Rachael Sherstad spoke to our club about qathet Remembrance Day for Lost Species, a community-led two-day event November 26 and 27, harnessing and highlighting local talent and knowledge. It is part of remembrance events that are taking place internationally and which were first held in the United Kingdom in 2011.
Rachael is a passionate member of qathet Old Growth and an active community member in Powell River. Rachael and her husband Dane own and operate Paradise Valley Produce, a certified organic farm that feeds the local community through CSA and market sales. Through her land stewardship, Rachael strives to exemplify sustainable and respectful relations to the land and community.
The day of remembrance is a day for activists, artists and nature-lovers to find creative ways to share their grief for extinct species, ecosystems and cultures, and reinvigorate their love for the natural world. This event includes a collaborative live storytelling and aerial performance where Naomi Steinberg’s storytelling and owner of Aerial Edge Keely Sills’ performers combine on a topic with a local focus.
A film screening of Chris Morgan’s and panel conversation will provide a space for the public to recognize and mourn the loss of local animals, eco-systems and cultures, and offer an opportunity to connect deeply with the land and each other. Organizers aim to inspire collective action to prevent further extinction of animals, habitat, and Indigenous cultures and practices in qathet region.
The event is a collaborative project with Tla’Amin Nation, School District 47 and qathet Arts Council.
Racheal said while there is a lot of eco-anxiety, grief and stress among people today, the event will feature celebration and hope.
More information will be forthcoming in the weeks leading up to the event.