Times Colonist

Outreach staff gather Indigenous people from city streets to celebrate their culture

- MICHAEL JOHN LO mjlo@timescolon­ist.com

Bernice Kamano has been trying to bring Victoria’s urban Indigenous and unhoused population back in touch with their culture for several decades.

Having grown up in foster care, Kamano — who is Da’naxda’xw and has Heiltsuk heritage through her father — knows first hand how important it is to stay connected to your roots.

Her eyes became alive when she recalled the first time she attended a potlatch in Alert Bay. “It was like I had never seen culture before,” she said.

Many of the Indigenous people living on the streets in Victoria are often disconnect­ed from their families and their nations, Kamano said.

“They miss out on this beautiful part of our culture that just gives them strength, power and acknowledg­ement of who they actually are.”

Indigenous outreach workers from half a dozen social agencies worked together to bring some of that feeling into downtown Victoria on Monday afternoon.

Inside Mungo Martin House, the smell of smoke and seafood chowder mingled in the air for about 100 people who gathered for six hours of dancing and drumming by Coast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw groups.

David Mungo Knox, a Kwakiutl hereditary chief and greatgrand­son of Mungo Martin, said it was important for him to allow the event to take place in Mungo Martin House. “To be connected with culture — it’s everything,” he said.

It’s important for Vancouver Island’s three nations to come together and uplift those who live off-reserve, he said. “I’m honoured to be here to witness this feast.”

Lacey Jones, an outreach worker with QomQem Coastal, said Monday’s event only happened with the help of an Indigenous outreach worker network that was created out of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We came together as native outreach workers to be able to really find ways to get back to people.”

On Monday, Indigenous outreach workers combed the city with shuttle buses to bring people to the free event.

Jones, who is from the Snuneymuxw First Nation, said it’s important for people to be able to spend the day without being stigmatize­d or stereotype­d.

There are few places in the city where unhoused Indigenous people can receive culturally relevant support, she said.

Kamano, an outreach coordinato­r with Portland Hotel Society, agreed. “We need something like that in Victoria, where we can go and support people,” she said.

“And bring food, do housing paper work, sit with elders, and get appointmen­ts booked,” Jones added.

 ?? DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST ?? Ian Charleson adds wood to the ceremonial fire during an Indigenous Outreach Workers culture day organized by several service providers, at Mungo Martin House in Victoria on Monday.
DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST Ian Charleson adds wood to the ceremonial fire during an Indigenous Outreach Workers culture day organized by several service providers, at Mungo Martin House in Victoria on Monday.
 ?? DARREN STONE, TC ?? Bernice Kamano, left, and Lacey Jones helped to organize the Indigenous Outreach Workers culture day at Mungo Martin House, Monday.
DARREN STONE, TC Bernice Kamano, left, and Lacey Jones helped to organize the Indigenous Outreach Workers culture day at Mungo Martin House, Monday.

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