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Peace and Reconciliation Centre

Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building

Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building 

The UFV Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC), in partnership with the Stó:lō Nation, the Stó:lō Tribal Council, the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre, and the Stó:lō Grand Chief’s Council, is launching a new, collaborative program initiative: Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building. This program seeks to help build people’s capacity for reconciliation-building by teaching the importance of authentic allyship and providing skills for building relationships between colonial settlers and Indigenous communities here in the Fraser Valley and beyond.

The program

2023 SOLD OUT

This program will run from this February 28th to December 2023 and will consist of a mixture of presentations, workshops, and hands-on land-based learning opportunities, where participants will be guided in developing the knowledge and empathy necessary for becoming effective and respectful allies to local Indigenous communities.

Registered participants will be required to attend the lecture presentations and choose from a suite of elective interactive workshops where they will learn about Stó:lō people’s relationship to the lands and waters of this region.

After completing the program, people will have developed a deeper understanding of what it means to be an ally, and how to embrace the goal of being in a constant state of learning and unlearning, relationship building, and transformative action.

Topics

Topics that will be covered in this program include, but are not limited to, Lands and Resources, Settler Colonialism, Governance, Assimilation and Residential Schools, and Culture and Spirituality.

Among the elective workshops will be drum making, cedar bark weaving, placename tours, introductions to the Halq'eméylem language, introductions to Chinook jargon, and other land-based learning experiences.

PLEASE NOTE: Sessions and workshops listed below are for registered participants only.

Session: Program Orientation

Date & time: February 28th | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave, Chilliwack, BC V2R 0N3

Session: Recognizing and transcending Settler colonialism and white privilege with Dr. Keith Carlson

Date & time: March 28 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: B101, UFV Abbotsford Campus, 33844 King Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M7

Workshop: Cedar weaving with Gracie Kelly (required)

Date & time (select one): March 15 | 6:00-8:00pm; March 18 | 10:00am-12:00pm/1:00pm-3:00pm.

Location: Xa: Ytem Interpretive Centre, 35087 Lougheed Highway Mission, BC V2V 6T1

Topic: TBD with Dianna Kay

Date & time: April 25 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Coqualeetza Longhouse

Session: Archaeology and heritage resources with Dave Schaepe

Date & time: May 23 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: B101, UFV Abbotsford Campus, 33844 King Rd, Abbotsford, BC

Workshop: Plant walk with Carol Peters (required)

Date & time: Moved to April

Location: TBD

Session: A Stó:lō Political Herstory with Denise Douglas

Date & time: June 27 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, CEP campus

Workshop: Drum making with TBD (optional - fee associated)

Date & time: June 19 & 20 | 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Location: A2215, CEP campus

Session: Residential School Survivors Panel

Date & time: July 25 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: B101, Abbotsford campus

Workshop: Tour of St. Mary's residential school with Dr. Naxaxalhts'i (required)

Date & time: July 10 & 11 (6-8pm), July 22 (9-11am &12-2pm)

Location: St. Mary’s Residential School, 34110 Lougheed Hwy, Mission, BC V2V 6N9

Session: What Salmon, Water, and Cedar Teach Us with Eddie Gardner

Date & time: August 22 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: TBD

Session: Fisheries Governance and Resource Management with Murray Ned

Date & time: September 26 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: TBD

Workshop: Introduction to Halq'eméylem language (required)

Date & time: September TBD

Location: TBD

Session: Aboriginal rights and healing with Steven Point

Date & time: October 24 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: TBD

 

Workshop: Placename tour with Dr. Naxaxalhts’i (optional)

Date: October TBD

Location: TBD

Session: Temexw Teachings: It’s Not Just A Rock Performance with Gracie Kelly

Date & time: November 28 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: TBD

Workshop: Introduction to Chinook Jargon (optional)

Date & time: November TBD

Location: TBD

Session: End-of-Program Celebration

Date & time: December 19 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: TBD

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