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Haida Gwaii
Observer
Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com
Ex-CFL player tackles violence FUNDRAISER Thank you to Everyone who made this a very successful event. I know I may accidentally miss some important people so I wont try to name everyone.
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Our Museum belongs to all of us who are fortunate enough to live on Haida Gwaii. Most of our funding is project based so if we receive funding for a project, that is where all the money will be spent. From time to time opportunities come along to procure items for our collection, or we receive donations that need appraisals. This is where your fundraising dollars will be used.
Thank you, Haawa, to all who supported the event by attending, and a special thank you to Bonnie Olson Kathy Pick President of Sahlinda Naay
By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer
Grey Cup winner J.R. LaRose is bringing strong words to Haida Gwaii. Built like a B.C. Lion, the ex-CFL player and member of the One Arrow First Nation carries more than physical power— LaRose has a hard-hitting story about rising above violence. As a young boy in Edmonton, LaRose saw his mom abused by men and watched her struggle with substance abuse. Today, when he could tackle anyone, LaRose is focused on helping young men and boys stand up to violence and avoid being bystanders—something he didn’t always know how to do. Bonnie Olson, co-ordinator of Victim Services and Outreach in Queen Charlotte, said she is glad LaRose is coming now, at a time when his positive message can do a lot of good in the community. “I love the campaign because it really speaks from what is typically a very strong warrior male,
featuring locally designed “green” garments Cheesecake for sale, cash bar
FRIDAY MAY 27, 2016 7:00PM Admission Advance ticket - $10; at door - $15 !
Headliner/Murray McLauchlan Poet Laureate/comedian Charlie Demers with performances by local musicians
SATURDAY MAY 28, 2016 Dinner at 6:00PM Concert at 7:30PM
football star role,” said Olson. “He’s really lived it, which I hope speaks to any of the youth—or adults—who get to see somebody who is pretty empowered and coming from that background.” Along with talks for students at George M. Dawson and Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay/ QCSS, LaRose will also give community talks at Old Massett Village Hall starting at 7 p.m. on May 30, and at the Kay Centre Performing House starting at 7 p.m. on May 31. Organized by Ending Violence B.C., LaRose’s visit comes during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, which this year has the theme ‘Power of Our Voices.’ But a visit from a CFL football star is not the only thing going on for Haida Gwaii youth that week. On June 4, the Skidegate Small Hall and Skidegate Youth Centre will co-host an event Olson says is just as powerful, in part because it comes from local youth themselves— the Honouring Our Youth
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Dinner & Benefit Concert Advance ticket - $35; at door - $40 Benefit Concert only Advance ticket - $15; at door - $20 Learner award ceremony @ 7PM, concert @7:30PM
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Celebration. With live music and performances by the islands’ own Manik 1derful and dancer Hltaaxuulang Guud Ad K’aajuu, not to mention DJ Shub and hoop dancer James Jones, who have both performed by Tribe Called Red, the day-long event will give north- and south-end youth a chance to have fun together. “All-island gatherings—that was their number-one desire,” said Olson, who is also part of the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative (CYMSHUC). Olson said there is always a lot of talk about the problems youth are facing, but what she and others at CYMSHU heard from youth themselves is that Haida Gwaii also needs to shine a light on all the good things coming from its next generation. “Why don’t we make it one of the big things we do to honour our youth?” she said. For more info, visit the Youth Celebration event page hosted on Facebook by CYMSHUC South Island.
Copper River fisheries closed
Fisheries that rely on Copper River sockeye will remain closed until monitoring staff see a stronger return. Haida Fisheries reported on May 3 that an estimated 1,152 sockeye have cleared the Copper River monitoring fence since April 11. Unless the return grows stronger, all fisheries that target Copper River sockeye will remain closed, including those along Skidegate Inlet, the village of Skidegate, and Church Creek.
CORRECTION A story in the May 6 edition of the Observer mistook the number of community paramedics who will be hired for work on Haida Gwaii in October. In fact, Haida Gwaii will have a total of two part-time community paramedics, whose combined hours will be equivalent to one full-time position. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.