Building the 8th Fire
Deepening the discussion about indigenous–non-indigenous relations in Canada

Did you watch the CBC television series The 8th Fire?
Were you compelled by this show to reflect on relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Canada today?

At this panel event and facilitated discussion we will hear from diverse First Nations voices about their perspectives on the 8th Fire and their thoughts on building more ethical and just relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Where do we go from here? Join us to deepen the conversation.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012. 7:00 p.m.
Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia St. Admission is free. Seating is limited.

Speakers include:
* Dr. Glen Coulthard (Dene)
* Dr. Paige Raibmon
* Chief Otis Jasper (Sto:lo)
* Wenona Victor (Sto:lo)
* Shawna Burns (Cree)
* Ian Ki’laas Caplette (Tsimshian)

This event is co-sponsored by the Vancouver Public Library. We, the organizers, are not affiliated with the CBC.

Who we are: We are a collective of academics, activists, and residents of Coast Salish Territories who have worked with Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups. We are not affiliated with the CBC or “8th Fire” programming. This event was inspired by an ad-hoc discussion group we formed to further consider and talk about the subjects brought up in CBC’s 8th Fire TV show. Our discussions were engaging and thought-provoking, and we began to consider how we could include more people as we discussed our roles in Indigenous/non-Indigenous relations.

Members of our group are active in non-profit organizations such as Streams of Justice, No One is Illegal, and the Indigenous Solidarity Network of Occupy Vancouver, and we find that topics raised in this forum overlap with the interests of these organizations, among others. We feel strongly about making these conversations accessible to the general public, beyond strictly academic or activist circles. We hope that our forum will appeal to various communities, regardless of political beliefs, age, gender, race, or income, and look forward to an inclusive and invigorating dialogue.