JUNE 1, 2023
carnegienewsletter.org FREE -donations accepted
NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
camnews@vGn bc ca (604) 665+2289
JUNE IS INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH Building a renewed relationship with First Nations, lnuit and M6tis Peoples based
on the recognition of rights, respect and partnership.
June is lniligcnous History molitli. 'l`his history, at
least as taught in public schools \`-hen I was growing up in a village in southern Ontario, was glossed over. 'l`here \\as almost notliiiig about the dispossession or
forced agreements and no mcntion of residential schools other than that such existed.
'l`he histor,v of the United States was somehow more
excitilig or filled with stories (hindsight has most of this coming from biiised mo\'ics and TV). but tlie history of this couiitry was portrayed as bland, witli ex-
pansion e\'er westward of settlers liaving little to do with Indigenous populations. And of cc)urse the label was Indian, maybe Nati\ie. . . biit no tc.xtbook gave any indication that there were millions of people living full and ilmginative lives before pirates began to cheat and rob and rape and kill them. TimL`scha`nge.
T]ie whole idea of the residelitial school system was to kill the liidian ill th9 child, to make the Aboriginal iiiliabitants assimilate iiito the predominantly white colonial society. There was iiever any indication that cquality' was part of this, and to listen to the mostly white pol]ticians and their masters iio\v. it is still not in the cards. The oligoing obsci`nity of missing and murdered In-
digenous women and girls highlights the dark side of the dominant male-oriented po\`'er dynamic in man}' Iaiids, biit here it is not being permitted to be silenced mostly by the friends, relatives and loved ones of those
who are gone. This month, take time and miiki` cf`fort to lean about the long dnd storied history of Indigenous Peoples. National Indigenous Peoples Day is June 21. There will bc gatheiings and events nationwide. and inore informd`ion on plans for the Downtown Fastside conimunity w ill bi` published here when available and notices will dppeaT throughout the neighbourhood. Check the Carnegie Centre t`or the Juiie Program Guide to learn of Indigenous craft & creative events aiid take part in tlie colisultations being periodically held oil liidigenizing the centre itself. Nicole Bird is the progrdmmcr coordii`ating acti\ritieb
in Camegic that focus on Indigenous affaLrs. She can be reached Lnicolc.bjrd@`Jancouver.c:i`.'
lThe Downtown Eastside Writers Festival was a succcss! There were tlboilt (wcnt}J differeiit events includ-
ing gatherings ot` poets, various kinds of w'J.]ting -memc)irs, journalism, creative fiction, ciimix and storylelling. The organi7ers began meeting uieckly ill Feb-
ruary to use what was learned from the First Aiinual last year and new ideas kei)t coming up. Thanks to all who participated, and especially Bevcrl}i' and Lalia for keeping it together
By PAULR TAYLOR
CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION
AGM NOTICE
AREesFest DEte
3rd June 2023 TimE & Lc}ca[ion
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Saturday June 3, 202.1 ~ Emery Barnes Park (1170 Richard5 a[ Da`i.ie St)
Lunch Sol.ved: 12pm Parade Starts: 3pm FREE JQiii us for the culrmnritii?g celebration of BC Access Awai.eness Week! W€'u begin in Elnei}' Bam€s Palk with Ltmch provided on site! Froiil the pal.k, prepar-e yourselves for the pei.formaiic`e by artis{ Caniiien Papalia, where we will parade togeth€i-guided on a Walkiiig Tout. to §xuaL'aiiaq Xwtre76ink Square [VrHic'ort+'{|r Art G¢//f7..v IVor/Jj P/#:¢],
€irdin.a `v'ith pei`formanccs by Glow Motivet Tawahum Bige , Angelic , aiicl KeAloha! To lcanl moii=, go to the ACCESS Festival website -u'``'`ky..kickstai.tdisability .c{1
Community Memorial Service Wednesday, June 7, 2-4pm Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main Street
