Healing through gathering by The Peak

Healing through gathering

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Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society celebrates Father’s Day with Powwow

The event featured an array of goods, food, dancing, drumming, and more

LUCAIAH SMITH-MIODOWNIK · NEWS WRITER

June 14 and 15 marked the third annual Father’s Day Powwow, hosted by the Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society (VAHS). The event was focused on honouring Indigenous “fathers, grandfathers, and sons through drum, dance, and culture.” The Peak attended the Powwow near Britannia Secondary School and spoke with VAHS executive director Carrie Humchitt of the Haí ɫ zaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation for more information.

The Powwow was about being able to “lift up the men,” Humchitt said. “They deserve to be honoured,” as well as “the murdered and missing Indigenous men and boys and Two-Spirits.” Planning for the event starts in the fall, with fundraising efforts and grants to cover costs. “We also have regalia-making workshops all the way up until the Powwow,” Humchitt explained. Regalia is traditionally worn during ceremonies and celebrations, featuring unique individual, familial, and cultural aspects. It tells a story for those who wear it, reflecting identity and creativity. Regalia may also be a distinguishing factor for different types of Powwow dances.

“Vendors come and it’s an opportunity for them to sell their arts and crafts and come together and be a part of the community. We have food vendors as well, who we’re thankful for feeding everybody here. It’s an opportunity to get Indigenous foods,” Humchitt said.

They also noted that the Powwow is alcohol and drug-free.

“Culture is healing for a lot of our people,” Humchitt said.

“We’ve had people who have taken The Red Road once they started connecting to their culture, so it really is significant in that way.” The Red Road, an organization started by Charles Robinson of the Choctaw Nation, is about “a deep commitment to living life in the best way possible,” including sobriety.

“There’s intergenerational trauma from residential schools,” which Humchitt’s parents attended, and they explained that healing from this trauma is still an ongoing process.

Culture is healing for a lot of our people.

CARRIE HUMCHITT

VANCOUVER ABORIGINAL HEALTH SOCIETY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Humchitt’s favourite part of the Powwow is the beginning, when the event begins “in a really good way.” They said, “We

Exploring ConnecTra Society’s 2025 Abilities Expo

The event brought together over 45 vendors and performers

carry the flags, and we honour our Elders and everybody who’s here, and it’s just a good opening every time.”

The phrase “‘in a good way’ is a concept used by many Indigenous Peoples to recognize work” done with “high levels of integrity, moral strength, and communal spirit.” It is a recognition that time is non-linear and cyclical — that choices have far-reaching implications.

The event featured three drum groups, with Black Lodge Singers as the main event. The group is “quite famous in Powwow circles,” Humchitt explained. “Whenever there’s a Powwow, there are other drums that come along and partake. It’s a good thing, we love it when extra drums show up because they add to it.” Along with drum and song, the Powwow centres around dance, featuring “everything from tiny tots, to Elders, chicken dance, fancy dance, grass dance — every kind of category imaginable,” they said. Each dance has its own unique history.

For example, the chicken dance mimics the prairie chicken’s mating ritual, originating from the Niitsítapi (Blackfeet) Nation before becoming a pan-Indigenous dance. Some dances are competitive, with a winner chosen by judges.

“It’s just a beautiful event,” they added. “We plan on doing it every year, and we think about ways that we can improve it for next year. We’re just happy.”

On June 9, ConnecTra Society hosted its 14th annual Abilities Expo at Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Centre. ConnecTra is a non-profit that links “people living with disabilities to activities, services, resources, and opportunities.” More than 45 vendors and performers shared their resources and knowledge with the community, including people living with disabilities, caregivers, and health professionals. The Peak attended the event and interviewed Emily Chambers, ConnecTra program coordinator, to learn more.

Wellness looks different for so many people, especially when we’re dealing with a lot of physical disabilities, chronic pain, you kind of have to define that for yourself.

CONNECTRA PROGRAM COORDINATOR

The theme of this year’s expo was “How to Thrive in 2025: Your Wellness, Your Way.” Chambers explained that “wellness looks different for so many people, especially when we’re dealing with a lot of physical disabilities, chronic pain, you kind of have to define that for yourself.” Visitors could expect to interact with organizations with a wide range of focuses, including “outdoor recreation or mental health support.”

ConnecTra has become more attuned to the needs of the community over time, Chambers said. Every year, they learn from the community to ensure the expo is accessible: “We used to be really catered to people with physical disabilities, and we’ve really branched out in the last three years to be more inclusive of cognitive disabilities, sight impairments, hearing impairments,” she said. Two ASL interpreters were present at both the expo’s keystone presentations, and live captions were displayed on the screen.

Extreme pain radically jeopardizes a sense of safety or pleasure. And so focusing on those things, safety and pleasure, this is not a frivolous pursuit. It is not a selfish pursuit. It is critical to the overall health of the nervous system.

First, Simon Paradis and Kara Stanley performed a songand-story called “I’ve Been Better; I’ve Been Worse.” Paradis performed blues songs about his experiences with chronic pain, while Stanley shared some tools on the complex issue and personal experience of pain. “When we talk about selfcare and resilience, often the elephant in the room — the thing we don’t talk about — is pain,” said Stanley in her performance. She explained, “Extreme pain radically jeopardizes a sense of safety or pleasure. And so, focusing on those things, safety and pleasure, this is not a frivolous pursuit. It is not a selfish pursuit. It is critical to the overall health of the nervous system.”

