Posted on

B.C. powwow organizers apologize after identity-based event rules spark outrage | Globalnews.ca

B.C. powwow organizers apologize after identity-based event rules spark outrage  | Globalnews.ca

Organizers of a popular powwow in Kamloops, B.C. have issued their “sincerest apologies” after the event rules posted to their Facebook page sparked significant public outrage.

According to a Tuesday post, contestants in the 41st Annual Kamloopa Powwow must be “at least (1/4) Native Blood,” and proof of “tribal identification/status may be required.” The rules also stated that dancers must wear full regalia and “be of the correct gender for that category.”

The rules sparked immediate backlash, with some social media users accusing the Kamloopa Powwow Society (KPS) of enforcing colonial blood quantum, excluding gender diverse and two-spirit people, and upholding transphobia.

“My deepest sympathy to those who have been hurt and harmed in that posting,” said an organizer in a video posted to the group’s Facebook page on Wednesday. “The KPS board has been able to meet to discuss how we’re going to move forward and looking at those rules and making our wrong right.”

Story continues below advertisement

Global News has reached out to the KPS for comment on this story.

Read more:

Second annual convoy to Kamloops, B.C. honours the ‘lost souls’ of residential school

The term “blood quantum” refers to a colonial blood measurement practice used to determine who can obtain government-issued Indigenous status and who can pass it onto to their children. While not specifically referenced in Canadian legislation, the Indian Act lays out such criteria.

In a video viewed more than 154,000 times as of Wednesday, two-spirit Nakota Sioux TikToker Kairyn Potts said the Kamloopa Powwow is “enacting literal colonization tactics.” He further described the gender limitations as “heartbreaking” and a “step backwards for our community.”

“It is actively undoing a lot of the work that myself, and many, many, many other advocates for the two-spirit and Indigenous queer community are putting in so much work, and love and energy into,” he said.


Click to play video: 'Inside Pride: Two-spirited Sask. Indigenous girls inspire others to be themselves'







Inside Pride: Two-spirited Sask. Indigenous girls inspire others to be themselves


Inside Pride: Two-spirited Sask. Indigenous girls inspire others to be themselves – Jun 10, 2022

On Twitter, Cree lawyer and activist Tanya Kappo described the “blood quantum” and “correct gender” stipulations as “shameful.”

Story continues below advertisement

Stellat’en First Nation actor and model Shannon Baker tweeted, “Kamloopa powwow you should be ashamed of yourself! Blood quantum and being anti LGBTQ2S+ is colonial thinking.”

On Facebook, the Kamloops Pride Society said it has reached out to the Kamloopa Powwow Society to encourage a change in rules that intentionally includes two-spirit, trans and non-binary folks.

“Two-spirit people were historically celebrated and valued in Indigenous culture, and these decisions don’t align with that,” it wrote.

“Many of the voices we are hearing are echoing the sentiments of how these rules and decisions stem from the white colonialism, patriarchy, and systemic issues that still oppress these communities.”

Read more:

Being Two-Spirit and trans in Canada: How colonization shaped the way we view gender diversity

In its own Facebook post, C&T Tabulating, a business that tabulates and measures powwow outcomes through a point system, said it was withdrawing its services from the Kamloops event.

“We support peoples choices, we support inclusivity and cannot in good conscious put ourselves in a situation where our two spirit youth within our family see us enforcing any of these rules (sic),” it wrote.

It was clear in the event organizers’ Wednesday apology that other dancers and individuals had withdrawn as well.

Story continues below advertisement

“I do not know how we’re going to recover from this,” the event organizer said in their video. “We respect your decisions and just know that we are here to relook at how we’ve been operating and how we can move forward in a good way so there is no room for hurt and harm to anyone.”


Click to play video: 'Emotional support workers preparing for Pope Francis’ visit to Maskwacis'







Emotional support workers preparing for Pope Francis’ visit to Maskwacis


Emotional support workers preparing for Pope Francis’ visit to Maskwacis

According to the KPS, the now-controversial rules stemmed from a German participant in the powwow who won an event one year, upsetting some participants, and from an elder who once spoke about the need for the jingle dress category to be a women-only event.

“Today we’re more open to acknowledge our two-spirited,” the organizer said, “and even … Indigenous communities that it includes First Nations, Métis and the Inuit people.”

