a f t e r a l l . "
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(Reprinted i n Joseph campbell' s "The Power of ~ y t h , "w i t h B i l l
adult student fidgets while t h e r a i n ' s t r a n s p a r e n t flames bead a g a i n s t t h e window t h e c o l d sweat of f r u s t r a t i o n . The p e n c i l i s h e r s t a k e ; t i e d , she waits f o r revelation. Rain c a s t s n o shadow, d e p a r t s on s i l e n c e , l e a v e s o n l y a fading footprint. The s h a p e s o f words are also a secret, a confused whispering dissolving the w i l l o f t h e woman h y p o n t i s e d by t h e d r i f t i n g , f a l l i n g t o n e s on t h e g l a s s . She t h i n k s , t h i s h o u r i s a g r e y bubb f l o a t i n g on a r a i n y summer where words s w i m by, moon-eyed and m e a n i n g l e s s , and comprehension is a frond d r i f t i n g t h r o u g h a drowned memory. Sunrise and m o o n r i s e i n t o a l l h e r tomorrows, and s h e w i l l s t i l l b e drowning i n a dream o f l a n g u a g e , c l u t c h i n g
J a n c i s M. Andrt
When w h i t e s e t t l e r s f i r s t a r r i v e d i n Newfoundland, t h e y found t h a t l a r g e i s l a n d e n t i r e l y o c c u p i e d by a n a t i v e p e o p l e known as Beothuks (bee-0th'-eks). The Beothuks were f a r m e r s and f i s h e r m e n , a v e r y p e a c e f u l p e o p l e . So peace-loving i n f a c t , t h a t they d i d n o t know how t o f i g h t ; t h e i d e a o f human b e i n g s k i l l i n g o t h e r human b e i n g s was c o m p l e t e l y beyond t h e i r comprehension. Numbering i n t h e t h o u s a n d s , t h e Beothuks o c c u p i e d t h e b e s t f a r m i n g a r e a s o f t h a t r o c k y l a n d and t h e i r f i s h i n g v i l l a g e s were l o c a t e d i n t h e most f a v o u r a b l e c o a s t l i n e sites. White s e t t l e r s coming a s h o r e wanted t h a t f a r m l a n d and t h o s e v i l l a g e s i t e s and s o t h e y s e t o u t t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h e Beothuks, That g e n o c i d a l program t o o k y e a r s t o c o m p l e t e and t h e s e t t l e r s ' methods were u n p a r a l l e l e d i n t h e i r b r u t a l i t y . Coming upon a p e a c e f u l Beothuk v i l l a g e i n w i n t e r , bands o f armed s e t t l e r s o f t e n f o r c e d men, women and c h i l d r e n t o s t r i p naked t h e n d r o v e them a t g u n p o i n t o n t o t h e s e a i c e , t h e r e t o d i e o f e x p o s u r e . Captu r i n g i n d i v i d u a l n a t i v e s , they took p l e a s u r e i n b u r n i n g them o v e r s l o w fires. Becoming i m p a t i e n t , t h e w h i t e s b r o u g h t i n Mic-Mac n a t i v e s from Nova S c o t i a t o a s s i s t them i n h u n t i n g The down t h e l a s t of t h e Beothuks. d e s c e n d a n t s o f t h o s e Mic-Macs a r e
t h e o n l y " I n d i a n s " t o be found I n Newfoundland t o d a y . The o n l y Beothuk t o s u r v i v e t h e w h i t e man's s l a u g h t e r was a young g i r l who was s e n t t o England. She s p e n t h e r l i f e a s a "nanny", l o o k i n g a f t e r t h e c h i l d r e n of wealthy B r i t i s h f a m i l i e s u n t i l s h e d i e d of o l d age. Today t h e r e a r e w h i t e s who b e l i e v e t h a t Canada's n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n s have been w e l l and d e c e n t l y t r e a t e d and t h e n a t i v e s s h o u l d t h e r e f o r e be c o n t e n t w i t h w h a t e v e r crumbs w h i t e s o c i e t y i s p r e p a r e d t o o f f e r them. T h i s a t t i t u d e s t e m s from i g n o r a n c e ; a c a r e f u l l y c u l t i v a t e d ignorance f o s t e r e d by t h o s e i n power a s t h e y saw t o i t t h a t t h e w h i t e man's record of genocidal savagery i n Canada w a s , t o t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t p o s s i b l e , k e p t from p u b l i c knowledge. These t h i n g s a r e n o t t a u g h t i n Canadian s c h o o l s and t h e y a r e especi a l l y not taught i n n a t i v e schools, l e s t n a t i v e p u p i l s grow up and s a y , "Look h e r e ; a f t e r what you d i d t o o u r p e o p l e , YOU OWE US." J a p a n e s e Canadians who were robbed and d i s p l a c e d a r e r i g h t f u l l y loud i n t h e i r demands f o r compensation and t h e i r v o i c e s a r e h e a r d . But N a t i v e p e o p l e s , who were n o t o n l y robbed and d i s p l a c e d b u t were a l s o s u b j e c t t o murderous g e n o c i d e r i g h t i n t o t h i s c e n t u r y , a r e d e a l t w i t h grudgi n g l y and t h e i r c l a i m s a r e r e s i s t e d e v e r y s t e p o f t h e way. Much of t h i s
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8 r e s i s t a n c e i s t h e r e s u l t o i wides p r e a d i g n o r a n c e , among w h i t e s and i+ N a t i v e s a l i k e , of t h e t r u e g e n o c i d a l record. This i s t h e t h i r d and f i n a l a r t i c l e i n t h i s series.