Stanley also shared that a key mission for repairing the nervous system is finding ways to “promote that sense of ease or safety, fun, pleasure, and connection, belonging.” Stanley said for her, that’s “engaging with stories and through movement practice,” and “for Simon, that journey has always led him back to music.”

Another presentation featured was a spiritual talk by life coach Chi-ka Harada. “The more you get curious [about your emotions] the better you get to understand yourself, and be able to build a life that aligns with you and your deepest desires,” she said. Harada pushed the audience to “imagine what it feels like to be confident” and embody the person that you imagine, because “they already exist inside of you.”

Nurse Next Door, works to provide personalized care and wellness support to individuals in their homes.

The expo also featured two interactive activities straight from ConnecTra’s weekly agenda of events: adaptive chair yoga led by Bobbie Seale-Cobiskey and a contemporary improvisation dance class led by All Bodies Dance Project.

PHOTO: MERCEDES INNES / VANCOUVER ABORIGINAL HEALTH SOCIETY

The expo’s 45 vendors included WorkSafe BC, BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association, and Theatre Terrific Society. Their gold sponsor,

PHOTO: JEREMY DYSON / CONNECTRA SOCIETY

SFU pianos quietly recycled due to poor condition

Just one piano remains inside the Discovery 1 foyer

MASON MATTU · HUMOUR EDITOR

Located in the heart of the Transportation Centre, adjacent to the Student Union Building, inside the Discovery 1 foyer, and at West Mall Centre level 3000, pianos were once open for students and members of the public alike to play on the Burnaby Campus. More pianos existed around campus, serenading students from the lecture halls to the bus loop, but dwindled by around June 2024. The singular piano available at the SFU Surrey Engineering Building has also been removed.

At the beginning of the year, all of these pianos, except for the one in Discovery 1, disappeared without notice. The Peak learned these pianos were recycled. SFU said they were recycled due to damage related to exposure to “cold, damp air, and heavy use.” The singular piano left on campus is managed by Fraser International College. SFU stated they hope to continue the piano program seasonally, but the project is “dependent on funding.”

These pianos were maintained by the SFU Vibrancy Project, a recently “retired” committee previously in charge of creating a “welcoming, inspiring, and animated campus on Burnaby Mountain.” Partnered with design consultancy group MODUS, the committee aimed “to plan for the next decade of campus life.” Established in 2020, during the shift to remote learning caused by the pandemic, the committee planned to be active for the next 7–10 years to implement their vision. SFU explained the project was a “pilot program” and that “a tight budget cycle and staffing changes within the office of the vice-president finance and administration led to changes in campus services’ priorities.”

On their archived website, the committee listed their successful initiatives as “food trucks, ping pong tables, public

pianos, a community fridge, and large movable ‘SFU’ letters.” Their plans for the “next few years” included “outdoor exercise equipment, seasonal festivals, community forests, an off-leash dog park, a vibrant food and event hall, murals, and a gondola connection to the SkyTrain.” The Burnaby Mountain gondola was not included in TransLink’s proposed 2025 Investment Plan. They also provided rentals of various equipment for vibrancy initiatives.

Ultimately, we want to make significant strides this year to enhance the student experience at SFU, with or without support from university executives.

ALBERT RADU SFSS VICE-PRESIDENT EVENTS AND STUDENT AFFAIRS

SFU also explained that though the Vibrancy Project had been retired, its elements were transitioned. SFU provided an example that “the red umbrellas, tents, and chairs will be

Council Chats

Executive officers provide notable reports

On June 18, the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) met for their bi-weekly Council meeting. This meeting covered executive officer reports, an executive officer resignation, a motion on electronic voting in Council, and more.

Executive officer reports

The president and vice-presidents reported on their work since the last Council meeting. President Landy Liu has been serving as the staff liaison officer, working with the HR lead, Chandra Trinh, on staffing issues and also serving as the legal liaison officer for the society.

Jessica Lamb, vice-president external and community affairs, asked the Standing Committee on Finance and Governmental Services for increased funding for student mental health and wellness, increased student financial support, and Burnaby Mountain gondola funding at the Budget 2026 Consultation Public Hearing on June 5. This committee — one of eleven permanent committees of the BC parliament — “holds an annual public consultation on the provincial budget.” Lamb told the committee that these are the “three urgent areas of investment that are critical not only for students but for the future of BC’s economy and workforce.” She also pointed out that the funding for “expanded [counselling] services tailored to BIPOC students, 2SLGBTQIA+, mature learners, and survivors of genderbased violence” was not renewed.

Albert Radu, vice-president events and student affairs, held two club nights — one that broke even and the other that ran a profit. Radu told The Peak, “This money will be put back into our events line item to help fund further events this year! Club night events in recent years have usually either broken even or lost money, so seeing profits and positive participation numbers is an encouraging sign of progress for the year to come!”

managed by Meeting, Events, and Conference Services, and food-related assets will sit with Food/Dining Services.”

