|
First
Nations and Canada's RCMP Vision Quest:
1,000 Mile Coastal Canoe Journey
Skeena River
Country to Victoria, BC: Final celebrations, were
timed to coincide with the opening of the North
American Indigenous Games, and served as a preamble
to the RCMP's 125th Anniversary.
Funds raised through
this 1,000 mile canoe journey were used to support
a new program for First Nations people in the
Province. This new facility will provide people
from all walks of life, the opportunity to face,
and hopefully overcome addictions -- alcohol,
drugs, sex as well as power and control addictions.
By returning healthy, happy people back into
society, there will be a positive impact on the
cycle of addiction, crime and disfunction inherent
in all communities. It is the intention that Vision
Quest be holistic in nature and available to
persons from any cultural background. Funding is
provided through private donations, the financial
assistance of caring c\orporations and the
promotion of events organized and supported by the
RCMP. Air Highways Magazine has a gallery of photos
marking the Vision Quest Journey, courtesy of Staff
Sergeant Ed Hill of the RCMP. Look for an expanded
photo story in our Yearbook Edition.
 Vision
Quest logo: When
asked to produce a symbol for Vision Quest,
renowned artist Roy Henry Vickers utilized the
traditional West Coast symbol of woman -
representing the bearer of life, the adventurer and
healer. To further enhance those qualities, West
Coast designer Rachel Orr went to work. She began
by placing the key symbol, the woman , inside a
circle to signify the global concept of
community.
To incorporate the concept
of "openness to all," the woman's hands open the
circle in a gesture of welcome. Behind her is
darkness as she is surrounded with light. The
letters forming Vision Quest were place quietly
below her arms and graphic lines were added above
and below symbolizing movement forward in the
process of recovery and healing. For more
information on the Vision Quest journey, should you
be interested in helping sponsor a Millennium trip
along the same route, click send mail
below.
 Grouse
Mountain: The
Hiwus Feast house on Grouse Mountain is setting a
benchmark for authentic Aboriginal tourism. This
longhouse, developed by Richard Krentz and Grouse
Mountain Resorts Ltd., hopes to be among the first
projects to receive accreditation by the Aboriginal
Tourism Association of BC (AtBC) a member of COTA,
hopes to launch a pilot for the accreditation
system later this year. Although the process is not
yet in place, some criteria, such as majority
Aboriginal ownership or control, are outlined in
the draft of a workbook developed by the
association. The workbook assists an Aboriginal
person setting up a cultural tourism business by
identifying operating standards.
Canadian
Canoe Museum
The World's largest
collection of canoes and kayaks. Much more to come
on this web site relating to the museum and to
canoeing as a challenging and rewarding
activity.
Bill Byrick, Exec. Director, Peterborough, On.
http://www.canoemuseum.net/old/
|