from the Library Wlii]e every mcmth ib a good month to learn more abciut Indigenous issues and cultures, June has been the go-to month for celebrating First Nations, lnuit, aiid M5tis peoples for nearly three decades now. So considc`r taking this as an opportunit}' to expalid ,your minds (for free!) by checking out some of the resources VPL has to offal.. Upcoming events this month include author talks b}' Josepli Kakwinc)kanasiim (author of Afj; J/idf.o# S'wmurcr) oil `1 u!ii` 5lh and by Michclle Gc>od (autlioi` of rrif//i rc//7.7ig.. Scvf# Coiivar6."/i.o#s 4bowf JHdJ.ganous I//e I.It Ct"ada) on `lujic` 8{li. Or, ifyou'rc more of an aiidio/visual type, head to the Central library on Jiine i 4tli for a rilm screeiiing of ten Indigenoiis shorts from the National Film Board. CaT]`t pull
yourself away from the computer? No problem -there are also a number of virtual programs you can attend on topics from Reconciliation to Indigenous genealogy. For tlie book lovers amoiig }'ciu3 we have several iioteworthy new additions to tlic collectioii. Learn aboLit the healing properties of local plants from Skwx\+-u7mesh ethnclbotanist Li`igh Joseph ill fJe/d dy. f/.a I:a,Iid_: A Giljd_e to .Ili!igel:o_i!s P_Ial_Ils for Welliiess . Y ou cain also gc+ `Ln l`in;rlow For 2L c;opy Of iJlibrokerl: My Story_Of. SIlrv!v{Il (in(.I My Fight for Jilsiice nlid IIope for IiiJigenous Wonieli and Girls by ilwardw inning a Itxsan joiimalist Angela S(erritt. If your reading procli\'ities lean liiorc towards the mystical, we've got ttic highly-anticipated new novel from Clicrie Dimiiliiie. y"IC.t, as well :is Jessica John`s hit debut. Bfi¢/ Cr€e.13oth are engaging works ot` spcculaliv e fiction (thii`k fantasy , horror) that liave dccper messages embedded \` ithin. Ask at a VPI , branch near you for more details about any of` the above. or for information {]boiit diiything else that slriLes } oiir fanc)-.
-Kcl'y
Writers. Picnic by Flona Tlnwel Lam,
My least favourite sound is .
Vancouver's 6th Poet Laureate Dedicated to DTES Writers and the staff at the Carnegie, Mega-
A crash
phone and Oppenheimer Field House
something urgent unexpec:ted
Time to write a pc)em
underthetrees
that demands anguish
sunlight rayingthrough
right now
lush green filigree onto thirsty pages
drop everything Aroundeach table
writersfocused a5sunlight
a crash can't be ignored
filtering words through fingers and pens
barewords
scragglywords
Stuttering
muttering
any plan
lavishwords
any activity
suspended fluttering
uttering
lt's never fair
a feast of qu.ickening metaphors
PRT
about to burst into verbalicious harvest
fionalam.net
"Each person is a half-open door leading to a I.oom for every-
one' -Tomas Transtfomer, "The Half-Finished Heaven"
An Ode to People at the park This park i5 free space
with time almost not pre55ing
its prompts upon the nervous and self-conscious
peace is not the abscence of noise peace is an easy silence inside My universe dark large filled with
This space lets peace wait
with grace
An everlasting supply of ideas
That any human mind can imagine
We use the potential of our creative minds
and maybe come alive
On this small part of my universe
To move in the future is to move forward
with smiles
and common purpose
Growing expanding learning more and mc)re What will a million years from now look like?
No mc>re homelessness
ldealising -maybe -seeing the best
and knowing everyone has
illness
envy
greed
Just an endless amount of everything
No time no pressure no problems no death
a hard road Rob Brc)
to walk Paul Taylor
Carliegie Lear[ijng Celilrc-s 4()th Anniversary
I`he co]iimunity o[` participa[its in the I ,earning
Ci`iltre caml` together cm Ma,\ =5. :()23 to celebrate its loth @nni\'ersar}/' as I)art of the DTES Wliters I-estival. Preparz`\ion for this c\'ent began ill the siininier of` 2022 \`/-hell we realized th{it the project wc wanted to create. required us (o secure ruiiding. We received financial support t`rom lhc C\)mmiinity Arts Fund grant, the Camegi¢` C`immunit}. Centre Associali``>n. and the I)i)\`i-nto\`'n Ea`tside Lite].acy Roundtable. Vv'-ith tl`e fii[iJing in place, \\'e approai`hed Mildrc`d Grac`e German. i`i>mmiinily artist, alid I lari Al]uii,
aiithor. to \`J.ork with the Leaning Centre commuiiity. Mldre(I held _i t-shj_rt dc`sign w.orkshops to create a desi`gii tlii`t captured lhc s[tirit of the Leari)iiig Centre Hiiri held 2 u/ritjlig worksliops and with the com-
munity, crc`ated group poenis dud ii]iii\'idua] pieci`s tliat bi'caml. the lieart of thi` 40th publjcation.