She herself was “hurting” as a result of the pain caused by the rules, she added. In its Facebook post, the KPS said the rules posted this week don’t reflect how it has run the last 19 powwows.

Story continues below advertisement

The Kamloopa Powwow takes place on Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc territory, but the First Nation does not organize the event. Global News has reached out to its chief, Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir, for comment.

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers culturally competent counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples experience trauma, distress, strong emotions and painful memories. The line can be reached anytime toll-free at 1-855-242-3310.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Posted on

Utah events, awareness day spark conversations to reduce stigma of mental health challenges

Labeled Fest, held between Thursday and Saturday in Salt Lake City, gave an opportunity for people to talk about mental illnesses during Mental Health Month in May.

Labeled Fest, held between Thursday and Saturday in Salt Lake City, gave an opportunity for people to talk about mental illnesses during Mental Health Month in May. (Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com)

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — Many people are trying to normalize conversations about mental health and work towards ending a stigma around metal health that can sometimes keep people from getting needed support.

May is Mental Health Month, and is a good time for people to take some time to consider how they can help. Labeled Fest, which was held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, hosted many presentations geared toward normalizing mental health conversations and focusing on positive labels.

“Really mental health is a superpower, you know, and if we can all see that as a positive label instead of a negative label then we can all enhance the community around us,” Brian Higgins said.

Higgins is the creative director of Mental Healthy F.i.T., which stands for films, ideas and tips, the organization that hosted the event. It is a nonprofit advocacy organization that helps people tell their stories, whether they are about mental health issues or other challenges.

Labeled Fest is held once a year as a place for people who have been involved in the organization’s other events showcase things they have created or learned at workshops throughout the year, according to Higgins.

Higgins said that this event is designed to help people look at positive labels associated with mental health like “creative,” “empathetic” and “connection.” They chose to host the event at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts because of the connection between many artists and mental health.

He said statistics show that one-fifth of people have a diagnosed mental health issue, but that really everyone deals with mental health issues.

“Mental health affects us all,” Higgins said.

The organization also focuses on how to help those who are homeless, Higgins suggested that the easiest way to help homeless people is to smile and give the people some of your time. He said ignoring homelessness also means ignoring people. Higgins was homeless himself for more than 18 months, and said that homeless people are not very different from other people.

“Homelessness can happen to anybody,” he said.

At Labeled Fest, and throughout its other events, Mental Healthy F.i.T is creating kits for homeless people with small things like socks and toiletries and also cards with information about resources.

Higgins said that it is incredible to hold the event in person again.

“There’s just a real energy and a magic to getting people together for a common goal,” Higgins said.

Damon Talbot was involved in Labeled Fest and did a “performative slideshow” which was designed to show that accepting a situation or mental health condition can help improve a person’s outlook, which he said many people told him was inspiring. He is a member of Alliance House, which is a program in Salt Lake City to assist adults with mental illness lead productive lives.

He said a person with mental illness can be successful, even though they will have hard days.

Talbot said for many years after he was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, he stayed home and would isolate and not talk to people, but after he accepted it, he was able to become part of the community again and meet others who were going through the same things. He said community events like Labeled Fest help people to realize that mental illnesses don’t need to ruin their lives.

“So many people that are going through mental illness … they don’t talk about it, so an event like this where you can be vulnerable, you can come out and talk about it is really impactful,” Talbot said.

He said it is important to remember that those with mental illness are like everybody else, they want connections and for people to reach out and acknowledge them. He said people don’t have to necessarily walk on eggshells around people with mental health concerns, but that it can be helpful to take time to learn about their challenges.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

May is a month for mental health awareness, but more specifically, Saturday is a day to focus on awareness for children’s mental health. Gov. Spencer Cox declared the day Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Utah, and the day is also acknowledged nationally.

Rebecca Dutson, president and CEO of The Children’s Center Utah, said a big part of the day is reducing the stigma around mental health challenges that people, especially young people, face.

“I think we need to spend more time helping people understand that our very tiniest people, our little children have mental health. And they have mental health concerns,” Dutson said.

She said many people don’t stop to realize that infants, toddlers and preschoolers have mental health concerns, but that addressing these early can change the trajectory of that child’s life. She also said acknowledging the issue can lead to more solutions.

