Submitted by HG Community Futures-Organizers of the 5th All-Islands Symposium taking place this weekend say there are four reasons why every Islander should attend.
One reason is to hear from local government leaders from every community speak on their accomplishments and struggles to date and where they intend on taking us into the future.
"This is a chance to get together and talk about the issues that affect all of us," says Amos Setso, vice-president of the Council of the Haida Nation "After all, this event is really about working together."
This historic address on the "State of the Islands" begins 7pm Friday night in Port Clements at the Elementary School gymnasium. Doors open at 6 pm with daycare and desserts provided.
The second reason to attend the event comes Saturday at the Queen Charlotte high school gymnasium when more than 40 community organizations tell their stories. Some organizations will be giving short presentations while others will be hosting booths in a "fall fair" style throughout the gym. Organizers say this will give Islanders the best chance at understanding which groups do what on the Islands-all in one day. The celebration continues into the evening with the Symposium dinner at the small hall in Skidegate from 6-9 pm.
"It's a time to come together and celebrate as neighbours over bowls of deer stew and clam chowder", says coordinator Carolyn terBorg, the third reason to attend the Symposium. Dancers, singers and local entertainers will be performing throughout the night.
"We've heard concerns from people in the north that they won't be able to get down Island," terBorg says. "So we will be providing bus transportation from the north, south and Sandspit to all event locations over the weekend (see schedule in notices). There is also billeting being arranged for people to stay down in the south-end. Families can also take in the event by dropping their children at the on-site day care."
The final afternoon of the Symposium features the fourth reason to attend the event -The Café South-Easter-where people will sit down together at tables to talk about questions that really matter, mapping out ideas, and moving towards action. "This is about finding a way forward, together," says John Farrell of the Gowgaia Institute. "That in itself is worth a weekend."
The symposium was initiated by Council of the Haida Nation, Community Futures and the Gowgaia Institute with generous financial support from Western Economic Diversification.