Date/Time
Date(s) - November 7, 2014
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
First United Church
Categories No Categories
Vision Sharing
First United Church Community Ministry Society is honoured to host the Vision Sharing Speakers Series, a series of public talks sharing wisdom in various areas from local leaders in the Aboriginal community.
In the advent of the Truth and Reconciliation gathering in Vancouver, First Nations recording artist, story teller and speaker Dr. Cheryl Bear offered a workshop at First United Church called Aboriginal 101. She opened our eyes and hearts to the misconceptions that fuel prejudice against Aboriginal people. These misconceptions have separated us from a wealth of wisdom and beauty and in many cases have led to horrific abuse.
The Truth and Reconciliation Community has named understanding and education as the first steps towards healing. The Vision Sharing Series reflects that purpose.
Talks will happen on every Friday (except Hallowe’en) from October 10th to December 12th from 3-4:30pm in the Sanctuary at 320 East Hastings Street. Everyone welcome.
For more information, contact Reverend Sally McShane at 604-681-8365 ext 126.
The Speakers:
Friday, October 10th: The Aboriginal Life
Dr. Cheryl Bear is from Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in British Columbia. Cheryl Bear travels to First Nations communities with song and story. She also visits non-Native churches raising awareness of First Nations ministry issues. Cheryl is an award winning recording artist, singer, songwriter and storyteller.
Friday, October 17th: Looking Beyond the Symptoms: The core issues faced by at risk communities
Dr. Catharine Crow, BA, MA, Ed.D., RSW (Ab) Department Head: University Transfer Programs Nicola Valley Institute of Technology: Burnaby Campus.
Friday, October 24th: Addiction
Alex Moore has been working at Hey-Way-Noqu Healing Circle For Addictions Society” for about 20 years. He has worked closely with youth and has been a part of helping these young people heal and move into a bright future.
~ There won’t be a gathering on Friday, October 31th ~
Friday, November 7th: Cross-cultural Adoption and Identity
John Jardine, BSW, MSW is of the Red Rock Indian Band, Lake Helen’s Reserve in Northern Ontario. He has spent his career working with children’s services. is currently working as College Instructor with the Native Education College, teaching in the Family & Community Counselling and the Aboriginal Youth Care programs. His Masters’ Thesis was entitled: The Medicine Wheel Theory and Concepts and Its Application in Organizational Development.
Friday, November 14th: Life in the Downtown Eastside
Dave Dixon, a former Vancouver Police Officer who worked in the Downtown Eastside will speak to the reality of his experience in the Downtown Eastside; the struggles, the myths, the complications and the people.
Friday, November 21st: Mato Oyate
Patrick Smith from the Portland Housing Society and the drumming group, Mato Oyate, will be presenting the sacred songs of the Aboriginal people including Sundance and sharing some of the meaning behind the songs.
Friday, November 28th: TBA
Friday, December 5th: “The Revolving Door of Prison: Addiction and Doing Time”
Presentation by Lara-Lisa Condello and Mo Korchinski
Friday, December 12: “Unlocking the Prison Gates: Returning to Community”
Presentation by Lara-Lisa Condello and Mo Korchinski
Lara-Lisa Condello is a Criminology Instructor with Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT)—BC’s Aboriginal Post-Secondary Institute. She founded NVIT’s prison education program. She is a co-investigator researcher with the Collaborating Centre for Prison Health and Education at the University of British Columbia and is the Chair of Women In2 Healing’s education bursary fund committee. A practitioner of collaborative learning, she applies artistic media to address the provocative yet often misunderstood concepts of penal abolition and transformative justice. Lara-Lisa is passionate about progressive social change and is committed to promoting life-long learning and grassroots community development.
Mo Korchinski has a long history of substance abuse and was previously incarcerated in a BC provincial correctional centre for women. Mo is now eight years clean and sober and spends most of her time helping others in her community, as well as spending time with her granddaughter Letisha. Mo is a member of Women in2 Healing, a network that collaborates with women to improve their health and wellbeing upon their release into community after prison. She is also the coordinator with Unlocking the Gates Peer Health Navigator project at the University of British Columbia, a peer mentorship program that mentors women for the first 72 hours upon release from prison. Mo is a painter, writer, photographer and filmmaker. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in May 2014.
A project made possible by the Vancouver-Burrard Provision Fund.