VANCOUVER SOCIETY ON IMMIGRANT WOMEN
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you want t o work? What a r e good a t ? R e g i s t e r your s k i l l and h o u r l y r a t e w i t h o u t computerized JOB SKILLS DIRECTORY. 731-9108 t e r 4 pm)
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members of t h e Big Buck P a r t y . A n o t e i n a b o t t l e was s n a t c h e d by a wino hoping f o r a d r i n k and h i s whereabouts remains unknown.
Culture on trade table, study finds By JAMIE PORTMAN Soulham News OTTAWA - Months before Canada finally agreed to place the recording industry on the free-trade bargaining table, a secret govern; ment-commissioned study concluded such a move would have seri: . ous consequences for the country's cultural life, Southam News has' learned. Despite these advance warnings
from Toronto economic consultants Arthur Donner and Norman Mogil, Canadian free trade negotiators .yielded to U.S. demands last autumn that Canada's 13.5-per-centtariff on imported records be phased out over the next 10 years. The report, submitted to the department of communications in May 1987, forecast serious repercussions not only for Canadian branches of foreign-owned multinational companies but also for Canadian-owned firms and Canadian performing artists whose interests Ottawa had pledged to safeguard during the free trade talks. During-the past 16 months, the government has repeatedly refused to make the report public, even resisting requests for copies under the Access To Information Act. However, a copy was recent13 obtained by Sheila Pinestone.
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Liberal MP for Mount Royal, ind turned over to Southarn News. ! The report will provide further ammunition for cultural nationalists with its potential scenario of an open-border situation that could turn Canada into little more than another [J.S. market for recordings, sabotage thousands of Canadian jobs and damage Canadian performing artists. It notes that over the past two decades the Canadian recording to the point ' $300 million reflect "a well-established multinational presence as well as a highly diverse Canadian-owned segmcnt of the industry." But the study also stresses the crrr. cia1 degree of interdependence existing among the 12 big multinationals and their much smaller Canadian counterparts. "In large part,,l;he existence of Canadian-owned companies is tied closely td the presence of multinationals, and the fate of the multina, tional subsidiaries in a free-trade regime will have a significant bearing on the Canadian segment of the industry." The consultants suggest that under free trade. the recording industry would sufler in a number of crucial areas - including Canadianbased production and manufacture of tapes and discs, and also dislribution and marketing.
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September 2 3 r d , 1988.
Mr. Max Yalden Chief Commissioner, Canadian Ilunian R i g h t s ( . o n ~ r , ~ i s s i o n Room 400 - 90 S p a r k s S t r e e t Ottawa, O n t a r i o . KIA 1El Dear M r . Yalden: 1 ' a m w r i t i n g on b e h a l f of t h e BC C o a l i t i o n of tlrc 1 ) i s a b l c d (BCCD), t o e x p r e s s conc e r n a b o u t t h e p r o c e s s o f t a k i n g a c o m p l a i n t t o t h e Canadian lluman R i g h t s Cornm. I n September of 1987, t h e BCCD a s s i s t e d a p a s t member o f o u r Board of D i r x t o r s , J o a n N e i s t e r , i n l a y i n g a c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t t h e Vancouver P o r t C o r p o r a t i o n f o r d e n y i n g e q u a l a c c e s s t o a p u b l i c f a c i l i t y , namely t h e new P o r t s i d e P a r k i n Van. A s you a r e a w a r e , t h e P o r t C o r p o r a t i o n was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n o v e r p a s s , a t t h e f o o t of Nain S t r e e t , which r ~ a st o p r o v i d e p e d e s t r i a n a c c e s s t o t h e p a r k . However, t h e s t r u c t u r e i s t o o s t c e p f o r wheelchair u s e r s and o t h e r s with m o b i l i t y impairments t o n e g o t i a t e s a f e l y . Iflien Fls. M e i s t e r f i l e d h e r c o m p l a i n t on S e p t . 1 7 t h , 1987, s h e was t o l d t h a t t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n would t a k e from 6 t o 9 months t o c o m p l e t e . It i s now nmre t h a n a y e a r s i n c e t h e c o m p l a i n t was f i l e d and t h c i n v e s t i g a t i v e p h a s e h a s n o t y e t been completed. S u r e l y t h e Canadian p u b l i c s h o u l d b e a b l e t o e x p e c t more prompt a t t e n t i o n t o ttie s a f e - g u a r d i n g o f t h e i r b a s i c human r i g h t s . We would l i k e t o know t o what c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e l o n g d e l a y is d u e . W e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r o r i g i n a l l y a p p o i n t e d l e f t t h e Commission i n J u l y o f t h i s y e a r , b u t i t w a s n o t u n t i l Septcniber 1 2 t h t h a t a new i n v e s t i g a t o r began t o work on t h e c a s e . We g a t h e r a l s o , from h a v i n g met w i t h t h e newly a s s i g n e d i n v e s t i g a t o r t l i a t t h e c u r r e n t Commission p a n e l ' s p r i o r i t y is t o s e t t l e d i s p u t e s t h r o u g h a c o n c i l i a t i o n p r o c e s s , and t o a v o i d h a v i n g t h e c a s e go t o t r i b u n a l . We u n d e r s t a n d t h a t e v e n upon c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e c o n c i l i a t i o n p r o c e s s , a v i o l a t i o n o f human r i g h t s need n o t n e c e s s a r i l y be e i t h e r a d m i t t e d by ttie r e s p o n d e n t o r d e t e r m i n e d by t h e p a n e l . I t might b e n o t e d h e r e t h a t on August 1 9 t h P a t Carney announced t h a t t h e P o r t C o r p o r a t i o n and T r a n s p o r t Canada would c o n t r i b u t e monics t o a p e d e s t r i a n b r i d g e and a s h u t t l e b u s r e s p e c t i v e l y . We f e e l t h a t t h e announcement was o t a c i t acknowledgement o f t h e i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y of t h e blain S t r e e t o v e r p a s s . However, we f e e l t h a t i f a human r i g l i t s v i o l a t i o n h a s o c c u r r e d , i t s h o u l d be r e c o g n i z e d and c l e a r l y s t a t e d a s s u c h , w h e t h e r o r n o t a c o m p l a i n a n t t i r e s o f t h e p r o c e s s and " g i v e s i n " o r t h e r e s p o n d e n t is a b l e t o buy o r o t h e r w i s e rnanouevre t h e i r way t h r o u g h t o "successful1' conciliation. O t h e r w i s e , what example h a s been made, and where c a n c o r p o r a t e and p r i v a t e c i t i z e n s l o o k t o d e t e r m i n e j u s t what c o n s t i t u t e s a v i o l a t i o n o f human r i g h t s ? We would l i k e t o know, i n y o u r o p i n i o n o r e x p e r i e n c e : i f t h e o r i g i n a l t i m e e s t i m a t e was in,i:-curate (and what t h e a v e r a g e t i m e i n v o l v e d m i g h t be f o r c a s e s l i k e t h i s ) ; w h e t h e r t h e r e i s any r e a s o n why t h i s c a s e might be c o n s i d e r e d s p e c i a l and t h e r e f o r e t a k e l o n g e r t o r e s o l v e ; and * i f you a g r e e w i t h t h e Commission's d i r e c t i o n i n c o n c e n t r a t i n g t h e i r e f f o r t s on c o n c i l i a t i o n , and t h e r a t i o n a l e b e h i n d t h i s .