On the d<ay of [hc celebration iiian.\. hands \`rere in the` tlieatre and ``iorked together to make tlie celebration possible! People. ealT`e whi`n tlie}' \` ere not
schetliiled to \\ ark. We rei`ogiiize ai`d chi`rish llie e+xtra effort that Gilli`s C} renni`, N icolc Bird. Jamie Mcgi`egc)r` Luke Vi)sak. aiid William Bo(}th continually give lo us` The kilclicn staff did an ext[.aorilimr}'
job in lo\ ing]} preparing the fitod tl`at wits enjoyecl by tl]e commiiiiity. The security staff supportl`d the c`ei`t in :i gelltle` cijmpaniomble \\i€iy taking care ()f I"]i]y details. Everyc>ne fouiid a \t'd}'-to lend a hanil`
Elder I ,es Ni.lson opened thi` cell.bratit`n witli a be;iutiful ]aiid ackliow[edgmnt arid a l`eiirtfclt, fiiii, al`d gripping stor}` aboilt liis lirst L`nco`inter in the LC`, Di{ilie Wood was our Mistress ot` Cereii`oiiie.` aiid slii. set the perfect tone in welectming one an(I all . Tlie community welcomi`d thc` instr`imelital playt`rs ot` the C'ommunjt}' T)evelopmi`nt Oiitrcach (C[)O) di.partnient. a Capilano University teaiii first en`'isioned aiid c`reafed b}. l'i]l Ilodgsi>n. Tlie DL`an ot`
CDO, J3rad Malljn, came aT`d witiiesscd tlie girt` of the coliimiiliity-ill the Do\tnto\+n Easlside.
Artists ri`ad their p`)ems to an aiidil`nce t)f 90 t`olks in tile
tticatre. SoTiie ailists had never sl`ared tl`cjt. voices
publically and were terrified to read out loiid in fro]it of so ma[iy people. The,v share(I that they felt
that they were a pall of the community at Carnegie where people are kind, inclusive> forgiving and accomi)lished. They felt that the communil}' \\'as staiiding beside them, supporting them as they read,
giving them a sense of comfort, whicli allowed them to take the risk to read in front of c\-cryone.
Tliere were many members who ha\'e been key participants in the LC for many }iears, such as: Hedi Amendt, Don Wilkie, Carl MacDoiiald. Michael Nardachionni, Diane Wood, Steplien Lytton and Videlia Frechette. The}i' contillue to give their cxpcrtjse and knowlcdgc to assist ill the dail}' operations that make the LC I-un smoothl}i. Stephen Lyttoii was made for tlie red carpet as he fashioiiably modeled the unveiling of the LC's t-shirt dc`sigri. Vidcha,
(C:unegie's Volunteer of the Year), and his friends from the deaf community came and were able to participate because there were 2 sign language interpreters who communicated the cclcbration as it unfolded.
The day was capped off with a remarkable daiice choreographed and pcrformcd by Rhys Arricta, one of our newest volunteers` and by the entire community singing `.Lean on Me"!
Singing "Lean on me"
And the dancing was great!
A Collection of Memories at Carnegie
... looks like iin open door` like rcadiiig. like people tr,viiig to hold tlic cliaos togc.llier. '1 astes likL' hc)1lc}
fresh from the hi\'e. Lot)ks like welcoming. `` amiing, lo`'ing, sharing. Looks like fl colouTfiil canvas. St)urids
like a sympliony. Smells [ikl` ctiffec roasted just t`or }oLi. Tastes like a mu]tl-cuisinL`` a milieu of c`ents
t`rom all o\`cr thi` \+ii)rid. Smells like niountain fresh tiirl`reedoTn. jo}'. -- and changes iii} cheniistry. To be liome with fric`nds alid I.amil}. Ri`minds mc (>f having good 1`ood like niom inatle in niy childhtiod housi`. r`eels like the sunshine coming through the rt)ol` of the gallery, SoLinds like melody for life. Looks like a jigsaw puz/1e of i`xpericnces, emc>tions, :md liidden trutl`s. So`inds li.ke a hiiinlniiigbird
of-repealed phrases ,is peoi)lc converse \\ith each t)thcr. Si]iells like spices being grinded, tastes like mixed fr`lit o(` di\rersitT. I``cels like
trudging tluough molasses. Reminds i'1ie of a lieu day. Sounds like l`amiljar and othei.s around nie. Feels like I am welcome. Looks like life \`ithout limits: blissfulness without bounds. Sounds like music. smells lilc ziroiiia from flowers, tastes like ripe frllit fri)in wilderness. Fei`ls like healing. Reminds ml' of lil`e frttm within. S`iuirds like it is \ er}. be"tiful to be in Canieg]c` if needed help or tt) hi`1p others. S[iiells liLejasmine llowcr every\\'hc`rc in the air in ever}'liod} } ou smell, Feels ]ikc I'm n`lt alone but nobody admits it. Ri`mjnds me of family l`rieiids I havi}n't known existed. Reniinds iiie of iiispiration to e\/er}`bod,v. Fcl']s lilt all ieet)i`rg melting images like t`choes falling back, folding, receding to a place \ve ha\-e zilways known but can never guess. Looks like stt`am engine up a loiig \VI.nding hill. hot sti`am rising ri]liiig the {iir like L`Iotid rc`dching the sky. celehri`tion i)n rising. rilling the air like thousands ol`exLiberaiit \\'halcs
cr(iwded like choirs to hc`avenl\' host.
