Take some time (37 minutes) to listen to Tom Power’s (CBC Q) interview with the amazing Tonya Williams, recipient of a 2024 Changemaker Award. The Canadian Academy (Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television) gives this honour to individuals who use their voices and platforms to call out systemic racism and discrimination; supporting and amplifying the voices of those who are actively engaged in anti-racist work; and seeking structural transformations in media/film/television organizations in Canada that promote values of equity and inclusion. Listen to Q with Tom Power (chtbl.com)  (scroll down to the episode, April 18/24)

We have had a request to repost these letters that Rev. Victoria wrote during the COVID shutdown. These letters detail the period of time when our church was making the decision to approve the 8th Principle.  They contain a great deal of valuable information and resources, both about this transition period, and also that are of lasting value and interest for us all.  They will also be printed and made available through our church library. The letters are available at the links below: Letter #1 Letter #2 Letter #3 Letter #4 Letter #5 Letter #6

The attached article is from an interview with Phil Monture and makes a fascinating read for anyone interested in knowing more about the Six Nations and the Haldimand Tract Land Claim controversies. You can download the article here.

The 8th Principle team suggests that you could… Catch the Shelly Niro exhibit (AGH) in the afternoon, Shelly Niro Exhibit Grab supper downtown and Return to the AGH for this book launch! Standing Tall: Black Women’s Stories of Triumph in Hamilton Friday April 5, 2024, 7-9pm Art Gallery of Hamilton 123 King Street West Hamilton, ON   https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/book-launch-standing-tall-black-womens-stories-of-triumph-in-hamilton-tickets-867973691677?aff=oddtdtcreator

Unique Opportunity for a  Full Day of Presentations and Discussion about local Indigenous Land Agreements On Thursday, March 21st, a free event, beginning with a tour of the Indigenous exhibit at the McMaster Museum of Art, followed by speakers from local colleges and universities at L.R. Wilson and Gilmour Hall (Council Chambers),  Check out the extensive schedule.  Come for all or any part of the day.  No registration required.   (click on images to see larger) .      

Make plans to visit the AGH within the next two and a half months to see this incredible display by Shelly Niro, Indigenous artist from Six Nations, Brantford.  This exhibit, which lasts until May 24th, is the 2nd stop on a five venue tour that comes to Hamilton from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C., and will go to Ottawa and Vancouver before it finishes in Saskatoon in Spring of 2025.  It features over 70 of Niro’s works.  People who have seen it suggest that it would take two visits to fully appreciate the breadth of Niro’s work. https://www.artgalleryofhamilton.com/exhibition/shelley-niro-500-year-itch/ . Shelly Niro, 500 year itch, Art Gallery of Hamilton AGH is open: Thur.-. 11 am-9 pm, Fri., 11 am-6 pm, Sat. & Sun., 11 am – 5 pm. It is free to the public on Thur., closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

For anyone who has not had the opportunity to tour the Mohawk Residential School in Brantford, Ontario. Although the residential school has been closed to the public during renovations, this virtual tour provides the history of the school, often called the Mush Hole by survivors (because of the poor quality food that was served there).  On former tours, survivors have shared their stories. Well worth the 90 minute virtual tour, March 20th, 7-8:30 pm.  You need to book ahead by going to the following link. Public Virtual Tour of Mohawk Institute – March 20, 2024 – CanadaHelps

A New Newsletter from the Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association Check this out, a very rich resource with lots of local information:  Griot Community Newsletter – February Edition (mailchi.mp) . A Challenging New Resource about Black History in CanadaJohnson, Michele A. and Aladejebi, Funke’ (2022) Unsettling the Great White North: Black Canadian History Although this text may appear overwhelming, it is very highly recommended, and required reading for anyone who truly wants to understand Canadian culture from a BIPOC perspective.  I can remember in early days of interacting with Indigenous communities how often they cautioned white people against thinking of Indigeneity in Canada as some singular concept.  Similarly, this volume seems to be an attempt to present the complexity of the Black community in Canada. From the publisher’s description: The book considers histories and theoretical framings within the disciplines of history, sociology, law, and cultural and gender studies to chart the mechanisms of exclusion…

The 8th principle Working Group is holding an evening of conversation between Pauline Kajiura and people in our church  who have experienced systematic racism; i.e., BIPOC, along with 2SLGBTOI+, and those with hearing, vision and physical concerns. This conversation, which is being held in the church sanctuary on Monday, March 11th, 7-9 pm, will focus on the results of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Audit that Pauline was asked to complete by our Church Board. This Audit was intended to determine what congregants believe is required to help them as individuals and community to dismantle systemic racism and barriers to inclusion, and what changes they hope to see. If you are a member of a group that may experience systemic racism and/or other barriers to full inclusion within our congregation you are invited to join us for this conversation. Please RSVP as soon as possible to Marion Sewell Sneyd, Chair…

Book Club Schedule: March-June, 2024 The Book Club is held on ZOOM, 7-8:30 pm on the first Monday of the month (except Tues., April 2nd). The schedule is as follows (also attached). To get notice and zoom links for these book club discussions, it is necessary to register at  concernedlaycatholics@gmail.com   Mon., March 4th, Alanis Oboamsawin, Indigenous filmmaker. Prepare for the discussion by watching her NFB documentary: Kanehsaktake: 270 years of Resistance at www.nfb.org Tues., April 2nd, Michelle Good. Telling Truths: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada. Mon., May 6, Robin Wall Kimmerer. A Return to Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants. Mon., June 3. Richard Wagamese. One Story, One Song. Ordering books from GoodMinds Bookstore in Brantford. This bookstore www.goodminds.com is Indigenous owned and operated and will ship books to you.  As well, GoodMinds offers free podcasts featuring Indigenous authors and their books at https://goodminds.com/pages/storykeepers.