Th e Witn e355 Project Through a partnership between the Roundhouse Community Centre and the members of the Squamish Nation Band, participants from the general public meet Saturday morning in downtown Vancouver at the Roundhouse Community Centre, then travel on a three hour journey through traditional Squamish northern ter- ritory where they are then invited to spend the weekend and participate in a traditional Squamish Nations Witness Ceremony as well as other optional activities. Being called to Witness in the Coast Salish tradition is a sacred honor, and involves individuals being chosen as the eyes and ears of an important event so that its details and sig- nificance can be passed on to future generations. by Gregory Byrne In addition to participating in the Witness Ceremony, participants from the weekend are free to spend the weekend relaxing with friends and family alongside the river and beautiful mountain scenery or Witness participants will be exposed:to a broad range of ideas from Witness facilitators, who include members of the Squamish Nation, artists, mountaineers, ecologists and com- munity activists. A traditional and sacred Witness ceremony will take place every Saturday afternoon at Sims Creek. The Witness project relies largely on volunteers to organize the camp and run the weekend activities. Early sign up for the weekends is recommended. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help run these camping weekends must attend one of two training sessions which will be held in Northern Squamish Territory—Sims Creek, May 13-14, 2000 or May 20-21, 2000. You may volunteer for as little as one weekend or as many as eight. Commitment, reliability arid an interest in outdoor recreation, ecology or native issues are advised. Each weekend through June and July, five camp operators will be assigned to arrive early at Sims Creek to set up tarps, tables, firepits as well as oriented to the area and it's hiking trails. The weekend duties will be divided between camp mainte- nance and involvement in the planned activities, which include wilderness tours and workshops, as well as an introduction to Native practises hosted by members of the Squamish Nation. Sunday afternoons will be devoted to complete clean up, removal and tear down of all signs of our weekend presence. Oostindie For more info about Witness pick up a copy of the Roundhouse Spring Program Guide. A Witness brochure will soon be available at the Roundhouse (Davie St. & Pacific Blvd.) With ET Those interested in volunteering for this project may contact our volunteer coordinator, Gregory, at the Roundhouse Community Centre, 713-1857. 24 @ take part in a variety of optional activities including: wilder- ness and ecological education, various forest management presentations, outdoor performances, photography educa- tion and cultural activities including drum making, and nat- ural food and plant gathering. The Witness program is a unique inter-cultural dia- logue about history, industry, community, environment and recognition of indigenous peoples land rights. The organiz- ers, volunteers and participants all come from a variety of perspectives. It is not an environmental movement, but rather a group of people united in concern over a variety of complex interrelated issues from all aspects of the communi- ty including First Nations People, former and still active members of the logging community, homeless people, stu- dents, artists, tourists, ecologists, children, academics, gov- ernment employees and families. Where else could you find a logger engaged in friendly debate with an environmental lawyer about sustainable practices on a remote sand bar in the midst of the wilderness in front of up to one hundred people from all walks of life imaginable? This program relies heavily on volunteer support, so if you can spare a few weekends over the summer and want to have some fun in the mountains and accumulate large doses of positive Karma, then please contact Gregory at the Roundhouse at 713-1857 or attend a meeting at the Roundhouse on April 27th at 7:00 PM. The Witiess) PrOjeCte ant Community Centre and the members of the Squamish Nation Band, participants from the general public meet Saturday morning in downtown Vancouver at the Roundhouse Community Centre, then travel on a three hour journey through traditional Squamish northern ter- ritory where they are then invited to spend the weekend and participate in a traditional Squamish Nations Witness Ceremony as well as other optional activities. Being called to Witness in the Coast Salish tradition is a sacred honor, and involves individuals being chosen as the eyes and ears of an important event so that its details and sig- nificance can be passed on to future generations. by Gregory Byrne In addition to participating in the Witness Ceremony, participants from the weekend are free to spend the weekend relaxing with friends and family alongside the river and beautiful mountain scenery or Witness participants will be exposed.to a broad range of ideas from Witness facilitators, who include members of the Squamish Nation, artists, mountaineers, ecologists and com- munity activists. A traditional and sacred Witness ceremony will take place every Saturday afternoon at Sims Creek. The Witness project relies largely on volunteers to organize the camp and run the weekend activities. Early sign up for the weekends is recommended. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help run these camping weekends must attend one of two training sessions which will be held in Northern Squamish Territory—Sims Creek, May 13-14, 2000 or May 20-21, 2000. You may volunteer tor as little as one weekend or as many as eight. Commitment, reliability and an interest in outdoor recreation, ecology or native issues are advised. Each weekend through June and July, five camp operators will be assigned to arrive early at Sims Creek to set up tarps, tables, firepits as well as oriented to the area and it's hiking trails. The weekend duties will \_ be divided between camp mainte- nance and involvement in the planned activities, which include wildemess tours and workshops, as well as an introduction to Native practises hosted by members of the Squamish Nation. Sunday afternoons will be devoted to complete clean up, removal and tear down of all signs of our weekend presence. For more info about Witness pick up a copy of the Roundhouse Spring Program Guide. A Witness brochure will ‘soon be available at the § Roundhouse (Davie St. & Pacific Blvd.) Those interested in volunteering for this project may contact our volunteer coordinator, Gregory, at the Roundhouse Community Centre, 713 take part in a variety of optional activities including: wilder- ness and ecological education, various forest management presentations, outdoor performances, photography educa- tion and cultural activities including drum making, and nat- ural food and plant gathering. The Witness program is a unique inter-cultural dia- logue about history, industry, community, environment and recognition of indigenous peoples land rights. The organiz- ers, volunteers and participants all come from a variety of perspectives. It is not an environmental movement, but rather a group of people united in concern over a variety of complex interrelated issues from all aspects of the communi- ty including First Nations People, former and still active members of the logging community, homeless people, stu- dents, artists, tourists, ecologists, children, academics, gov- ernment employees and families. Where else could you find a logger engaged in friendly debate with an environmental lawyer about sustainable practices on a remote sand bar in the midst of the wildemess in front of up to one hundred people from all walks of life imaginable? This program relies heavily on volunteer support, so if you can spare a few weekends over the summer and want to have some fun in the mountains and accumulate large doses of positive Karma, then please contact Gregory at the Roundhouse at 713-1857 or attend a meeting at the Roundhouse on April 27th at 7:00 PM.