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A s you might e x p e c t , we a r e v e r y a n x i o u s t o have t h i s c a s e , and t h e whole problem of a c c e s s t o P o r t s i d e P a r k , r e s o l v e d a s soon a s p o s s i b l e . Any i n s i g h t o r a s s i s t a n c e you c a n o f f e r i n t h i s r e g a r d would b e v e r y much a p p r e c i a t e d .
Sincerely,
Geoff FlcFlurchy, BCCD Communications O f f i c e r .
AN ADVOCATE OF CHANGE FOR NATIVE
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On June 7, 1986, Arthur Solomon was awarded the degree of Doctorem legum ad honorem by Laurentian University. Mr. Solomon is an Ojibway elder from the Georgian Bay-French River area of Ontario. Mr. Solomon was honored in this way for his tireless and selfless dedication to the cause of advancing the legal and human rights of Native Canadians incarcerated in Canada's prisons. The followingis an excerpt from Arthur Solomon's Citation, given by Dr. Anthony Hall: I1 For many years now, Art has been working with those individuals who have been paying the price for breaking the country's laws. He has gone to the prisons with love and humility but also, I think I can say, with an angry conviction that things must change. And due to his labours, in a significant way, they have. Art has taken into the prisons many of the gifts that are intimately connected to the most ancientlyrooted spiritual observances of this land - tobacco, sweet grass, the eagle feather, the pipe, the sweat lodge. In ceremonies inside, he has put these things to their assigned tasks. And because of this many Native inmates - people who have often been deprived of the opportunity to know much of the beauty and meaning that is rooted to their legitimate cultural inheritance they found new life. The ones who
by means of such self-discovery have broken out of vicious cycles of repeated incarceration - drug abuse alcohol abuse - SELF abuse - they will know best of what I am speaking. Wherever Art moves - and he moves very frequently over great distances and often under spartan travel conditions - he has around him many beloved friends who are working to achieve common objectives. He always favours such intimate activism over the grand, attention-grabbing gesture. for it is by actions more than by mere words that Arthur Solomon kindles the finer spirit in the many lives his radiance has brightened."
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This is but a brief glance at the personality of a man who possessed an angry conviction that things had to change. He is exemplary because he has accomplished his goals by stating the truth; but in such a way as to not offend those who were in a position to implement such change. There was no need to blow his horn, or to dwell on the morbid past of Indian-white relations. Simply stated, he had E way of making people listen to, and accept, the TRUTH. Submitted by ROBERT KIYOSHK (In the next issue, Mr. Solomon's words will be presented.)
What w i l d d e s i r e s , What r e s t l e s s t o r m e n t s s e i z e , The h a p l e s s man, Who f e e l s t h e book-disease! John F e r r i a r (physician) 1761-1815
H i ! My name i s Randy DeVrois and I ' m a bookaholic. I ' m w r i t i n g t o t e l l you a l l about Bookaholics Anonymous. Now, w a i t a minute. I know what you a r e t h i n k i n g . You t h i n k you j o i n BookAnon t o h e l p r i d y o u r s e l f of your a d d i c t i o n , b u t t h a t j u s t i s n ' t so. Bookaholics Anonymous i s t h e o n l y t h e r a p y group t h a t a c t u a l l y encourages your l i t e r a r y a d d i c t i o n . The Downtown E a s t s i d e c h a p t e r of BookAnon meets a t t h e Carnegie L i b r a r y a t 401 Main S t r e e t because i t i s open t h e most h o u r s of any l i b r a r y i n t h e c i t y . Carnegie i s open t e n h o u r s a day (10 a m - 10 pm), s e v e n d a y s a week, e v e r y day of t h e y e a r . There a r e 20,000 books i n t h e Carnegie c o l l e c t i o n , and of t h e s e , a n a v e r a g e of 12,000 a r e borrowed e v e r y month. There a r e e i g h t s t a f f ( 3 f u l l - t i m e and 5 p a r t - t i m e ) and t h r e e v o l u n t e e r s who a r e more t h a n w i l l i n g t o h e l p you s a t i s f y your b i b l i o p h i l i s t i c c r a v i n g s . I f you d o n ' t know what t h a t word means
a s k f o r a d i c t i o n a r y . There a r e seve r a l e d i t i o n s a l o n g w i t h t h e s e t s of e n c y c l o p e d i a s , almanacs and o t h e r r e f erence material. Are you i n t o Zane Grey o r Louis Lamour? I f s o , you a r e n o t a l o n e , a s t h e w e s t e r n n o v e l s a r e t h e most popu l a r books i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n , followed by g e n e r a l f i c t i o n . Do you l i k e Agatha C h r i s t i e ' s who-dun-its? Well, Carnegie h a s a l a r g e mystery s e c t i o n j u s t f o r you. My o n l y c o m p l a i n t : Where a r e t h e Raymond Chandlers? S c i e n c e F i c t i o n ? They've g o t 'em. P o e t r y ? Yup! F e e l i n g p h i l o s o p h i c a l ? Are you a h e a l t h - n u t ? Maybe, you've g o t a green-'thumb. A r e you i n t o Native A r t o r Photography? You w i l l f i n d what y o u ' r e l o o k i n g f o r . The f o r e i g n language c o l l e c t i o n includes Japanese t i t l e s a s w e l l a s a growing French s e l e c t i o n . Carnegie a l s o h a s t h e l a r g e s t Chinese c o l l e c tion i n the city. There i s a l a r g e p r i n t c o l l e c t i o n t h a t i s shared with t h e other libraries and t h e s e l e c t i o n changes a b o u t e v e r y t h r e e months. Carnegie i s a l s o proud of i t ' s t i t l e s by a u t h o r s from t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e . These i n c l u d e H a s t i n g s And Main, a c o l l e c t i o n of i n t e r v i e w s w i t h area r e s i d e n t s . S h e i l a B a x t e r ' s book No Way To Live d e a l s w i t h women on w e l f a r e and i t i s a v e r y p o p u l a r t i t l e a t t h e p r e s e n t . The Feathered Pen - i s a s e l e c t i o n of s h o r t w r i t i n ~ S by t h e Carnegie C e n t r e E n g l i s h Writing Class. A d d i t i o n s t o t h e Carnegie L i b r a r y w i l l i n c l u d e Adult B a s i c Education m a t e r i a l which w i l l s t a r t coming i n , i n the near future, a s well a s a Books On Tape c o l l e c t i o n t h a t i s i n t h e works. So a s you can s e e , Carnegie i s t h e p l a c e t o be i f y o u ' r e a bookaholic l i k e me. And who knows, we might even f i n d o u r s e l v e s r e a c h i n g f o r t h e same book. HAPPY READING! -