The Peak corresponded with Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) vice-president events and student affairs Albert Radu for comment on the closure of the Vibrancy Project and what work the SFSS is doing in response. He said, “The Vibrancy Project directly addressed one of SFU’s most pressing challenges: community building. SFU is known by applicants and its students as a ‘commuter school,’ where students often come to campus solely for classes and leave immediately after them.”

However, he added that while the Vibrancy Project had “good intentions,” it “failed to address the deeper and structural problems to community-building, particularly issues of affordability, accessibility, and the lack of continued programming that engages students beyond isolated events.” Radu explained that this involves having events available at “various campuses, low entry costs (if any), and having repeat events that students can become familiar with as part of our school’s traditions.” The SFSS plans for events in the upcoming academic year such as “student markets, fall fairs, firepits, and new sports recreation activities available to all students.

“We hope to bring forth new initiatives that we ourselves have more direct control over implementing that will ensure that our campus community grows stronger despite this setback.”

Upcoming events include pet therapy on June 24 at the Student Union Building (SUB) social stage. Radu is also looking at holding a student vendor fair in the SUB soon.

Vice-president internal and organizational development resigns

Council accepted the resignation of Ash Powers, vice-president internal and organizational development, to take effect on June 27. An interim vice-president will be appointed at the next Council meeting. In the meantime, a form will be sent out to members of Council to submit their interest. The position will be filled after a by-election is held sometime in October, as per SFSS bylaws.

Electronic voting for Council meetings

At the SFSS’ annual general meeting last year, a bylaw amendment was passed to have Council explore electronic voting at its meetings. A motion was discussed by Council to move forward on that requirement. The motion tasked the policy affairs and research coordinator to explore different software options available and report back to Council by the next meeting. It was later amended and passed with an extension on the date to report back.

Common room furniture grant request

Councillors Ananga Bajgai from the Math Student Union and Sharneet Kaur from the Statistics and Actuarial Science Student Association asked for $2,500 from the space expansion fund to buy new furniture and equipment for their shared common room located in the shrum kinesology building. Later in the meeting, the motion was discussed, where Council members asked about the costs in more detail, and the motion was approved unanimously. The space expansion fund collects upward of $300,000 a year from students, according to 2024’s financial statements, and can be used for leasing and renovating space, purchasing furniture for common rooms, and other items as listed in their policy.

PHOTO: GUDRUN WAI-GUNNARSSON / THE PEAK

CORBETT GILDERSLEVE NEWS WRITER

COMMUNITY AT THE CORE

2SLGBTQIA+ survey tackles sexual and reproductive health

The survey will be used to create community-based programs

A new survey titled “Our Bodies, Our Health” wants to better understand the sexual and reproductive health needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians. The study is headed by the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC), in partnership with the Health Initiative for Men (HIM) and Investigaytors, among other organizations. The Peak spoke with Kartik Arora, a team lead for HIM and Investigaytors, about the survey and what it means for the future.

Both CBRC and HIM focus on the health of gender and sexually diverse community members. CBRC is a research and project-based organization, while HIM focuses on the latter. Similarly, Investigaytors is “a national communitybased research program,” Arora said. “Specifically in BC, it’s a community health leadership program for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members who are interested in health research.”

The survey results will help HIM “create interventions or programs” designed to “address those gaps that we find in the data,” Arora said. “A lot of queer folks, especially younger queer folks, might share a primary care provider with their parents or their family members. And so sometimes people can still be worried about confidentiality and information getting out,” he explained. “A lot of times what we see is queer communities often have to educate their own healthcare providers on their specific queer health needs and sexual health needs as well.” Since the survey is still ongoing and all the data is yet to be obtained, it’s difficult to predict what these programs might look like, Arora said.

Beyond local implications, the data will be shared on the provincial and national levels and with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which helped fund the study. “Once the

data is collected and compiled, we’d be able to inform on policies and practices and take this data to those bodies that inform regulations and pass legislations and policies about the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ members in Canada.” Arora emphasized that “it’s one thing just to collect data, but if you don’t do much with it, or have reciprocal means of sharing the data as well, it can often look like you’re tokenizing a specific community, especially a marginalized community.”

I love that this survey allows community to lead community.

KARTIK ARORA

TEAM LEAD AT HEALTH INITIATIVE FOR MEN, INVESTIGAYTORS

Lack of access to the HPV vaccine, which defends against both genital warts and various cancers, represents another challenge for some members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Arora explained that the shot is “only free in BC up to 26 years of age and younger, even though it is recommended for queer men that are older than 27.”

What makes this survey special is its “community-driven” roots, Arora said. “A lot of times when you have surveys about our communities, they’re often created by certain bodies in the silo,” he explained. In the case of “Our Bodies, Our Health,”

Arora said “there’s been so many voices and input going into designing this survey.”

Designing the questions did not come without challenges. “Narrowing down the scope” while “making sure that we had questions in each of the areas that we wanted to focus on and prioritize” was one obstacle, he explained. Ensuring the survey was “accessible and can be finished in a certain allotted time frame” was a challenge as well.

The study is special in that “in contrast to previous queer research surveys, this one also tackles on endeavors related to sexual and reproductive care, gender affirming care, and sex and pleasure, which are often overlooked.” Additionally, “each province that is administering the survey will have their own unique questions” within the survey, to provide a better glimpse into “what’s going on in local communities,” Arora explained.