Group Poem: Diane, Naliida, Sourav, Friend, Roy, Mildred, Melody, Sylvia, Irene, Elva and Roger
The Carnegie Centre Community Association is looking for a fLIll time staff
person to help us builcl a community plan to end homelessness in the DTES!!
Manager, Community Research and organization -Carnegie Community Centre Associatiori Job Description -May, 2023 This position as Manager with the Carnegie Community Centre Association (CCCA), reports to the board of the CCCA through the Community F{elations c,ommittee`
Thf position works to support the mandate of the CCCA to help low-income Downtown Eastside residents ensure that decisions about the futLire of the c,ommiinity biJild on community assets. The CCCA manclate includes working for more and better housing for all people in the neighbourhood includlng those who are currently homeless. higher
welfare rates and slowing gentrification of the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.
Roles and Responsibilities: This ls a full time position to implement the CCCA's project to work with
community pallners to create a DTES community plan to end homelessness, including research on current and proposed housing stock, current government plans, short and long temi visions of the kinds of housing residents want and need and interim humane solutions until that housing is bllilt. The job will involve
•
Working with DTEs groups that are alreacly interviewing residents about their housing situations: Assembling these interview; Reviewjng existing clty, provincial and federal housing plans for the DTES to determine if changes are needed arid how we can work together; Gathering information on housing stack.units we are gaining and losing and SRO stock; Seeking consensus on recommendations using town halls and by circulating a draft report; Pub!isliing a report. seeking media attention for partners on content of report, and getting government attention and action to the report
()ther du`]es s`tcl] as the l`oll()wi[ig may i)c rlL{iiics(ed i}s lii'c.lied
• • •
Engaging low-Income community members jn campaigns and activities aroijnd land use. housing, gentrification. income support; Supporings the research activiti-es of the Community Flelations Committee; Suppc>rting the fundraising efforts of the CCCA related to the ac,tiv!ties nanied
above, •
Writlng occasional relevant artlcles for the Carnegie newsletter:
•
Attending meetings of community partners, in support of the coalition building efforts of the CCCA, related to the CCCA mandate;
•
Participating ln, and supporting memberst participation in, government
•
initiatives ancl neighbourhood planning processes that provide opportunity to further CCCA goals related to land use, housing, gentrification, income suppert; Supporting CCCA organization of low~income residents to attend rezoning and
development application hearings and to speak publicly in support of the
CCCA mandate; •
ln all cases seeks to have the voice cif community members prioritized in all
public communications or engagement`
Experience, Education and Qualifications: • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
•
Ability to use computer software including Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc. for research, writing reports, presentations, formatting flyers,
posters, etc. •
Ability to engage and gain the support of others fc)r CCCA mandate
• •
and activities Workshop facilitation Experience working with people living on inadequate incomes,
•
Publicspeaking skHls
• • • •
Development of social justice campaigns Ability to work in a team and on own, and with a community board Research skills related to housing, income, and/or planning issue 2 years postsecondaryeducation in soc;iel fields of study or equivalent in experience and qualifications.
This ls a 35 hc>ur a week pesition, initially contracted for one year, working in the CCCA office at Carnegie Centre. F`ate of pay is $35.00 per hour.
•
please send your resume and a references to: aillesicvrenne@vahoo.ca and
•
cc:
deleine.Ghamberiain
CIQsingdate: June 19. 2023
Are you Willing? I v.ioke lip with a tlurT.\ {>r\+ords hangiTi[ In ni}' THiiid I]ki. ilcan clothes wal.ting [o be pressed.
Let go, Ii`t it be. and go forward Stop holdmg on to olJ bTOLen memories that hurt yt)LIT c;oiil. IiLc \\/om out `ht`es squeezing tlie life out of } oil With coaT.si` lL`athi`r that has ciutgrown its wL`lcome.
A \ itice of i]mocence eL`httes from a far sayiiig. '' Are } ou willi]]g t(t let go of walking around waiting, waiting, and \tyaitlng f`tr the ab<ind(\nc`d o`+'nEr that len you bc-
hjj\cl \`'ithout a conscious thought?"
