Stop The

Violence Against Women

Walk

 

Featuring the launch of the “Healing the Warriors Heart Campaign” men’s stand against violence against women starts at 11am, Walk begins at Kumsheen Secondary School Wednesday April 20, 2011 at 12pm through Lytton BC, Main Street ending at Lytton Memorial Hall.

 

            This special occasion is hosted by the Han Knakst Tsitxw Transition House (House of Helping Hands) which provides a safe place for women and children in need. The House is proud of the programs and projects they have supported and are excited about the future developments to open the doors of helping and healing in your community. New developments such as the Men’s Drop-in center down town with the very first men’s group in Lytton BC, and with numbers climbing, the discussions of developing a men’s conference are in the works.

            The House is excited and honoured about this event to make a stand by acknowledging the past, recognizing the present and to move ahead in a healing future for all. Everyone is welcome to join the “Stop Violence Against Women Walk”, the Candle Ceremony, and pledge to stop the violence. We’re welcoming all to carry a portrait of a woman affected by violence with you during the walk.

            Come and witness a history in the making with the launch of the “Healing The Warriors Heart Campaign” - a coming out and blessing ceremony of a specially created Nlaka’pamux inspired men’s design which signifies opposition of violence against women. The design is a contemporary story telling of men and women from the past, present, future, evolving and healing with symbols and pictographs.  We are encouraging nominations of male candidates for the Campaign to be the Honorary Vision Keeper for this historical annual occasion. Four Vision Keepers in the different stages of life – baby boy, child, young man, and elder will be elected to support and assist in the ceremony and will be recorded by film and photography for the documentary and booklet. Nominations may be sent via mail, email, phone or fax to the Transition House by April 15, 2011. We are looking to recognize and honour the chosen individuals for their healing journey, wisdom, empathy and community work.

            Open contest on poems or written compositions about domestic violence to be submitted to the HKTS office before the April 15, 2011. Kumsheen Secondary School drama class will be presenting a short skit in honour of this event. Then guest speakers Kelowa M. Edel & Darrell Bob presenting the topic history, survival and healing. Lunch served after the walk at Lytton First Nation Memorial Hall.  Art work for this occasion created by the Stein Valley School students.

             There are many ways the community can support such a powerful occasion so please feel free to open the doors to stop the violence and give us a call!

All contributors will be recognized and honoured through credits on the program, future documentary and booklet.  Join us!

Han Knakst Tsitxw Transition House

PO Box 144, Lytton, BC  V0K 1Z0

PH: 250-455-2284 FAX: 250-455-2287 EMAIL: havenh@telus.net

Contact: Matilda Brown, Cheryl Billy, Brenda Abbott, or Alissia Lytton

Media Contact: Nadine Spence via email: revevo@gmail.com

 

The Healing Hands Society Transition house has been inspired by the White Ribbon Campaign to make contemporary mens regalia of in honor of men against violence against women, This will be showcased at the Date time location name of event, This a campaign for men to make a stand in honor of themselves and women’s healing. To empower themselves male elders, youth and children for the past present and future healing of a Nation, The first regalia signifies and acknowledges the power, love, respect and honor all humans can have for each other. The regalia will be inspired by traditional Nlakapamux symbolism and story telling but contemporary to show the evolving ways of our people.

My Name is Nadine Spence of the Nlakapamux/Secwepemc people, raised in Spences Bridge BC a Cooks Ferry Indian Band member. I am first of all an artist and eco-friendly fashion designer. My involvement in the Nlakapamux White Ribbon Campaign was inspired by Cheryl Billy and Matilda Browns hard work and passion to develop a men’s group and drop in center being the first of its kind in Lytton BC. I was proud and honored to be apart of a few of their projects and wanted to support any work these two are involved in to me they are very powerful heartfelt women that do tremendous work for our community. Through their ideas, inspiration and projects it brought me too many conclusions of myself and what I have faced in the past and present when it came to violence against women, from my honest heart number one I have seen it, had it happen to me and involved in the dysfunction that enables it. I would like to support this men’s group by designing regalia that makes them proud to be men with honor. This is my way of giving back to all the men that need our support for my grandson, son, dad, brother, nephew, uncles, grandpas and in-laws and outlaws. To remember our responsibility as humans male and female to share, acknowledge, understand and heal for all our future generations to come....

 

Background
The beginnings of  Healing the Warriors Heart Campaign has developed from a research project called Promising Practices, Romona Baxter compiled for the Hans Knakst tsitxw Society (House of Helping Hands) of Lytton BC. The valuable information fell into the hands of Cheryl Billy, with support from the House of Helping Hands the very first men’s drop in center was opened December 8, 2010, with numbers climbing and consistent. With the vision, passion and goals of the community members, the house, Ramona, Cheryl, Matilda Brown, Christine Abbott, Nadine Spence and the men’s group the “Healing the Warriors Heart Campaign” was born. Healing the Warriors Heart Campaign is men speaking out making a stand against violence against women, men working together including males of all ages, joining the walk. The launch of the campaign will happen April 20 at  Stop the Violence against Women Walk, 11am at Kumsheen Secondary School.  A male will be honoured as the chosen representative of the Healing the Warriors Heart Campaign by wearing the specially designed white regalia (a signifying symbol of opposition of violence against women)and being the honorary Vision Keeper of this annual ceremony.  The Honorary Vision Keeper will pass on the fire and responsibility after a year of sharing their story, strength, wisdom and power. The coming out, dressing and blessing, face painting, ceremony will involve four more selected  Vision Keepers for this event a male, baby, child, youth, and elder. The chosen representatives’ will be the first to sign the pledge not to condone violence against women and to carry a picture of a female loved one past or present. Future plans and projects stemming from this campaign is a men’s conference, programs and projects such as making the community aware of violence, reducing levels of aggression through emotional and social competence, sharing, loving relationships, healing journeys, empowering, promote ideal gender equality, honouring, and knowledge.