For instance, “in BC, our healthcare system is split into multiple health authorities spread across the region,” so some questions may ask which region participants live in and where they access services. He explained that such an inquiry will provide an idea of whether individuals are looking for services outside of their regional authority.

“It really does take all parts of the community and different people at different places to come together to be able to do this kind of work,” Arora added. “I love that this survey allows community to lead community.”

The “Our Bodies, Our Health” survey will be available in person at Vancouver Pride from August 2–3. The survey is also open until mid-September online.

ILLUSTRATION: ANGELA SHEN / THE PEAK

LUCAIAH SMITH-MIODOWNIK · NEWS WRITER

What Grinds our Gears

Hardcover books

ZAINAB SALAM OPINIONS EDITOR

Let me set the scene. It’s midnight. You’re cozy. Under layers of a blanket and a duvet. Swallowed whole like a sentient marshmallow. The lights are dimmed, just right. You reach for your book — the one you’ve been dying to start. But alas. It’s not a sleek paperback. It’s not digital. It’s hardcover — a glorified brick in disguise.

Nothing — and I mean nothing — kills the vibe like trying to read a hardcover in bed. It’s the literary equivalent of wrestling a bear. One hand’s going numb from supporting the sheer weight of the thing, the other’s frantically flipping pages that refuse to stay open — unless you press them down like you’re conducting openheart surgery.

God forbid you want to lie on your side. Suddenly, you’re doing acrobatics, holding it up with one arm like you’re training for the Cirque du Soleil, only to be slapped in the face when it inevitably slips and decks you across the nose.

And the dust jacket! Why is it even there? What purpose does it serve except to slowly inch up the book like a tuxedo trying to make a run for it? If I wanted to be left at the altar by a man, I would’ve dated a man! Oh, and take it off, suddenly you’re left with a sad, naked cube that somehow feels even worse.

Honestly, hardcover books in bed are a personal attack. They mock you with their spine-cracking stubbornness and sheer physical bulk. Want to get comfy? Too bad. This is a core workout now.

I’m not saying ban hardover. They have their place in society, like as a murder weapon in cozy mysteries. But in bed? No. Just no. Reading in bed should be soft, floppy, and commitment-free. Like a paperback. Or a bad decision.

Hardcovers for readers are the equivalent of throw pillows for interior designers; for display, not practicality. End of story!

Do not underestimate the power of local politics

Local politics affect you more than you think

The federal and provincial governments dominate political discourse in Canada. They tend to make the news highlights and generate the most engagement from the Canadian population. However, local politics also affect a person’s day-today life. For example, municipalities are responsible for building, maintaining, and improving a city’s infrastructure. The most recent by-election in Vancouver made clear that people are getting more involved. Participation in local politics has much to do with putting power in the hands of the local community.

Local governments, such as the Vancouver municipality, control factors such as: housing, education, transportation, and bylaws. While laws are appointed by the federal and provincial governments and apply to everyone in the country, bylaws are community-specific. Bylaw categories include waste management, noise control, and public safety. Each bylaw category can be tied to a larger issue that affects members of the community. For example, zoning focuses on how the housing is built and how many housing units are built. Zoning laws can also have a role to play in housing affordability, as they can create barriers to building more housing, which drives up the cost. What seem like minuscule factors in municipalities’ jurisdictions have a significant role in shaping a community.

familiar with and draw engagement through campaigning. Inversely, the campaigning gets less publicity during a municipal election, and there are no familiar parties, but individual candidates representing the people. This means voters must learn about each candidate to make the most informed decision. While these factors can make local elections difficult to keep up with, sources such as CivicInfo BC can provide valuable information on the candidates.

Even though local politics have had low engagement in the past, there has been a recent shift in BC. During the most recent by-election, which took place April 5. Sean Orr and Lucy Maloney — two progressive candidates — were elected as city councillors by a large margin. There has been an 84% increase in advance voting as compared to 2017, signifying an increased involvement with local politics. Currently, the people of Vancouver have been outraged by Ken Sim’s work as the mayor. Critics of the mayor and his party have complained they are building properties that are unaffordable for many, while targeting the unhoused population by spending money on law enforcement to dismantle encampments. Currently, 7 out of the 10 members of Vancouver’s city council are made up of ABC members, but in this current by-election, which focused on filling two spots, the city spoke loud and clear.

While it can seem like matters are stagnant, major changes come from the local level.

Despite the importance of local elections, federal elections see more than twice the turnout. What might be causing the disparity in turnout? Both provincial and federal elections have some similarities, as they feature parties the public is

Orr launched his campaign focusing on housing rights, houselessness, and transportation, while Mulaney focused on protecting tenants and creating better mental health services. Meanwhile, ABC candidates failed to secure even a third of the votes. Orr is part of the coalition of progressive electors (COPE), which ran attacks on Sim, outing him for corruption. One of the campaign’s motto was “evict Ken Sim” which refers to how the mayor puts many people at risk due to making housing unaffordable. COPE targets the fact Sim wants to sell public land to private developers who can set expensive pricing for property. Affordability is being put in the hands of someone incapable. However, this time around the movement has gained traction and Orr received the most votes. Due to Sim’s policies, and clear devotion to upholding regressive standards favouring the elites, the general public stood in solidarity with Orr to ensure ABC has less autonomy within city council.

