Thursday, September 28, 2023
Dear Members:
Land acknowledgments help to not only remind us of the Indigeneity of the land that we are on, but it also speaks to our relationship with the land itself. As with any relationship, two-way communication is by default an essential component. When we waste the resources that the land gives us, we demonstrate the value (or lack thereof) that we place on both the giver and the gifts. When the land is over-saturated with water (as it was during the floods of 2021), it tells us so by filling a former lakebed. When it is parched, it tells us so with less-than-robust crop yields in the summer. This past week, the land reminded us of our colonial history in the form of unmarked graves on Stó:lō territory. How do we answer in reply? There is no better time to reflect on this as we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada provided us with 94 Calls to Action. However, many of them are calls to federal, provincial, and local levels of government. What are the calls that are specific to us as individuals? Perhaps, after reviewing the 94, it might be interesting to create our own short list that we as individuals can do in our households and daily activities of life. These may indeed be our reply to the land, to acknowledge that we have heard what it is saying, and we choose to live our lives upon it in a manner that heeds the calls.
Below are some of the organized events for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
Orange shirt beading with Rebekah Brackett
Sunday, September 24, 2–5pm
Abbotsford Recreation Centre – 2499 Mcmillan Road
Register here: https://culturedays.ca/en/events/abb99baa-29eb-4f9e-ab8c-2bfc0c900bbf
Chowiyes-Xwithet / Rise Up-Wake Up! 2023
Thursday September 28, 11:30am–2:30pm
UFV Chilliwack campus at Canada Education Park - Gathering Place , 45190 Caen Avenue Chilliwack, BC V2R 0N3
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/chowiyes-xwithet-rise-up-wake-up-2023-tickets-708851372537?aff=oddtdtcreator
Xyólhmet ye Syéwiqwélh Taking Care of Our Children Commemoration Ceremonies
Multiple events between Friday September 29 and Sunday October 1
Fraser River Heritage Park
Read more here: http://www.xn--xylhmetyesywiqwlh-ltbe9p.com/
Mission Friendship Centre Recognition and Honouring event
Friday, September 29, 10am–3pm
Mission Friendship Centre Society, Main Hall 33150 1st Avenue, Mission
https://www.mission.ca/event/mission-friendship-centre-recognition-and-honouring-event/
Stetís ímexstowx: Walk Beside Us
Saturday, September 30, 10am–2 pm
Thunderbird Square 32388 Veterans Way, Abbotsford
https://www.abbotsford.ca/community-events/events-abbotsford/stetis-imexstowx-walk-beside-us
2nd annual Reconciliation Powwow
Saturday, September 30, 1pm
Organized by Rick Joe.
Free.
The Powwow will take place at Chilliwack Secondary 46363 Yale Rd, E, Chilliwack.
Rethinking Reconciliation with Indigenous Artist Miriam Berndt and Grace Ulu (Pre-recorded talk)
Saturday September 30, 1–2:30pm
Griffin Art Projects, North Vancouver and online
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_THJ11GWeRZeBXYYxRPJXrw#/registration
Timothy Dueck
Decolonization, Reconciliation, and Indigenization Representative
FSA
University of the Fraser Valley Faculty & Staff Association
33844 King Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8
Building B | Room 346
Direct Tel: 604-854-4530
Toll-Free: 1-888-504-7441 local 4530
[email protected]
www.ufv-fsa.ca
