Poverty Reduction Strategy

The Town of Ladysmith is hosting a free two-part cultural awareness workshop series in March for community members to acquire a greater understanding of past historical events and the resulting ongoing impacts for Indigenous peoples. 

Furthermore, these workshops are an opportunity to create awareness and reduce stigma, racism and discrimination, all of which are themes identified in the CommUNITY Together to End Poverty Hw-nuts’-ulwum (As One) Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Elder team is facilitating the series and have offered the workshops in the region since 2008.  The work was developed for volunteers during the North American Indigenous Games hosted by Cowichan Tribes.

Part 1 of the series is the Journey of our Generation workshop on Thursday, March 9th, from 9am to 3:30pm. The workshop will focus on the systemic impacts of history shared through personal stories from Indigenous Elders who are residential school survivors. Through storytelling, experiential learning, role-playing and dialogue, participants will gain greater cultural sensitivity, an openness to personal inquiry, and a strong desire to learn more and how to take action.

Part 2 of the series is the Understanding Systemic Racism workshop on Thursday, March 30th, from 10am to 1pm. This workshop will focus on examining the current reality of the Stz'uminus First Nation and Ladysmith communities, including how we can all take action in our businesses, workplaces, volunteer activities and personal areas of influence to work and live better together, hw-nuts'-ulwum (as one).  

A prerequisite for registering for Part 2 will be the Journey of our Generation workshop either in March or at a previous time.