While it can seem like matters are stagnant, major changes come from the local level. The most recent by-election is a reminder that the needs of the communities can eclipse those who chase power to uphold elitist standards. Although federal and provincial politics are important, it is vital to not let them overshadow the local scale. When communities make informed decisions together, tangible change becomes more within grasp.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF @SEANORROFFICIAL / INSTAGRAM

YILDIZ SUBUK · STAFF WRITER

PHOTO: RHAMELY / UNSPLASH

Pride, politics, and the pause on performative allyship

Companies are waving red flags instead of rainbow ones

Taking a stand on certain issues is a useful tactic for businesses to connect with their consumers. For example, the recent Canada-US trade war has motivated Canadian companies to advertise using the “Buy Canadian” trend. Unsurprisingly, companies capitalize on their consumer base’s desire for their purchases by reflecting consumers’ values to increase their market profit. One of the communities that is targeted for profit maximization is the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Companies plaster colourful flags for the purposes of virtue-signalling, otherwise known as rainbow capitalism, every June.

Trends in the public sphere of the 2010s were increasingly accepting of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, largely due to the growing visibility of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in media. It seemed that, due to the increase in people supporting the community, companies followed suit, shifting their marketing to fit the values of the mainstream consumer base. This practice has provided us with the Skittles’ “only #OneRainbow matters” campaign, and brands like Starbucks pumping out pride merch with gusto. Still, this is seen as antithetical to Pride by many in the queer and trans community, since corporations thematically profit off the exploitation of working class people, which will always marginalize queer and trans people disproportionately.

Additionally, a company should be more than rainbowcoloured for a month to be considered an ally to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Discrimination in the workplace remains a prevalent problem for queer and gender diverse people: In fact, about 73% of 2SLGBTQIA+ people experience harassment and violence due to their gender identity or sexuality at work at some point in their career, according to the Canadian Labour Congress. If your company is tolerant of anti-trans talk in the coffee room but will sponsor your city’s pride parade for a prime spot, that’s not an ally: that’s an opportunist. If you have to hide your gender identity from your bosses and/or coworkers to avoid discrimination, that is not a welcoming environment.

Where are these performative corporations this year, though, when the pride flag should be waving in our face at every commercial break, bus stop ad, and banking login page? This year has seen a massive pullback on Pride Month’s commodification, with companies that were such avid supporters in the past. Large corporate sponsors, like Anheuser-Busch, are walking away from funding pride parades. Companies like Skittles are choosing to quietly donate to GLAAD instead of running their usual no-rainbow campaigns. Is it no longer profitable to be a performative ally?

If your company is tolerant of anti-trans talk in the coffee room but will sponsor your city’s Pride Parade for a prime spot, that’s not an ally: that’s an opportunist.

Google and Home Depot, have dropped their donations without citing a reason. This isn’t surprising considering both of those companies’ pasts in exhibiting anti-2SLGBTQIA+ stances. Where Google actively censors 2SLGBTQIA+ content across its platforms, and Home Depot donates to anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislators.

Despite the progress made in 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and visibility, we are learning first hand that political trends cycle. We are experiencing a vocal political shift to the right, even among the younger generation. Young people are becoming increasingly conservative, driving polls to favour the likes of Trump and Poilievre. With vocal outcry against trans rights to bathrooms and gender-affirming care, leading the discriminatory discourse.

So what does this mean? No more performative allyship? For now. There’s a chance that some companies will be back though, cloying for attention with neon Target shirts to get the festival queers back in their corner. Once the social trends favour the left of the political spectrum again, they’ll be a valuable market to corporations once again. At least now, we are able to see which companies, such as Ben and Jerry’s, can hold their ground, when the right-wing gets to rioting — with their not-so-subtle social media posts telling us where their values lie.

One thing that a corporation will never be is a true advocate. The pattern is painfully familiar: a brand embraces diversity when it’s profitable, only to retreat the moment their bottom line is threatened. Recently, this retreat came at full display when Pride Vancouver experienced a considerable pull back of support by major corporations. Pride Vancouver isn’t the only one confronting a world of disappearing allyships, Pride Toronto, is among many others across the country, experiencing such disengagement. Companies, such as

Being an ally is not something that can be confined to the month of June, or when the economy is strong enough to handle a little activism. Pride is not something to be commodified, it is a display of strength, empowerment, and love. Even though corporations are backing out of pride for selfish reasons, Pride Month is better off without corporations inserting themselves in a space that isn’t about them. The presence of corporations at pride parades has homogenized the nature of a rich and diverse community that overarchingly values grassroots efforts, loyalty, and identity. We always knew that companies were just hopping on the bandwagon. Now we’ve got the proof in the pudding.

ILLUSTRATION: JILL BACCAY / THE PEAK

NOEKA NIMMERVOLL · STAFF WRITER

FNMISA builds space for Indigenous students

They host various events to foster community

Yildiz Subuk · Staff Writer

Room 1440 of the Student Union Building (SUB) is home to the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Association (FNMISA), a group that provides a space for Indigenous students to lounge, study, and create community.