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MANAGER OF INFORMATION
WESTERN CANADA WILDERNESS COMMITTEE
A Brief ~ i s t 6 r ~ The Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC) was formed in the summer of 1980 by Richard Kreiger and Paul George who had just returned from an extended trip to the South Moresby area of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Both felt that the existing wilderness conservation groups were not making strides in gathering sufficient support for preservation of wilderness areas, especially South Moresby. The committee's first project was publishing the Western Canada Endangered Wilderness Calendar. There was no other Canadian calendar of this type. The closest thing to it, the Sierra Club Calendars, almost exclusively featured photos of places in the U.S. that were already protected. Furthermore, very little of the profits of the sale of the Sierra Club Calendars in Canada filtered back to the Club's Canadian affiliate. WCWC believed that Canada could support its own wilderness publications and the profits should remain here to further much-needed Canadian conservation efforts. On a shoe string budget, the Committee printed 10,000 calendars in late fall of 1980 (1981 calendars) and with help of 12 different environmental organizations that had "spon- 1
sored" the areas featured in the calendar (the plea for donations and support on the tear-off at the end of the month was for them) the Committee was able to make a modest profit of a few hundred dollars. It must be noteu that the Sierra Club of Western Canada helped greatly with the distribution of the first calendar. From the start, the Directors of WCWC believed that the reason that there was little progress yoward wilderness preservation was because the vast majority of Canadians did not know the names of the proposed wilderness areas, let alone appreciate the important unique features that made them worth preservation. The Wilderness Committee felt that it must take the lead by conducting the needed research on wilderness areas - and most importantly, putting what was already known about the most threatened areas into the consciousness of the average Canadian citizen. Other wilderness conservation groups, such as the Wilderness Society of Australia, were using the highest quality colour posters and prints in their campaigns to save their wilderness. Nature provides the beauty and inspiration. We simply had to capture it in our educational publications. Thus began a series of calendars, posters, brochures, postcards, newspapers and, in the last two years, books and slideltape presentations, each one technically better than the last While striving for excellence in publishing, the Wilderness Committee did not count on government to survive. The Directors felt that the overwhelming reliance on such funding by many other environmental organizations was one of the root reasons why they remained weak. The Committee has only accepted a few small grants from Environment Canada for specific project
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the latest being $2,000 to help produce a paper about grizzly bear conservation in 1987. The Wilderness Committee has always integrated its appeals for charitable support with the educational material distributed and has never hired professional fund raisers or been sponsors of bingos or casinos. In 1982, like many new organizations, we over-expanded and went $15,000 into debt. We had an office in Victoria, a paid executive director, and a portable computer. We published 6,000 copies of a small 1983 date-sketch book as well as our 1983 calendar. The date-sketch book was not a financial winner, partly due to the fact that it came out much too late. Through cutting expenses, closing our office, reverting to a volunteer staff, and negotiating credit from our sympathetic printer, WCWC began to get back on its feet. The confrontations over Meares Island in 1985 and Lye11 Island in 1986 put wilderness preservation on the front page of newspapers across the country and public support for the Committee mushroomed. By the end of 1986, half the debt was repaid and the Committee was in good financial shape again. The Wilderness Committee produced its first book, Meares Island Protecting a Natural Paradise, in a nine-week blitz of activity during the long hot summer of 1985. It was an immediate success and is currently in its second printing. The Committee's next book, Hiking Guide to the Big Trees of Southwestern British Columbia, by Randy Stoltmann, published in 1987. has had verv ,y :positive book reviews and is selling 1s well. The Committee plans to pub- 1 lish two new books every year. Ken Lay, a young outdoor activist, began working full time for the Committee in 1986. The Committee
took a new turn when Ken and a group of volunteers, under the auspices of the Lytton and Mt. Currie Indian Bands, helped clear the Heritage Trail through the Stein Valley wilderness watershed. His enthusiasm and hard work account for much of the WCWC'S growing success. The Committee has always supported Native Rights and Aboriginal Title. We feel that without social justice the environment will continue to be treated harshly. In the fall of 1987 the Committee began a survey of culturally trees in the Stein Valley; The report was published in Mar. '88. Gradually the Committee has devoted more energy and resources to basic research. In 1986 it contracted with Marion Parker, a world-reknowned dendrochronologist, to do a preliminary study of the age of the trees in the virgin forests on the Queen Charlotte Islands. He found yellow cedars nearly 1,300 years old. The mainstay of the publications of the Committee are tabloid-sized newspapers focusing on single wilderness issues. We have published 15 of these, averaging 60,000 each run, during the last four years. The more the Committee does, the more support it gets, and the more the cause of wilderness preservation is advanced. In 1986 the Committee recognized that a large membership is essential to be influential. Since that time WCWC has been on a constantly active campaign to increase membership. It has paid off - the membership has doubled in the last year and now stands at more than 1,600. In the spring of 1987 the Committee successfully challenged a government permit to capture 10 peregrine falcon chicks from nests on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The provincial government cancelled the permit rather than face us in court.
