The syiyaya Reconciliation Movement is pleased to announce a series of public events for all residents of the Sunshine Coast this month.
The Weaving Reconciliation project with shíshálh weaver Shy Watters continues on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Trail Bay Centre from 4 to 7 p.m. Her beautiful blanket, called Paddling Together, is nearing completion. The public is welcome to come add a few stitches to the fabric with her. She’ll also be weaving at the Opening Reception of the Sechelt Arts Festival on Thursday, Oct. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Seaside Centre. Her last day of public weaving will be Saturday, Oct. 13, when she will finish the blanket.
Jessica Silvey, a second Coast Salish weaver, will begin her project on Thursday, Oct. 11, with a blanket called Unbroken Friendship. She will be warping up her loom at the Opening Reception for the Sechelt Arts Festival from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and will weave at the Seaside Centre over the course of the Festival. All are welcome to stop by, learn from Silvey, and add some stitches to her stunning design. She will weave on Oct. 12 between noon and 2 p.m., Oct. 14 to 18 from noon to 5 p.m., and Oct. 19 to 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Weaving Reconciliation project is set to run until June 2019, also involving weavers ch’elkwilwet Raquel Joe and kwayimin Andy Johnson in 2019.
And in partnership with the Sechelt Public Library, you are invited to a Kairos Blanket Exercise – seeking Reconciliation through Education and Understanding – on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. The exercise is a unique participatory history lesson – developed in collaboration with Indigenous elders, knowledge keepers, and educators – that fosters truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This exercise will be facilitated by syiyaya members John and Nancy Denham and their team. Due to the location (the Library’s community room) there is space for 40 participants maximum. Please RSVP Sherryl Latimer at 604-885-3260 or [email protected] to confirm your spot. There will be another opportunity to participate on Monday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Seaside Centre. For more information, see the Syiyaya Reconciliation Movement Facebook page or contact Latimer. For more information about the Kairos Blanket Exercise, see www.kairosblanketexercise.org
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