This wasn’t always the case. Before having this space, FNMISA was one of the original rotunda groups alongside Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG), CJSF 90.1 FM, the Women’s Centre, Out on Campus, and SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry. For multiple years, alongside the rest of the rotunda groups, FNMISA fought for a space in the SUB and fair treatment by the SFSS — they won their current space in 2020.

In November 2021, FNSA officially changed their name to FNMISA to ensure Métis and Inuit students knew they were also represented by the group. Today, FNMISA builds community by hosting plenty of events throughout the year focused on educating through cultural practices. The association also engages in advocacy, such as holding SFU accountable for its commitments to reconciliation. For example, FNMISA has repeatedly pronounced themselves against SFU’s lack of proper consultation with Indigenous students prior to the construction of SFU’s First Peoples Gathering House.

Events and Socials

FNMISA has and continues to be a source of social events, activities, and activism for the community. FNMISA hosts the annual Indigenous Day events at SFU. “We have a really big community of Indigenous students here and we want to embrace [that] all Indigenous people are different,” said Matthew Provost, an event organizer during 2017’s annual Indigenous Day event at SFU. 2017’s Indigenous Day was intentionally meant to highlight women’s voices, with all headliners for the event being Indigenous women.

During 2023, FNMISA organized the first inter-tribal Powwow at SFU. It was attended by 1,000 guests and had 40 vendors displaying Indigenous artworks. Powwows are a great way to engage with the Indigenous community as it is a celebration of culture. Those who attend Powwows choose to wear traditional handcrafted clothing, including beaded apparel. While this year’s Powwow event has already passed, there is always next year. Powwows are also open to the public, making them an ideal event to learn and experience Indigenous culture. The term “Powwow” originates from Algonquin tribes (whose traditional territory extends across so-called Quebec and Ontario), and fittingly refers to a healing ceremony. Powwows also have their roots in resistance, as many Indigenous gatherings were banned in Canada from 1884 to 1951. This was done to force assimilation onto Indigenous communities, yet many would still partake in the ceremonies. Powwows today signify reclamation of culture, a celebration of life and a collective engagement in spirituality.

Beyond major events, FNMISA regularly hosts other social gatherings such as, hosting a games night every other week from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in FNMISA’s room, dinner is also provided — the next event will take place on July 7. Other activities include “FNMISA Movie Nights,” movie viewing gathering at FNMISA’s room every other Friday, with pizza and snacks provided. FNMISA also promotes events such as the annual Skoden Indigenous Film Festival, which, this year coincided with FNMISA’s own third annual “Honouring Indigenous Students” Powwow. Apart from their regularly scheduled events, FNMISA also organizes beach days, camping trips, and other activities.

Bursaries, scholarships, and student support

Beyond social events, FNMISA assists students in learning and navigating through the many scholarships offered to Indigenous students. The BC Scholarship Society offers funding up to $5,000 per year, for any Indigenous student pursuing any form of education, whether it’s trades, a diploma, or a degree. The Ch’nook scholarships program, which contain $2,000 in funding, is catered to those studying business and anyone can apply and receive the award. These are just two of the many examples of financial aid listed on FNMISA’s website.

Another useful aspect to consider is the peer cousins mentorship program, which links newer students to older, more experienced students. Through this program Indigenous students not only get introduced to members of the community but also have a support system when it comes to navigating the daunting new space they enter for education. SFU can be confusing to navigate, but having someone else who is familiar can help ease new students into this environment.

For those looking for financial aid, it is best to first consult with financial aid advising, which has both a remote and in-person option. Drop in appointments slots are available on Thursdays 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. and Fridays 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Appointments can also be booked by contacting faa_isc@sfu.ca.

To join FMISA there are two requirements. You must first self-identify as Indigenous. This means students must indicate on their application that they are of Indigenous ethnicity, while also filling out a supplemental application. This application will also require a reference to verify. The second requirement is enrollment. You must be enrolled in a semester, or will be the following term they are granted access to FNMISA. Students who were enrolled a semester previously may also join, but no earlier than that. FNMISA is an important part of the SFU community, as it provides a safe space for many Indigenous students. It is a way in which many can get involved in cultural practices. The association also provides Indigenous students the opportunity to have a comfortable transition into university life.

PHOTO: Daniel Salcedo Rubio

The Book Nook

Young adult queer book recommendations

RUSHAM VERMA · PEAK ASSOCIATE

Cemetery Boys by

Aiden Thomas

Reading paranormal romances is always fun, and this one does not disappoint! This story follows a transgender boy named Yadriel, hailing from a Latinx family who wants to be a brujo — a magic user who guides the dead. In trying to do that, he accidentally summons a rebellious, chaotic, and handsome ghost named Julian. Julian died under very suspicious circumstances, and wants to know what happened, not leaving Yadriel’s side. This romance story evolves into an epic love story, featuring side mysteries, a slow-burn romance, and a grounding in Cuban and Mexican culture.

Yadriel’s determination to make his family and community see him for who he is and to fully accept his identity makes this story’s heart — something that will stay in your mind as a celebration of identity, culture, and belonging.

One Last Stop

Casey McQuiston

If you’re a sci-fi fanatic and a hopeless romantic, this book was written just for you. It’s about a lonely and walled-off 23-year-old girl, August Landry, who moves to New York. There, she meets the bold and charismatic Jane Su. August’s love at first sight quickly changes into a race against time to get Jane back to her timeline.