I n March 1988 we s u c c e s s f u l l y c h a l l enged a p e r m i t t o h u n t w o l v e s by h e l i c o p t e r i n t h e Muskwa V a l l e y . The Supreme Court o f B . C . r u l e d t h a t t h e p e r m i t w a s i l l e g a l and g a v e o u r Society s t a n d i n g i n c o u r t , a precedent t h a t w i l l help a l l public i n t e r e s g r o u p s . The F r i e n d s of t h e Wolf i n California deserve s p e c i a l thanks f o p a y i n g t h e c o u r t c o s t s , which w e r e substantial. Most o f t h e work of t h e WCWC i s done by v o l u n t e e r s . I t i s t h e Conuni t t e e ' s good f o r t u n e t o c o n t i n u a l l y a t t r a c t many e x c e l l e n t v o l u n t e e r s t o h a n d l e t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e and t o h e l p on t h e e d u c a t i o n a l campaigns. and more s u c c e s s f u l a s a n o r g a n i z a tion, our wilderness preservation g o a l s f o r Western Canada s t i l l h a v e n o t been r e a c h e d . For t h e Committee " t h e f i g h t h a s j u s t begun." We a r e c o n t i n u a l l y growing and d o i n g more t o make s u r e t h a t t h e w i l d e r n e s s which i s needed t o p r o t e c t o u r n a t u r a l h e r i t a g e is preserved. Twenty y e a r s from now we w o n ' t have a c h o i c e . Our w i l d e r n e s s w i l l e i t h e r be f o r m a l l y p r o t e c t e d o r i t w i l l have been i n d u s t r i a l l y d e v e l o p e d and gone f o r e v e r .
h e need t o p r o t e c t L i t t l e but not b e l i t t l e d .
Hey l i t t l e man; L i s t e n f o r l i f e h a s n o t p a s s e d you by. On t h e c o n t r a r y i t h a s b l e s s e d you. I n your s m a l l n e s s t h e r e i s a greatness, L e f t unequaled by many. Of t h o s e who d e n i e d You o v e r t h e Years b e c a u s e of your s i z e ; How many have y e t t o a c h i e v e y o u r d e e d s ? I remember how a l o n e you f e l t i n t h e d a y s of your y o u t h . On t h e Hockey team you r o d e t h e bench, and when you a s k why t h e c o a c h s a i d ,
O r when t h e g i r l s l a u g h e d a t you when asking them t o go on a date. I f e l t your p a i n Yes l i f e h a s been c r u e l ; b u t n o t u n f a i r , If you l o o k a t y o u r s e l f now, you have i n t e l l i g e n c e w i t h a g r e a t s e n s e of humor. meneveryou s e t a g o a l f o r y o u r s e l f ,
the d e s i r e is often m e t with success Then you made them l a u g h ! 'Now you have t h e i r e n v y . . . Hey l i t t l e man you a r e b l e s s e d ! You a r e n o t judged by your s i z e anymore Pl lime
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Walking t h r o u g h t h e s e st^, Into a jail f u l l of hate.
W.. e need o u r g r e e n s p a c e s -
l e t t h e g a r d e n s grow With w a t e r i n g and weeding i t ' s a tough row t o hoe.
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Hearing t h e b a r s slam s h u t Behind me. Cold g r a y w a l l s s u r r o u n d me They c a n ' t keep my mind locked d o m ! A t n i g h t , when t h e l i g h t s go o u t ,
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dealth is wealth take stock i n it Dance and keep t r i m i t ' s groak t o f e e l f i t -
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My h e a r t and s o u l dance about.
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S t r e t c h t h o s e l i m b s. ,
C l o s i n g my e y e s , I s e e a new s u n r i s e . The sun l o v i n g t h e mountains, Clouds...playing w i t h t h e s t a r s , Rain s a y i n g "Hi" t o t h e t r e e s , T i d e s r u s h i n g i n t o c a r e s s t h e sand. P r e t t y g i r l s walking i n p a i r s , C h i l d r e n p l a y i n g w i t h no c a r e s , Families t o g e t h e r i n t h e park, Lovers l o v i n g , Friends laughing...... A l l t o o soon, I awake.., And s e e t h e s e c o l d g r a y w a l l s . I ' l l t r y t o make i t through a n o t h e r da: So I can go t o s l e e p a g a i n And dream of a world w i t h o u t Walls J u s t an i n f i n i t y of s t a r s .
