News from First Nations

by Carolyn Parks Mintz, Author & Journalist

Pink Shirt Day

February 22nd marked this worldwide day of benevolent demonstrations against homophobic and racist bullying. Pink Shirt Day started in 2007 in small-town Nova Scotia, when David Shepherd, Travis Price, and their teen-age friends organized a high school protest by wearing pink, along with posting most of the student body, in support of a teen boy being bullied and harassed—for wearing a pink shirt. Unfortunately, mistreatment and intimidation continue within global societies. However, the anti-bullying crusade undertaken by Indigenous and non-Indigenous locals each February on Pink Shirt Day clearly indicates such abuse is completely unacceptable and is not to be tolerated. Kindness is one size—it fits all!

Secwepemc Health Caucus Event

A gathering of all Secwepemc peoples was held in Kamloops, February 18-19, to acknowledge multi-faceted trauma, to honour relatives lost, and as mutual care through healing ceremonies, professional support and traditional customs.

MMIWG Provincial Conference

The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Conference Tour, for families and survivors affected by the MMIWG issue, will be held in Kamloops March 16th to 17th. Guest speakers and specialized workshops will be part of the event, along with traditional activities.

Gathering Our Voices 2023 Conference

Recognizing the need for Indigenous youth to gather in a supportive and encouraging environment, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) and its members established “Gathering Our Voices” (GOV) in 1999 as a youth conference to acknowledge the resilience and strength of Indigenous young people. Since then, n consultation with area First Nations, BCAAFC has hosted seventeen

Youth Leadership Training forums throughout British Columbia, which have grown from an original 100 participants to over 1,000 attendees annually. Since its founding, the unwavering GOV goal has been to provide Indigenous youth with the tools to work toward a better future by improving themselves and the world in which they live.

The 2023 GOV will be held in Vancouver, March 22nd to 25th, co-hosted by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Society and the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Delegates will attend from across Canada to participate in ceremonies, workshops, and informative educational experiences.

Splatsin Monument Project

The Splatsin Tsm7aksáltn (Splatsin Teaching Centre) Society and the Splatsin Residential Monument Planning Group are requesting artists’ submissions for the design and construction of a large-scale sculpture, to be located near Enderby, in commemoration and recognition of those Splatsin members who attended residential school institutions. For additional information and details, contact splatsinmonument@gmail.com.

ADAMS LAKE INDIAN BAND (ALIB)

Welcome

ALIB is pleased to welcome new Chief Executive Officer Wayne Beatty, who has had a long relationship with ALIB, having worked in forestry and housing development for over 20 years. Living on and off reserve, Wayne served as General Manager of Forestry in Northern BC, Executive Director with Kaska and Dene Nations in northern BC and the Yukon, as well as being a Senior Advisor on Indigenous Relations for Suncor in Ft. McMurray.

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2023 Grads at Chase Secondary are graciously accepting donations for their Safe Grad celebrations. Donations can be e-transferred to: drygradchase2023@gmail.com. Thank you for your support.