Progress to date
We are pleased to announce that the stucco siding on our building is now completed, and the building is looking great!
We are pleased to report that the mural will be painted in spring 2021. We have come a long way, and we look forward to seeing our vision of bringing people together to heal and preventing violence against our women by harnessing the power of public art.
The Friendship Centre wishes to gratefully acknowledge all of the families for their participation and input in this project so far. It has been a very special project so far, and their leadership and strength have been beautiful to witness.
Our team has dedicated time to develop and follow protocols to support participating families during COVID-19. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and physical distancing, we are proud to be able to say that the project is a strong collaborative family-led project. The weekend of in-person workshops held in a COVID-19 safe manner this summer, via family bubbles, provided the families of MMWIG a chance to work on their healing journey with Trauma-Informed Practitioner Sandra Harris and tell their stories of their loved ones, with the mural artists present to witness. The following online workshops have allowed the artists to share their draft designs and ideas with the family members and gather feedback.
We now have a robust mural design. The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre wishes to thank the Raven-Tacuara Collective for their extreme dedication and care to ensure the design reflects the wishes of this group of families. Our artists, families and the wider community are eagerly awaiting warm weather this spring to begin the most exciting aspect of this project; the painting of the mural.
Moving forward
Community engagement: We continue to ensure that all community members feel included and can show their support by providing an online opportunity to share their messages of support for the MMIWG mural project and the families. We are excited to hear back from our community through this adjusted community engagement online.
Please use the link below to send your messages to the families, and share this link widely:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MMIWGMURAL
To ensure a greater impact and awareness-raising, the design of the mural will remain confidential at this time.
Our funders
The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society gratefully acknowledges the following funders:
BC Capital Gaming Grants, RDBN and the Wetzink’wa Community Forest have made it possible for the siding on our main street building to be updated.
All mural project activities are funded through a grant from the Department of Women and Gender Equity (MMIWG Commemoration Fund)
Learn more
Please contact our holistic health worker, Elmira Sanati Nia, if you have any questions regarding this project.
Email: holistic.health@dzelkant.com
Phone: 250.847.5211 ext. 211