While the book is premised on a “love-at-first-sight” plot, it also dives deep into grief, loss, and the oppression of the queer community in the 1970s.

The Passing Playbook

Isaac Fitzsimons

If you liked Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, then this is the perfect next book to read. It follows a 15-year-old trans boy named Spencer Harris, who enrolls in a new private school after a horrible incident in his old one. He wants to keep to himself, not come out to anyone and just play football. As we can expect, there’s a brooding, brilliant, bisexual star-player on the team. Justice looks emotionally guarded but notices everything, along with the chemistry between him and Spencer.

This book is for readers who desire a fluffy and cute queer romance, without the trauma that is more often than not, present in queer romances. The moments between Spencer and Justice are soft, vulnerable and hopeful all in one, which will make you want to re-read it as soon as you finish it.

Monday Music

Songs to aid your astral journey

Doing nothing should be considered as a human need just as important as eating or sleeping. To ease you into a camaraderie with your mind through the art of staring off into space, I have created this playlist that will guide you through the cosmic realm for the optimal zone-out experience. Please listen to these songs in their prescribed order for the best results.

After taking your focus away from the urgent matters that were pressing down on you, you can come back and greet them with more clarity. We were never meant to be constantly stressing about work. We need time where we can feel human and vanish from everything that is being asked of us, so that when we return, we can discern what really matters.

“The Body is a Blade” by Japanese Breakfast

The ninth song in Soft Sounds from Another Planet gently lifts you from your daily struggles. The guitar’s hypnotic patterns seem to spin in circles around you. Meanwhile, Michelle Zauner’s ghostly vocals deliver brutally authentic lyrics that allow you to sit with both hope and melancholy. Using music to access your intense emotions perfectly prepares you for an astral realm where you can ponder your existence in a far-off space.

“Can I Sleep in Your Brain?” by Ezra Furman

Known from her work on the Sex Education soundtrack, Furman is a master of musical storytelling. The specific yet universally felt details make every lyric feel like a punch to the gut. The minimalist instruments and heartwrenching singing will gently guide you to find a landing spot from the stars in someone else’s brain. However, the genre swap halfway through the song from a slow ballad to punk-style guitar and blaring saxophones indicates that the brain you’ve found may not live on our planet.

“Tapestry from an Asteroid” by Sun Ra “Secret Tongues” by The Moldy Peaches

The jazz musician Sun Ra will help you wander through the alien’s brain that you dropped into. In a 1989 interview with SPIN, he claims to have been sent to Earth from Saturn to raise human consciousness. Whether or not you believe his origin story, you will feel his connection to the cosmos when hit with the otherworldly groove of this tune.

Now that you have successfully travelled the astral plane, The Moldy Peaches are here to help you descend back to your body. The sweet voice of Adam Green delivering absurd lyrics such as, “just jiggling around like silly putty / and who are you and I?” will keep your adventurous whimsy alive as you take on the rest of your earthly tasks.

ILLUSTRATION: Cassandra Nguyen / The Peak

PHOTO: Puneet Aulakh / The Peak

KATIE WALKLEY · SFU STUDENT

Thoughts from the editor

Mason Mattu • Humour Editor

If everyone places ten gallons of ice cream on the pavement, will global warming be . . . solved? If so, how do I measure ten gallons or buy ice cream with my arts degree? Time to ask Reddit, I guess.

Yours faithfully, Mason Mattu.

Peak Speaks:

If the walls could talk

r/simonfraser: We asked, you answered

Mason Mattu Humour Editor

Q: We asked our friends on the SFU subreddit: If the walls at SFU could talk, what would they say?

u/dash101:

“Let’s stick together, or this place might fall apart!”

u/YoManWTFIsThisShit:

“Can someone tell the undergrads to stop crying outside the econ room?”

u/cashcartibihhhhhhh: “Zoo-WeeMama.”

u/starkengineer:

“We are what we fear the most.”

u/HistoricalAd6638: “Stand up for yourself.”

Pitt Meadows saves WrestleMania 42

Farmers: 1; city slickers: 0

This week, WWE fans of BC are celebrating with more fervour than Hulk Hogan flexing his win against Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3. I know there are lots of peace-loving pumpkins out there who don’t know what I’m talking about. So, here’s the hoedown throwdown. To the utter joy of the guy who carries around the Vancouver for WrestleMania sign at every show, our very own Pitt Meadows has become the host of WrestleMania 42!

Before this, they had already gone through two locations. Their first choice — New Orleans — didn’t have the same bang for their buck as their next choice, the hip and happening Las Vegas. After turning their backs on Louisiana, the corporate weasels in charge of WWE financing went on a very necessary business trip to scope out their new location. During their trip, they “lost” the company card and found it maxed out at Circus Circus.

With no money, the jabronis had no choice but to look for a third location. Their desperation took them all the way to humble ol’ Pitt Meadows, where they found a local legend willing to let them use his farmland as a free arena in exchange for a wrestle with John Cena.

“This event is in line with our strategic tourist goals for 2026,” Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald told The Peak. “We haven’t had this much buzz in town since Jesus was born on one of our farms!”

Now that you’re up to speed, it’s time to dish on some anticipated drama.

