The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford hosts two significant and engaging events to wrap up its current season of exhibitions which focus on decolonization and (re)conciliation: Reconciliation in the Classroom: A Workshop for Educators and Talking Circle: A Public Conversation About Next Steps.
Reconciliation in the Classroom is a free workshop offered to educators working both within and outside of the public education system. This workshop on Friday, April 28, 8:30am – 2:30pm at The Reach, is facilitated by IndigenEYEZ, an organization that is focused on transforming communities and inspiring an intergenerational legacy of well-being among First Nations people in BC and beyond. They blend land-based learning with the arts and best practices in community-building – the Creative Community Model approach.
The workshop is designed for educators and provides tools to foster cross-cultural safety with all students and develop a deeper understanding of the needs of students with First Nations ancestry. It also creates awareness of how to promote cultural appreciation while avoiding appropriation when teaching about Indigenous people in Canada. Space in the workshop is limited so be sure to register soon! To register go to: http://www.thereach.ca/calendar/#event|reconciliation-in-the-classroom|644
The second program, Talking Circle: A Public Conversation About Next Steps will occur on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 1:00pm at The Reach. The event is free and the general public is welcome to join artists David Campion & Sandra Shields, whose popular exhibition Grand Theft Terra Firma has been on view since January at The Reach, in a community conversation. The event also features a performance by Canada’s only female Aboriginal beatboxer, hip-hop artist JB the First Lady, and some light refreshments.
Campion and Shields’s exhibition is about getting at the heart of the conflict between Canada and Indigenous peoples. They ask: Once we understand that the land beneath our feet is not rightfully ours, what can we do about it? Talking Circle: A Public Conversation About Next Steps is an open forum, an opportunity to share ideas and come up with concrete strategies for working toward justice and mutual respect. Everyone is invited to join as we explore how we might live together in a better way.
These free public programs are made possible by the Hamber Foundation, the BC Arts Council, and the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, a collaboration between Abbotsford Community Foundation, the City of Abbotsford, the Government of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast. For more details drop by The Reach, 32388 Veterans Way, or visit thereach.ca or phone: 604 864 8087 (dial “O”).
Media contact for Reconciliation in the Classroom and Talking Circle:
Laura Schneider, Executive Director & Curator, The Reach
Email: lschneider@thereach.ca
T: 604-864-8087 x125