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b u t Mother N a t u r e ' s wana. SO why n o t g r a b hold o.f * -i-t P
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This month I have t o s t a r t my column by b e i n g t h e b e a r e r of bad t i d i n g s . A s of October 7 t h , t h e r e won't be any more F r i d a y n i g h t f i l m s i n t h e Carnegie T h e a t r e a s t h e f u n d i n g f o r i t h a s run o u t . End o f Reel. F i n i s . NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS.
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Carnegie Centre i s s t a r t i n g up a Video Club t h a t w i l l p r e s e n t f e a t u r e movies e v e r y F r i d a y and Saturday evening. T h i s program w i l l s t a r t on October 7 t h . Membership i s f r e e , a l l you have t o do i s show up. The p l a n i s t o have t h e members themselves choose t h e movies t h e y would l i k e t o s e e . So i f you want t o become involved be s u r e t o d r o p down. T h i s month's movies w i l l be:
............ Roman P o l a n s k i ' s FRANTIC ..........LA BAMBA ...........M e 1 Brooks' SPACEBALLS .........SLAM DANCE ...........RIVER'S EDGE .........BEVERLY HILLS COP I1 ........... THE LOST BOYS .........t h e o r i g i n a l HALLOWEEN
F r i d a y October 7 t h S a t u r d a y October 8 t h F r i d a y October 1 4 t h Saturday October 1 5 t h F r i d a y October 2 1 s t S a t u r d a y October 22nd F r i d a y October 2 8 t h S a t u r d a y October 2 9 t h
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For more i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g meeting p l a c e and t i m e s , as w e l l as f u l l movie r e v i e w s , watch f o r THE UNKNOWN CRITIC'S VIDEO CLUB PROGRAM which w i l l be a v a i l a b l e a t t h e f r o n t d e s k a t Carnegie Centre s t a r t i n g October 4 t h .
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF H U M A N RELATIONS SPEAK TO PEOPLE - t h e r e i s n o t h i n g s o n i c e a s a c h e e r f u l word of h e l l o . SMILE AT PEOPLE - i t t a k e s 72 muscles t o frown, o n l y 1 4 t o s m i l e . CALL PEOPLE - t h e s w e e t e s t music t o anyone's e a r s i s t h e i r own name. BE FRIENDLY and h e l p f u l ; i f you would have f r i e n d s , be a f r i e n d . BE CORDIAL - speak and a c t a s i f e v e r y t h i n g you do i s a p l e a s u r e . BE GENUINELY i n t e r e s t e d i n p e o p l e ; you can l i k e o t h e r s i f you t r y . BE GENEROUS w i t h p r a i s e - c a u t i o u s w i t h c r i t i c i s m . BE CONSIDERATE w i t h t h e f e e l i n g s of o t h e r s - t h e r e a r e u s u a l l y t h r e e s i d e s t o a c o n t r o v e r s y : y o u r s , t h e i r ' s , and t h e r i g h t s i d e . BE ALERT t o g i v e s e r v i c e ; i t ' s what we do f o r o t h e r s t h a t c o u n t s most. ADD TO THIS a good s e n s e of humour, a b i g d o s e of p a t i e n c e and a dash of h u m i l i t y , and you w i l l be rewarded many-fold.
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Decisions a f f e c t the
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made up a t City Hall Downtown Eastside and
will make a big difference on issues like housing, parks, community c e n t r e programs and traffic. COPE needs your help t o g e t more o e o ~ l eon c i t y council who will fight t h e ownt town Eastside. We need phoners, l e a f l e t t e r s and others right now! The campaign is in full swing a t t h e new COPE o f f i c e , Commercial Drive a t 7th Avenue. Drop by o r give US a call:
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Government Health
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NEED HELP ? D E R A c a n h e l p y o u with:
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any w e l f a r e p r o b l e m s UIC problems getting legal assistance unsafe living conditions in hotels or apartments disputes with landlords income tax \
D E R A is l o c a t e d at 9 East H a s t i n g s o r p h o n e 682-0931.
D E R A H A S B E E N S E R V I N G T H E DOWNTOWN E A S T S I D E FOR 1 5 YEARS
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I Be ~ e x t ? = ~ ~ m - - -
The t u r m o i l The s e e t h i n g The u n r e s t i s s w e a t i n g t h e comrnuni W i l l I be n e x t ? My cheque t o b e c u t ? W i l l I g e t a l e t t e r today, s a y i n g a new l a w i s p a s s e d Making my n e e d s n o n - e l i g i b l e Taking my r e n t away Leaving me no o p t i o n No money t o f e e d my c h i l d Each new d a y b r i n g s h o r r o r s of Government b a s h i n g t h e poor But i t w i l l b e s t o p p e d , W e j u s t won't t a k e i t NO MORE. S. B a x t e r
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ENGLISH BAY On t h e morning o f September Twenty-second, n i n e - t e e n s i x t y - e i g h t , I s a t on t h e beach a t E n g l i s h Bay.
A l l t h e l o v e r s o f t h e Flower Had gone homeward h o u r s b e f o r e , Alone, I saw a mermaid on E n g l i s h Bay, I heard her say: 11
I hope you know what I am. I hope t h a t you know t h a t I w i l l l o v e you. I hope you know t h a t somewhere i n y o u r mind I ' l l l i v e i n s i d e you."
Reminiscing o f t h a t morning, Lying i n bed l a t e l a s t n i g h t , I r e l i v e d t h o s e h o u r s by E n g l i s h Bay. I n t h e w a t e r s of my s t r a i g h t mind, D r i f t i n g slowly o u t o t s e a , I saw h e r golden f i n l o v i n g t h e waves. I'
I hope you know what I am. I hope you know t h a t I w i l l l o v e you. I hope you know t h a t somewhere i n y o u r mind 1'11 l i v e i n s i d e you.
