Tent Village

Folks!

"Aint no Power like the power of the people cause the power of the people don't stop!"

This element of not stopping has been a very strong reality on our trip so far. Yesterday (Tuesday) we packed up from our hostel in Victoria, boarded a ferry, and were off to Vancouver. The ferry trip was beautiful, and it was so nice to see the scenery in the daylight, unlike our trip over to Victoria at night.

We got downtown to a housing co-op where some of our friends were staying to drop off our stuff, and then it was off to help prepare chili for our shift at the Tent Village (versus "City" to emphasize community) that was erected in the downtown east side of Vancouver to show solidarity with the homeless population, whose situation has been more difficult by development, of the downtown east side. Billions of dollars being funneled out of social programming, and into sport through the Olympic preparation period.

Here we met with a bunch of other activist-y types, and built community through cutting vegetables, and making food for the occupiers of the tent city. During this time, Jesse was cutting Onions, and with watery eyes, and blurred vision cut his thumb... Its still attached though, so everything is A-okay, don't worry.

After this we walked down main street which runs through the downtown east side of Vancouver, we stopped at the corner of Hastings, which is the location of a community centre whose main clientele is the large homeless population of this area. It was here that we saw 2 police officers with 2 homeless people in handcuffs, and patting them down. This is the daily struggle of the people here who are trying to live the life that they have been dealt, and struggle to get away from. The good news is though, that when we walked back, after getting our bus tickets, we saw both individuals un-cuffed, and going about their days.

Back at the co-op, diner was ready, and loaded up into the cars, and bikes, and we were off to the tent Village.

Upon arrival to the village, the feeling of community and respect for all was made very evident. All along the fence which surrounded the grounds, were signs that the community created to bring awareness, (see photos and videos for signs). There was a food tent that was staffed by “Food not Bombs” and they had large tubs of food, and it consisted of chicken, rice, and other salads. Everyone was welcome to take some food, in some recycled plastic tubs, and just be there in community, and share personal stories of where we came from and why we were there.

A short while later there was a community meeting, which was run by an elder from the women’s group who was facilitating the tent village initiative. People were given the opportunity to talk about everything from people’s concerns, how long people wanted to be there, general logistics, and how they wanted to interact with local media. This took place around a sacred fire, which meant that no garbage or any other waste could go into it according to Aboriginal custom. There were a few characters that stuck out. First and was a 17 year old guy who was advocating for the tent village to be a permanent thing because as an individual with a mental illness, he didn’t want to be “shoved into where the drug addicts and people with mental illness lived” he also said that he was only 17, and didn’t belong there. This was powerful because he was so close to our age, and neither of us could imagine being in his position.

Secondly was J*, who was an aboriginal man from Saskatchewan who joined the circle, and was very visibly sad and agitated. In the respect of the space the elders had created in the talking circle, he waited his turn, and gave his passionate testimony about it being a long time since he had participated in this ritual, and seeing as the fire is at the core of much aboriginal tradition, he had been missing a very important part of his culture. He claimed to “know the fire” which speaks to this connection. He also spoke for his other homeless friends in Pigeon park, and their suffering. Because of this experience, his mood changed drastically throughout the night, and he became a very important and influential member of the tent village community.

The night continued with dancing, and singing within the aboriginal tradition, and we went for a walk. It was here that we got a very real sense of the huge numbers of people that the 6 billion dollars that was pumped into the Olympics. We walked by one of the shelters, and saw many people standing out front without shelter for the night. Rachel’s observation that the people who stood out were not the homeless, but instead the “normal” people, which speaks again to the great poverty that is the reality of the Downtown East Side community.

There was also present at the community a faction of Youth independent media people called LOVE and we heard a testimony of how reporting on the injustices and the violence of the downtown east side was their way of coping with their pasts, which included suicidal tendencies, drug abuse, and sexual abuse.

From here we went back to David’s apartment to set up our beds for the night, and then went to sleep.

This was a long and very overwhelming, but also incredibly eye opening day for us. For me (Jesse) it was very amazing to experience in a more intimate way, the aboriginal culture and customs that I have heard through Rachel, and my involvement in the United Church of Canada. The respect and community that was a reality in the talking circle could definitely be used in different situations to enhance decision making processes, and ensure all voices are heard and respected.

Finally the moment you have all been waiting for, the “Jesse’s funny moment of the day” segment, and here it is. While waiting in the talking circle to voice my comment He was waiting patiently with his hand up, the facilitator make a speaker’s list, and pointed to be and said “ and number 3 will be that lady over there” after this Rachel burst into hysterics, and Jesse walked away to go see his therapist :P

In Solidarity,

Team Awesome (Jesse and Rachel) Signing off!