Smithers Bridging Committee History
2000
Part of the Northwest Regional Network of OARH (Organizing Against Racism and Hate)
2000 - 2020: Involved in Safe Harbour Initiatives
2020 to 2024: Smithers Anti-Racism Bridging Committee is part of Resilience BC
2001:
Social Planning Council Issues Forum - May 25, 2001
2002:
Social Planning Council Issues Forum - May 10 and 11
Cross cultural relationships, especially Indigenous/non-Indigenous, identified as a top community priority
2003:
Bridging to the Future - Creating the Future We Want for our Children and Youth
April 25, 26 in Smithers and Witset - Speakers and Food
2004:
Bridging to the Future - Creating the Future We Want for our Children and Youth
May 6, 7 in Smithers and Witset - Storytelling, Children’s Festival which included music, dancing, a community feast & youth activities
2005:
Festival of Nations - A Celebration of Culture
June 22 - Witset Multiplex - children’s activities. Interpretive hike, feast style dinner, music and dance variety show
2006:
Festival of Nations - A Celebration of Culture
June 22 - Witset Multiplex - Children’s Festival of Nations. Highway of Tears art display, multicultural dinner, music and dance performance, paddle pledge
2007:
Festival of Nations - A Celebration of Culture
June 24 - Smithers Secondary School - Cross-Cultural Dialogue, Pow Wow group, outdoor multicultural feast, music and dance performance, Paddle Pledge
2008:
Festival of Nations - A Celebration of Culture
May 16 - Smithers Secondary School - Invitation to Dialogue: Creating a process to respond to racism in the community of Smithers and surrounding areas
2009:
2010:
Festival of Nations - A Celebration of Culture
June 11 - Children’s Festival, food, performance
Finding Our Place - Stories in Movement Workshop
Finding Our Way - Dialogue and Film
Created and Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Town of Smithers
2011:
2012:
Embrace B.C. Youth Dialogues
Making Waves Workshops -movement with community members
2013:
Festival of Nations
Feb 12th - A Celebration of Wet’suwet’en History - display at Northwest Community College
Feb 14th - Taste of Nations - Smithers
Feb 16th - Storytelling of Nations - Smithers
2014:
Taste of Culture Dinner
Bookclub - Unsettling the Settler Within, Paulette Regan and Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
Response to Racism - facilitated presentation of 2 individual stories of racism to a multi sector team - December 10th
2015:
Worked with S.D. 54 and the Smithers Library to bring Richard Wagamese for school and community presentations in Smithers and Witset - February 12 - 14.
Dancers of Damelahamid - November 26th
2016:
Acknowledging Territory Information Booklet /Smithers Bridging Committee Information Guide developed and distributed
Work on Anti-Racism Protocol ongoing - documenting incidents of racism
Culture Days - October 1st and 2nd - cultural information, acknowledgement, welcome and storytelling
2017:
Hired Valerie Laub to collect, tell/perform stories related to racism
Presentation entitled SKIN at Old Church on March 23, 2017 as part of OARH (Organizing Against Racism and Hate), event
Continuous feedback on and distribution of the Acknowledging Territory Information Guides
Sponsored 2 seats at Molly Wickham’s course for women and self empowerment
Provided funds for a drumming/dancing group for a Truth and Reconciliation event at the Library June 10th
Facilitated Witsuwit’en 101 at the Old Church. Received a grant from the Wedzinkwa Community Forest corporation for anti-racism outreach to our community.