Public Invited to Attend “Home” on September 18th

A free event celebrating the connection between healthy housing, community, and environment

Monday, September 12, 2022 – On Sunday, September 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Edward Milne Community School, the public is invited to attend “Home” – an event honouring the shared health, well-being and connection to the ecosystem as one community of T’Sou-ke and Sooke on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples.

“Home is not limited to the house. It encompasses one’s entire traditional territory,” said T’Sou-ke Nation Chief, Gordon Planes. “Recognizing the natural environment, including where our food and water comes from, where ceremony takes place, the spaces where children play and where ancestors lay to rest, home is so much more than one’s house.”

The September 18th event will provide time and space to acknowledge the traditional territory on which our communities reside and work to facilitate a stronger connection to the history of the lands.

“Through peace, friendship and opportunities like this event to come together, we can share knowledge, ideas and learning to help us grow together as stewards of the lands for generations to come,” Planes shared.

“This event is an opportunity to listen, learn and honour a perspective of home that is more than a single structure,” Mayor Maja Tait said. “While the event is one day, it is a day to celebrate our friendship and communities on the traditional territories of the T’Souke and Sc’ianew Peoples – and it is a day that will help guide us in our commitment to the process of truth and reconciliation.”

Complimentary Orange Shirts Available for Event Attendees

T’Sou-ke Nation children and youth have contributed their hand prints for a local shirt design. A limited supply of these shirts will be distributed (at no cost) at the September 18th event.

More About the Indigenous Housing Solutions Lab

The Solutions Lab takes an Eagle’s eye-view of home looking at home through the lens of the entire territory. In this project the work seeks gain elevation on the housing issues that affect people, both Indigenous and non-indigenous, who make their home in the traditional territory of T’Souke First Nation and develop salutation that reconnect people to a broader understanding of home.

Video: https://youtu.be/Op454yDM-2Q

____________________________________________________________________________

Related –

Flags to be Lowered to Half-mast

At the request of local Indigenous leaders, to honour Survivors and their families, and to recognize the history and legacy of residential schools, District flags at municipal hall will be lowered to half-mast on September 30th.

Orange Flags to Be Flown in Town Centre Roundabout

Orange has become a symbol of truth and reconciliation after Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 to honour “Phyillis’ story”, whose new orange shirt was taken on her first day at residential school when she was just six years old.

Orange flags will be flown in the roundabout on September 30th to continue to share Phyllis’ story.

September 30th, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was proposed in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which under Action 80 called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to establish a statutory holiday “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”

The District of Sooke Municipal Hall will be closed on September 30th as we observe National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Immediate support:

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience, call 1-866-925-4419.

Resources:

Additional:

Media Contacts:
Monica Shore, IISAAK OLAM Foundation Co-Founder & Executive Director
Tel: 250-802-7193    l    monica@iisaakolam.ca

 
Christina Moog, District of Sooke Communications Coordinator
Tel: 250.642.1634, ext. 678   l   e: cmoog@sooke.ca