"^Ti` lou willing to stop dTaggilig me aro`md like s(]me Ragged,v Ann bc`ing cl`ocLcd oil } our iiiiii`r turmoil?
I'm
just a \\.o`mded child crying out for help." ".\ri` you \wlling to diininish the past and travel the lonely road of unt`orgettatili` palii tliat }'t>u .]]lit\+i`d to decay like fl rttiti'Ti litt>[h that needs to be extracted?"
"Ari` } oil u illin.g to cTcatc the space to experience a maze of unan`\+erEd qi]estion` that triggere`] i._li,]`lI_\ mt`mories
`+Ilich lm\l` \J(in sick to touch?" My soul la}' betoie iiii. like an ewhausteci wathlng in.ii`hiiie on it` 1a`[ legs
I looked in the mlmH .Hrd <i siiiall shy girl sliiiled back at mc stretchii]g her Hms out silently bL`ckoning me to lioltl her and Tievcr let hi`r `to.
She whispers, ''Are you n IIIing ttt hi`al th[s u oimdi`d child with]n and give birth to a I)owerful new version of yclil?" I felt a wave of doubt \i`ash o`'i.r IT]i. \iki` a much-needed baptism. I sci.earned out find said` "Wli<it if I doTi't ti[i`i` the strength and I am too afraid to take the risk?''
The small girl geiit[}' sq\ieezed me and sLild. " I )on'l worry, we've cc>ine this far and we're nearly thiTe." Her eyes drift ott`tow itrds the horizoii`
"Are }'ou Vl i||ingr"
Short talk on astral triivel
"And are ` (`u \\ orth the risk."
Floating iiilo the wall ilp abo\e iiito the c€iling. t`ilt Thri)iigh
"Y|``` I am "
l[ic froiit `+' irido\+' and onti=)
Melody Morris
(To|h{ime A\ie, I sc.i` the liioc>n on th-Is I`air d<i}J. stamljng 1 ike
the eye iif Gctd` as my si)ul travels ui:iti`iulig lli`iigs
liLe i` hi`\+k
I.etiimirig lo m}i bed sill.I)I.ismET1}
ii`t`]chi`d.
Jatliimler Sz]mlh`1
eeaff
We {icknt`jwledge lhiil CiiFnegiL` C{mimmily Centri+, <ill{I
mE\fvSLETTER
this ifews/e#er, are occurring on Coast Salish Temloryt
Jenny Kwan MP
THis NEN§LETTER rs A puBucATIO# OF THE
cARNEGiE codiMUNrTT CENTRE AssocIA"o# Articles represent thE vietlfs a{ iridiwidual
V8ncouvLi>r East NDP
Immigration, Refugee
contrib utor5 and not o1 the Associa#QIT.
ar`d Citizen5hip Critic
2572 E Ha5t{ngs St
WANTED
Vancouver. BC V5K IZ3
Athcorh for the C3mngie REws[etler -Small i!lus!raf§ens to accompany articles and pioedyy.
-Cover art ~ Max size: 17rm(6 ./<r)wife x 15cm(6'}high.
T: 604--/75-5800 f : 604-7?5-5811
-Sut*gct rna:[er pertaining to !§sLjes rrfevar}t 1o \tie
Downtown Eastsife, but all wchi ocoside!ed. -Black & While printing only.
-Size resirietins apgiv {l,e. if your piecei is ton lar\ge,
Nerd issue= DEADLINE
il will be redijced and/of cropped to fill.
Monday, June 12 I)y hooh
-Aft arfust5 wi# iecei¥e eredit ion their wck,
i)rigir3als will be rctumed to the artist after [dng
cegiv for putalicatin.
WEAPONS 0F MASS DESTRuC"ON
i`emuneration : Carnegie Vdunieer Tieke{s
Please make submis5icms fo Paul Taylor, Editor. The edltor I:an edit for clarity, icrmal & be.£i!y.
but not al the expgrfse Of ihe writers nessape,
401 Ma€ri Street, Vancouver V6A ZT7 604J565-2289
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AIDS
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POVERTY
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HQMELESSNESS
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VIQLENCEAGAINST WOMEN
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T0l-ALITARIAN CAPITALISEN
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IGNORANCE and susTA!NED FEAR
IroNAmoN8 2o23 Wheelbarrow Foundation Michele C-$300 J for Bob Sarti -$150
VM Theatre -$500 H -$750 Kevin D -$100
For Roger Howls -$150 Teresa V -$50
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cammtlnity station.