Garry Gust
S t a n d i n g i n t h e shadows d a r k and c o l d b u r n i n g up on a l c o h o l and 20 h o u r s o f awakeness
i t ' s a damn l o n g walk from t h e p e a c e f u l r i v e r - l a z y d a y s - calm d a y s it w a s a l r i g h t then t o sit g e n t l y w i t h o u t any s t r e s s
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Now, s t a n d i n g i n t h e shadows cop p u l l s by, and I ' m t h i n k i n g 'is t h i s t h e thousandth s p o t check' b u t I ' m c l e a r now, h e l l , maybe f o r e v e r
...
someone s a i d you g e t worse, s o w i s e l i v i n g on t h e r a z o r , b u t t h e s t r e e t f o l k s know you d o n ' t g e t s m a r t , you j u s t g e t o l d you d o n ' t g e t l i f e , you j u s t g e t o l d s o you s l i p i n t o t h e l i f e you're going t o l i v e i n d a n g l e d and t o r n . and wonder from t h e moment of o f your b i r t h who y o u ' l l become ..who y o u ' l l be and n e v e r know n e v e r know
.. .
..
Dave McConnell
PRISONER OF CONSCIOUSNESS
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1
From whence t h e i n s p i r a t i o n came t o w r i t e t h i s I c a n n o t s a y . I 'do know t h e r e i s no m o r a l i n t e n d e d . Perhaps t h i s i s o n l y my i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e a b s u r d i t y of i t a l l - t h u s I proceed.
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Did you h e a r a b o u t t h e e c c e n t r i c a r t i s t who d e d i c a t e d h i s a r t i s t i c genius t o t h e v i s u a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of p o s t e r i o r s . . . a l l k i n d s o f them: young, o l d , r o t u n d , e l o n g a t e d , v a r i e g a t e d i n c o l o u r and s o on ( t h e s c o p e of h i s o u t p u t w a s i n f a c t u n l i m i t e d ) . He even d i d s e l f - p o r t r a i t s . The a c t was i n i t s e l f a p i e c e o f a c r o b a t i c i n c r e d u l i t y . He w a s a n i n g e n i o u s f e l l o w ; v e r y unassuming, always poli t e and k i n d w i t h words. He e n j o y e d t h e s o l i t u d e o f h i s l i f e and h e believed i n himself. Sure t h e y r i d i c u l e d him and even went s o f a r a s t o l o c k him up, b u t he And i t was l o n g a f t e r h e e t h i s demise i n a ramshackle g a r r e t discovered h i s genius . . ( i t ' s always t h a t way). They l i k e n e d e v e r y p o s t e r i o r t o a ersonality unto i t s e l f . Such vivai t y o f u n h i b i t e d b r u s h s t r o k e one
could i n f a c t d i s c e r n by c l o s e asso c i a t i o n of one p a i n t i n g w i t h a n o t h e r . . . t h e d i f f e r e n t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s of personality (tight, etcetera). You c a n t r a c e h i s development of a r t i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n from t h e e a r l y d a y s on. He was n o t a d v e r s e t o abs t r a c t symbolism - b r o o m s t i c k s , e t c . Upon v i e w i n g t h e s e l a t e r works, one c o u l d n o t h e l p b u t wince a t a s o u l asunder, a s o u l assunder. P e o p l e were saddened by t h e wayward g e n i u s ' s l i f e . Various n o t e s and r e f e r e n c e s of h i s were found p e r t a i n i n g t o h i s models. He w r o t e w i t h c l a r i t y of t h e i m p o s i t i o n of h i s p u r s u i t ( p a s s i o n ) : how o f t e n h e w a s d e n i e d e x p r e s s i o n and how, even g i v e n t o s u c h d r y s p e l l s , h e would t u r n h i s i n s a t i a b l e a r t i s t i c genius t o c a t s & dogs and o t h e r a n i m a l s - of which some t o d a y a r e no l o n g e r e x t a n t . It was n & t u n l i k e l y t o s e e p e o p l e l e a v i n g t h e g a l l e r i e s i n tears o r t o overhear people i n c a f e s conferring on h i s a r t . "It was by some n a t u r a l p r o g r e s s i o n o f g e n i u s t h a t h e was a b l e t o i n c u r a n i m p r e s s i o n of p a i n o r a n g u i s h " ; " i t was p e r v e r s e ' ' ; " i t was beyond i n t e r p r e t a t i o n " ; "he w a s a pioneer, s u f f e r i n g personal anguish and s a c r i f i c i n g i n t h e extreme - t h e p o r t r a i t o f t h e 400 l b . woman a t t e s t s t o t h a t " ; and awe t h a t h e s t a y e d l o c k e d up i n t h a t l i t t l e g a r r e t f o r hours without proper v e n t i l a t i o n There i s t o d a y a s e l f - p o r t r a i t o f h i m s e l f ( a v e r y unassuming p o s t e r i o r a t t h a t ) i n t h e N a t i o n a l Geographic S o c i e t y under which i s a n i n s c r i p t i o n i n f e r r i n g s o c i e t y ' s ever-indebtedness t o him: ' ~ h r o u g hA d v e r s i t y and A l l He Did Endure As Has H i s ART."
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Anon.
Articles represent the views of indlvidusl contrlbutora and not of the Assoelation.
