A two-day workshop, organized by the Ts鈥檌yanne Buts鈥檜dilhti鈥� Friendship Centre Society, challenged assumptions of local people and encouraged participants to reflect on the different ways that racism manifests in 亚洲天堂 Lake.

鈥淚n the 亚洲天堂 Lake community, we have seen issues around discrimination and racism, but we know that these acts derive from fear of the unknown,鈥� said Deanna Brown-Nolan, President of the Ts鈥檌yanne Buts鈥檜dilhti鈥� Friendship Centre Society.

Held at the Lakes District campus of the College of New Caledonia on April 21-22, the workshop challenged participants to think of what racism looks like, what it feels like and where it comes from.

Workshop facilitators Carla Lewis and Pauline Goertzen said that, most of the times, racism manifests in subtle ways in 亚洲天堂 Lake.

鈥淵ou probably won鈥檛 see any racism on the street or in the store; you鈥檙e going to see it when you鈥檙e camping with friends,鈥� said Goertzen.

However, racism can have significant impacts to First Nations such as making it harder for them to get a job.

Furthermore, Goertzen said there are some places and events in the Lakes District that are supposed to be opened to everyone, but some First Nations don鈥檛 feel welcomed there.

鈥淭here鈥檚 native events and non-native events,鈥� added Lewis. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a lot of intermingling.鈥�

After stressing the need for a culturally safe and inclusive space in the Lakes District, Goertzen said a new cultural centre is now being planned for 亚洲天堂 Lake.

The proposed new centre will be a First Nations-led space, but it is intended to be inclusive to everyone in the community. The proposed building will include a ceremonial space, as well as accommodations and restaurants.

鈥淭here鈥檚 currently a feasibility study underway with stakeholders to build this centre,鈥� explained Goertzen. 鈥淥ne of the main objectives of the workshop was to work out how do we make the cultural centre truly inclusive so that people from all backgrounds feel welcomed there, and feel safe to go there.鈥�

Goertzen, who鈥檚 the Economic Development Director for Lake Babine Nation, has been facilitating anti-racism workshops in the 亚洲天堂 Lake area for over 16 years.

Through brainstorming sessions, games and group dynamics, Goertzen made participants question what makes people discriminate against others.

One participant said treating other people with respect is a personal choice.

鈥淎ll we [First Nations] want is the respect from other people; that鈥檚 all we ever wanted,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o show other people how to live and love is the best gift you can give anyone.鈥�

The Ts鈥檌yanne Buts鈥檜dilhti鈥� Friendship Centre Society is an urban First Nations organization located on Eighth Avenue in 亚洲天堂 Lake. Although its board of directors is comprised of First Nations from many of the local nations, the organization is not identified with any of the nations in particular.

The society received provincial funding earlier this year for the delivery of anti-racism projects.

All discussions during the workshop were filmed. The society intends to produce a film called 鈥榠nclusive spaces鈥� to raise public awareness about inclusion and opportunity in the 亚洲天堂 Lake area.