She said that parents should not hesitate, if they have a concern about their child’s mental health, to reach out to a physician, The Children’s Center Utah or other resources to get help for their child. She said that parents and caregivers know their children best, and can recognize when something is different, whether the child is more withdrawn or acting up.

“When you feel that something isn’t quite right, we encourage families to reach out to their pediatricians and begin a conversation,” Dutson said.

The Children’s Center Utah helps children between birth and 6 years old with mental health challenges. Dutson said their clinical team uses trauma-informed and evidence-based treatments that are individualized based on the specific child’s experience and needs.

Dutson said the last two years during the coronavirus pandemic have had an impact on everyone’s mental health; as children were pulled out of school, families were isolated and there were a lot of unknowns, it caused stress for adults, which can increase the mental health concerns for their children.

“I think one of the most important things is that, as families and as a society … we should be talking about it more. It’s foundational to our well-being,” Dutson said.

She said that there are times that everyone needs more help, and that families should normalize talking about mental health.

Suicide prevention concert

Utah performer Alex Boye is headlining what is billed as the state’s first-ever suicide prevention concert at 7 p.m. at the Maverik Center, continuing the focus on mental health. Tickets were free but distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Utah has the six highest suicide rate in the U.S.,” Boye said. “Music saved my life and I know it can do the same for others, which is why I do these concerts. Our concept is simple: Use these concerts to help build connections, healing and support in our community. This will be an unforgettable night that will feed your soul, and save lives; this is not just a concert … It is an experience.”

Emily Ashcraft joined KSL.com as a reporter in 2021. She covers courts and legal affairs, as well as health, faith and religion news.

More stories you may be interested in

Posted on

For kids, Surrey’s new year-round ‘SPARK’ events to replace annual children’s festival – Surrey Now-Leader

For kids, Surrey’s new year-round ‘SPARK’ events to replace annual children’s festival - Surrey Now-Leader

Surrey International Children’s Festival is now history, with the new Surrey SPARK Stages taking its place to “ignite imaginations and make memories” for kids and families in the city.

The late-May launch this spring will feature music, theatre, puppets and circus performances at Surrey Arts Centre stages, at a time when the children’s festival would typically be held there and at Bear Creek Park.

SPARK Stages events will be planned year-round by Surrey Civic Theatres, which to date has aimed most of its programming at adult audiences.

“Following a strategic planning and community engagement process, Surrey SPARK Stages has evolved from what was previously the Surrey International Children’s Festival,” explained Kent Gallie, Surrey’s Manager of Performing Arts.

“SPARK programming will focus on performing arts and do more of what the festival did best, present exceptional performances for kids,” he added. “The goal is to expand beyond the three-day kickoff event to provide more opportunities, in more locations on a year-round basis for Surrey residents to access family-focused, professional performing arts that inspire young hearts and minds to greater possibilities.”

From May 27-29, the SPARK launch weekend will include a “Light the SPARK!” all-ages dance party in the arts centre lobby May 27, followed by two “Best of Friends!” concerts by Charlotte Diamond, Fred Penner and Rick Scott, a “Spirit of Harriet Tubman” one-woman show, “The Joshua Show” puppets and circus-duo show “Tweet Tweet!”

Tickets will be sold starting Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. on the website surrey.ca/spark, or call 604-501-5566.

TWEET TWEET! Promo video from Holly Treddenick on Vimeo.

SPARK performances on May 27 are reserved for Surrey schools to attend.

During the launch weekend, Surrey Arts Centre will be “sprinkled with a sparkle dusting of plenty of free value-added activities for ticketholders to enjoy, including the Wee Studio, a special space for make-believe for little ones,” a news release promises.

Also planned are Stories for the Heart, “old timey storytelling with a modern-day twist in a big blanket fort, walk through a traditional longhouse arch into the Indigenous Creation Courtyard for a celebration of Indigenous culture and art, and many other sparkalicious surprises.”

Surrey International Children’s Festival, once billed as “the only arts-based children’s festival this side of the Fraser River,” was last held in May 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 15 years, the multi-day event brought a variety of ticketed and free shows and activities to Bear Creek Park and Surrey Arts Centre.

The festival was among Surrey’s five “Major City Events,” which include Party for the Planet (April 30 this year), Canada Day (July 1), Fusion Festival (July 23-24) and Tree Lighting Festival (November).



tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram and follow Tom on Twitter

Arts and EntertainmentFestival