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t r y i n g t o maintain a f e e l i n g o f well-being when e v e r y t h i n g around you i s u n s t a b l e p o i n t i n g towards d i s l o c a t i o n and d e s t r u c t i o n o t a p a r t of t h e body o f man j u s t a f l o a t i n g limb o u t s i d e of anything f l o a t i n g around and around w i t h no p l a c e o f b e l o n g i n g i t ' s sad b u t I h o n e s t l y b e l i e v e poor f o l k s a r e being s e t a d r i f t from t h e p e o p l e of t h e world: t h i n k about i t i n e v e r y poor c o u n t r y i n t h e world t h e poor p e o p l e a r e unwanted and unloved, and t o t a l l y a l o n e ; p e o p l e of power and p o s i t i o n t a l k a good neighbour p h i l o s o p h y b u t poor p e o p l e everywhere know i t i s j u s t a pipe-dream only an illusion---slipping out of our grasp shaky ground - s p i n n i n g around and I t h i n k w e ' r e l o s i n g t h e f i g h t , a g a i n why do t h e poor f o l k s pay e v e r y time f o r someone e l s e ' s e x p e n s i v e m i s t a k e s !
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does everyone pay, o r i s i t j u s t v e r y n o t i c e a b l e when t h e poor have t o ? i t s a d l y reminds me o f growing p a i n s a s a a unwanted c h i l d : j u s t t h e r e b u t n o t r e a l l y needed n o r loved ------and n o t r e a l l y t o l e r a t e d ! I sometimes f e e l a l l poor f o l k s a r e f o s t e r people: moved from p l a c e t o p l a c e w i t h no s t a b i l i t y - no s e n s e o f b e i n g wandering, always wandering, where w i l l we c a l l home tomorrow, o r i s t h e r e r e a l l y any s u c h t h i n g ? these l i t t l e shots at the l e s s fortunate f o l k s , i t seems t o be a growing p r e o c c u p a t i o n f o r t h e powers t h a t b e ducking and dodging seems t o be a way of l i f e . Dave McConnell
Pimps and P a n d e r e r s t r
V i c t o r i a keeps a s p i t t i n g d i s t a n c e o r a s t o n e ' s throw from t h e w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t , t h r u s t s a well-heeled boot i n t h e f a c e of t h e poor. S o c r e d s a r e t h e i r own pornography: t h e Deep T h r o a t s who pimp f i f t y d o l l a r s from t h e backs o f w e l f a r e m o t h e r s and t h e empty b e l l i e s o f c h i l d r e n while jacking o f f - again e v e r e n g o r g i n g s a l a r i e s and p e n s i o n s f o r t h e m s e l v e s Lack i s a f o u r - l e t t e r word, Food i s a f o u r - l e t t e r word, Poor i s a f o u r - l e t t e r word, t h e r e f o r e , l a c k of food f o r t h e Poor i s a t r i p l e o b s c e n i t y , and hungry c h i l d r e n a r e t h e ~ o c r e d ' sown custom-designed
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DOWNTOWN EAlTllDE
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one feather at a time
I t ' s hard t o h i t a moving t a r g e t But i f you c a n Slow i t down Get i t t o s t a n d t h e r e & wait i n l i n e For a c h a n c e t o Show i t s s t u f f YOU c a n s t u f f i t i n t o The s h o o t i n g g a l l e r y of l i f e
But you have t o Feed i t Pay i t Make i t Watch t h e c l o c k
n
Those who c l a i m t o be T a r g e t t e d f o r something e l s e Might n o t even N o t i c e t h e i r wings Being a u c t i o n e d o f f One f e a t h e r a t a time TOR4
Editor's Note - There is upset over the accusation that the Newsletter seems to be repressing certain writings. The gist of the situation concerns a letter by Don Larson and his view of people in Carnegie, DERA and Crabtree. The last letter was the latest in a series that included a ' report on Carnegie, letters to Strathcona C. C., City Hall, the East Ender and the last two Crabzillas. In every case, people working here and in the community are pictured as sheeplike followers of "3 people who run ~arne~ie!"! In each Don Larson gives a lopsided opinion and tries to make it read like the "truth." Underlying all is the monotonous repetition of "I am the Founder and Organizer sR.A. B " The Carnegie Newsletter is a gem in the Downtown Eastside. Carnegie itself is one of the brightest stars in the world. The people here - that' s us - are not perfect, but an ongoing harangue of misinformation and discounting others1 work takes us all away from theZa!ln'snewpresssecretar~*lan spiritual progress and social change and keeps us at Jessop, formerly a CKNW reporter, have decided of the : each others' throats. Politicians and power-brokers, difficulties stem from "bad who might actually be in the D.E. once a year, must press." love this kind of internecine bickering. They have a Under their handling, the pre- much easier time ramrodding their development plans mier has abandoned his "shoot- through levels of government when those opposed - us, from-the-lip style." again - are caught up in petty, mundane crud like this. He refuses to give one-on-one interviews. lie has quit his monthly ; It's also much easier to be a saint or a martyr if cable TV show and is reportedly you can convince people that you are being oppressed or considering dropping his monthly repressed; or if someone like me writes something down, show on CKNW. to take the words and wail self-righteously that they One Socred backbencher said aren't correct/true/even in the right order. Lawyers The Tab got a "mission irnpossido this and make a mockery of justice. blew rating from its ex-reporter. The Carneeie Newsletter is a forum for the neighboura cabinet millister said some of his colleagues need a lesson on hood's ideas and a medium for examples o f our individual how to relate to the media. and collective spiritual evolution. It isn't a place Another minister denied that where anyone can puke on paper and make others smell it. Sopow was trying to blacklist certain news outlets. PAULR TAYLOR
By BRIAN KlERAN Staff Reporter WHISTLER- When the Socred caucus met privatelyyesterday the media was the message. Secluded in this resort town'o convention centre, the Socred t,,LAs got a lecture on the media by an ex-hack. The lowdown on the annoying Fourth Estate was delivered by Premier "mder Zalm's media guru, Eli Sopow. Sopow, a former reporter for T~~ Province and BCTV and now the Socred administration's communicationdirector,refusedto talk about his presentation. "You know I no longer speak to the press," he told The Tab. insiders say
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