Victoria Native Friendship Centre executive director Bruce Parisian and property manager Linda Ross take a tour of Siem Lelum House on Tuesday. Photograph by: DARREN STONE, Times Colonist
For now, it’s a shabby shell of a 1968 motel undergoing renovation, heavy equipment crowding its courtyard. But in April, the refurbished former Traveller’s Inn at 120 Gorge Rd. will welcome a multi-generational aboriginal community desperately in need of affordable housing. – See more
This book was given to us as a Christmas present from a dear friend of ours who said: ” I was watching Rex Murphy on the CBC and Rex asked Shawn Atleo, the Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, what was the best book he had read recently and Chief Atleo said without hesitation – The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King.” So, Paul Merrick, our dear friend gave us this book for Christmas.
The book is wry, funny, sad and informative. If you want to understand what the “Idle No More Movement” is about – read this book. I feel like going out and buying a box of copies so that every time anyone asked me about the “Indian” question in North America, I could give them a copy and tell them that we can have this conversation after they have read the book.
Visit to Chippewas on the Thames
I am in Ontario and have just spent the last two days with the Chippewas on the Thames First Nation (COTTFN). The entire Nation is immaculately groomed and the people are wonderful. We had lots of serious business to cover as this is one of the First Nations funded by the First Nations Market Housing Fund to create a Housing Authority. This First Nation is very prepared and very advanced in their policies, their vision and their drive to move forward, bringing their people back into prosperity while respecting and remembering their past.
We also enjoyed so much laughter! I continue to feel so blessed doing this work. I am always taught as much, or more, than I teach on the Nations. “Teach” is probably the wrong word – we share knowledge and experience.
Now is the time for Aboriginal peoples and the settler community to come together and build the ‘8th Fire’ of justice and harmony. – Anishinaabe Prophecy
The Executive Director, Peter Wesley, has joined us for the meetings. Peter is running for the Chief, in competition with 7 other candidates. There are 25 people running for 12 Council positions including an Elder and a youth use this link.
