MADE THE MOVE

Resistance is fertile

When not in her garden or engaged in activism, Jan Slakov is often on one of her bikes. She’s grateful to have the opportunity to work as a teacher on call, since moving here last May.

Over time, she realized she’s a conscientious objector to military taxation, as now it’s our resources, more than our bodies that are conscripted. And she finds inspiration and hope in what some call “the Indigenous worldview” or “the kinship worldview.”

Why did you choose to move to qathet?

Jan • Two things: When my mother died, we sold the family property, so I needed to find a new home. And my daughter had moved here and loves it, and I sensed I would too. So I made the move!

When? Where from?

Jan • I moved up last May, from Salt Spring Island.

What surprised you about qathet once you moved here?

Jan • It’s not just me who is blown away by all the trails volunteers have built and maintained. I’m also struck by all the parking lot space.

What made you decide to move to qathet?

Jan • On one of my visits, I picked up an issue of qathet Living magazine and it confirmed my sense that this community would be a good one for me. It’s also a real plus that the Tla’amin Nation is such a presence and there are others here who care deeply about respecting the original people of this land and their teachings and ways of living.

Where is your favourite place in qathet?

Jan • So many... but I suppose a key place is my garden. It’s symbolic of the wonderful welcome I’ve had here, that it’s currently being hosted by five or six generous people/families, since I needed to move it before the closing date of the home I’m buying in Van Anda.

How did you first hear about qathet?

Jan • Way back, through friends, but more recently, through my daughter.

What would make qathet a nicer community?

Jan • In general, the more parks and the more people using active transportation, the healthier communities are. Not only that, when communities become safer for pedestrians, cyclists, etc, this helps reduce crime levels.

What aspect of your previous community do you think would benefit qathet?

Jan • Salt Spring has this online “exchange” where people can sell or trade things, find work and workers, etc. Here, people seem to rely on Facebook for that service.

What challenges did you face in trying to make a life for yourself here?

Jan • Finding a place with garden space that I could afford was challenging. Enticing my daughter to eat the (admittedly “different”) food I make is another challenge.

If you were mayor, what would you do?

Jan • Of course I’d try to use community resources wisely. I think I’d work with others in qathet Community Justice and the Tla’amin First Nation to engage people in the kinds of circle processes that can help people work together for the common good.

What are qathet’s best assets?

Jan • The sense of community, the forests, clean water and so much more – may we never take such things for granted!

What is your greatest extravagance?

Jan • What comes to mind is a 2017 plane trip to Nova Scotia, where I used to live.

Which talent or superpower would you most like to have?

Jan • It would be wonderful to get humanity living in ways that respected nature’s needs and limits. A great talent to that end would be the ability to use musical instruments to bring people together, to “surround hate and force it to surrender” like Pete Seeger was able to do.