[BCMA] Discovery Centre Celebrates DiverseCity with Aboriginal Traditions

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Media Release 

For Immediate Release

May 7, 2013

 

New Westminster, BC – During the New Westminster Downtown BIA’s annual DiverseCity Multicultural Festival on Saturday, May 18, the Fraser River Discovery Centre is proud to present a special screening of Hiqw Stó:lō (Big River) at 3:00pm in the Canyon Theatre. This film is part of the Discovery Centre’s exhibit Our Bones are Made of Salmon and celebrates the enduring traditions of Aboriginal salmon fishing and wind-drying technique in the Fraser Canyon.

Hiqw Stó:lō (Big River) shares the story of how sockeye salmon came to the Fraser River and why salmon fishing is vital to Aboriginal communities today. Produced by Kamala Todd, a Metis-Cree filmmaker and community planner who lives in New Westminster, the film includes the oral histories of Stó:lō Cultural Advisor Dr. Sonny McHalsie and Musqueam Elder Larry Grant. 

McHalsie, along with Whonnock Tribe member Josette Jim, will be at the Discovery Centre from 2:00 to 4:00pm to share their knowledge and answer any questions visitors might have about the traditions of salmon fishing on the Fraser from their unique perspectives.  Along with sharing their stories Jim will demonstrate traditional net making and cedar work.

“Sonny and Josette were a big part of making Our Bones are Made of Salmon. We laughed so much when we built the dry rack together. I’m sure visitors will learn a lot from them but also share some laughs. Sonny and Josette are passionate about sharing their culture, and I hope visitors will enjoy hearing their stories”, Shannon King, Education Coordinator for the Fraser River Discovery Centre.

Sonny is the Cultural Advisor of the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre and has worked for the Stó:lō as a researcher in cultural heritage and aboriginal rights and title issues since 1985.  He currently acts as an advisor on the Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association – Treaty Negotiation Team.  He was co-author of the book I Am Stó:lō: Katherine Explores Her Heritage (1997) – focusing on his family and his daughter.  He contributed to and served on the editorial board of the award winning publication  A Stó:lō Coast Salish Historical Atlas (2001).  His areas of expertise include Halq’eméylem Place Names and Stó:lō oral history.  He is a member of the Shxw’ow’hamel First Nation, and continues to fish at his ancestral fishing ground at Aseláw in the lower Fraser River Canyon.

 

Ts’i:Wethot (Josette Jim) is the Xwèwenaqw [O’ ó: leq’] Xwexwilmexw (Whonnock people) Tribe’s acting advocate. Growing up in Xwèwenaqw [O’ ó: leq’] Xwexwilmexw Territory she has gained natural talents of life skills and traditional teaching. She has been working as a tour guide interpreter and has worked at the Longhouse Extension Program with the Stó:lō and as a Cultural Resource worker in the Stóqoye program, which brings traditional knowledge and activities to the Chilliwack School District. Her talents are recognized throughout the region and sought after by other school districts and traditional celebrations. 

 

Our Bones are Made of Salmon was developed in partnership with Musqueam Elder Larry Grant, Stó:lō Cultural Advisor Dr. Sonny McHalsie, and New Westminster school district Aboriginal Education Coordinator, Bertha Lansdowne. The development of this exhibit and accompanying educational program was made possible with funding from the Museums Assistance Program Department of Canadian Heritage, the City of New Westminster Heritage Grant Program, the Province of BC, and the Hamber Foundation.




The Fraser River Discovery Centre is an interpretive centre connecting communities in the discovery and celebration of the living, working Fraser River. Located along the Westminster boardwalk at 788 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, the Discovery Centre is open 10:00am to 6:00pm, 7-days a week throughout the summer. Admission to the galleries is by donation.  For further information visit our website at www.fraserriverdiscovery.org or call 604-521-8401.

 

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Photograph: Ts’i:Wethot (Josette Jim) working on a traditional dip net

 

 

 

For more information please contact:

Fraser River Discovery Centre

Cindy Sale, Communications & Events Coordinator

E:  <mailto:csale at fraserriverdiscovery.org> csale at fraserriverdiscovery.org ; T: 604-521-8401 x 103

 

 

Fraser River Discovery Centre

788 Quayside Drive | New Westminster BC | V3M 6Z6

P: 604.521.8401 | F: 604.521.9401

W: fraserriverdiscovery.org

 

Visit...Like...Share at  <http://www.facebook.com/FraserRiverDiscoveryCentre> http://www.facebook.com/FraserRiverDiscoveryCentre

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