The cargo in the gossip trains has told me that WWE superstar Naomi received her tractor licence soon after hearing news of the venue change. Looks like she’s still

angry! Recently, she came clean about her secret backstage attack on Jade — she literally suplexed her onto the hood of a car. Ouch. All she wanted was to protect her friendship with her tag team partner Bianca. When her apology didn’t work, she threatened to hurt Bianca next. Hopefully, once they experience the peaceful farm life of Pitt Meadows, the girlbosses will reconnect. However, as someone who has had her days of rowdiness in her youth, I can tell you that the Meadow can bring the sour out of even the sweetest apple in the pie (and we all know that Naomi has that tartness to her).

We can also look forward to WWE’s modern take on jousting. This was one of the main conditions that Pitt Meadows had for hosting this event — given the fact that they have to pave so many new roads to accommodate all these darn tourists. That’s right, it’s exactly what you’d think: horseback wrestling. Some may say that this is even less advanced than jousting’s first appearance in medieval times. I would say, so is every so-called “modern” thing these days (you feel me, fellow oldies?). Anyways, WWE is calling all Pitt Meadovians to enter their mighty steeds into a draw that will choose which lucky beasts will carry our wrestling heroes into victory.

So, with all the information we have so far about next year’s WrestleMania, we are stuck tossing and turning over two burning questions: first, will Naomi make peace out of hate? Second, and most importantly, will Uncle Joe take down John Cena?

There’s only one way to find out. I’ll see you on the hay bales next spring for the biggest show that Pitt Meadows has seen since the farmer’s market of ‘05.

PHOTO: Emily Le / The Peak

Katie Walkley • SFU Student

ILLUSTRATION: Victoria Lo / The Peak

IMAGE: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

The Peak investigates: Jugo Juice closure

Former Beverage Mafia member spills the tea

by Coffee Brown,

now in witness protection

Coffee Brown was recently faced with his most difficult task as a member of the Beverage Mafia. Brown had been loyal to the mafia family for decades, but after his last hit, he knew it was time to retire. Years of guilt caught up to him, and he realized he needed to free himself from the burden.

He is set to testify against the Beverage Mafia next year (with a full pardon of his crimes), but has agreed to provide his statement regarding the suspicious closure of the Jugo Juice next to Renaissance Coffee in the AQ exclusively to The Peak

“It was some time ‘round last week. I’m at home, in my Hello Kitty jam jams, when I hear a knock on the door. It’s not just a normal knock, too; it sounded like a kangaroo on speed, ready to bring my door down. I know what it is — it’s serious, they gonna tells me ‘go paint a house.’ Well, I says to the guy, hold it, gimme a sec, but he’s banging away like my mom and pawp on Valentine’s Day. I need to change outta my jam jams, ‘cause no one is going to take a hitman who likes Hello Kitty seriously — society, am I right? Anyways, I suit up and open the door, and who do I see? Ol’ Thony Coca-Cola. ‘Hey, what’s the matter?’ I says to him.

“He comes in, sits down and lays it out for me. Started to bust my balls.

“Turns out the old Jugo Juice factory the boss gave out loans to wasn’t doin’ too well — I guess they haven’t been since they took that loan from us. Thony tells me, ‘Hey pal, it’s time to go send a message.’ I’m sitting there nodding, but deep down I know I can’t do it. I wanna say, ‘Fogetta bout it!’

“I love that Jugo Juice — and here is Thony telling me to go literally beat the pulp outta the owner. I am bouts to tell him, keep your cash — I can’t do it, I like that place . . . especially ‘em kale smoothies . . . and then he pulls out a brief case loaded with enough cash to buy a stupendous amount of Hello Kitty jam jams to last my grandchildren (totally not me) a whole lifetime.

“I take the cash and do the job. I wanted to say no, but just when I thought I was out, they pulped me back in. I sent the owner a lil’ knuckle sandwich and set the place on fire right at closing time. The boss calls me just after I burn it down and tells me to . . . you know . . . whack that poor soul. Boss says to me he’s been juicin’ him for years, and he won’t pay the loans back. I’m lookin’ at the poor chap . . . he spilled a cup of the lemon juice on his pants while his shop burnt. I can’t do it. I don’t do it. I said to the poor chap, ‘Run, fogetta bout it.’

“I realize that I’ve been spilling the blood of too many in the name of the boss and the twisted Beverage Mafia. But no more. I’m takin’ it down with me. I decided to rat. I would’ve never thought I’d get to the point that I felt like a cannoli in Ol’ Paulie Piña Colada’s fridge, the way this guilt was eating me.

“I loved that Jugo Juice. I remember the first time I had a smoothie from there. I was saying stuff like ‘splendid,’ somethin’ you don’t hear a guy like me saying. The Beverage Mafia—they expect too much. You gotta be a tough guy, you can’t drink a kale smoothie and enjoy it or they’ll calls you soft. You can’t be seen wearing your Hello Kitty jam jams either. The money was good, but my job was miserable. I knew I had to scram faster than my mom makin’ her Christmas linguine.

“It was the best decision of my life. I feel bad for beating poor Jugo, or whateva his name is, but I won’t be doing that no more. I can live my truth, wear what I wants to, and enjoy my jam jams.”