October 2019 Update: It’s always interesting to check-in on past efforts. As I was updating this page for the new site, I visited the BC Witchcamp website to see what had changed. This appears on their front page now:
We acknowledge this land that we come together on is unceded Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Territory. We were honoured in 2017 to receive a formal welcome from a member of the Skwxwú7mesh People at camp, and are committed to developing this relationship with the Skwxwú7mesh People.
That’s great. It’s a good start. Unfortunately, there is alot to be concerned with as well. Instead of making this post an epic, I will write out my thoughts of the most recent 2019 Witchcamp offering as another post. Link will follow here.
September 6, 2014 Update: Aja with Witch’s Union Hall has a first report back about cultural appropriation education at BC Witchcamp. And at least BC Witchcamp has recognized the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people exist on their website. Additional feedback coming when more information is available.
August 6, 2014 Update: No response from BC Witchcamp organizers to the original letter. A follow-up letter has been sent.
Follow the link to the original An Open Letter to the British Columbia Witchcamp on Issues of Cultural Appropriation & Respect. See for yourself at: BC Witchcamp website.
Want to share support for this letter. Email: info@bcwitchcamp.ca
This letter has provoked further discussion (and hopefully action). This open dialogue is being posted at Witches Union Hall. Thankyou!
Indigenous solidarity with the Indigenous peoples of so-called “British Columbia”
SkwomeshAction: Skwomesh Action was formed in early 2014 to be a Skwomesh (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) part of the movement to protect the waterways and homelands of the Salish Sea.
Unist’ot’en Camp: of the Unis’tot’en of the Wet’suwet’en Peoples (Yinka Dini – People of this Earth) is a resistance community whose purpose is to protect sovereign Wet’suwet’en territory from several proposed pipelines from the Tar Sands Gigaproject and shale gas from Hydraulic Fracturing Projects in the Peace River Region.
If you have other links, please post in the comments!
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I could not follow the link to your letter. I looked at the witchcamp website and did not see anything offensive. Can you send me a link to the location on the page that was appropriated? Thanks. Maybe they already responded to your letter?
Link fixed. Thank you!