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Square Dancing for Climate Justice

Square Dancing is an old-time tradition within settler communities in Western Canada. It’s a beautiful and fun tradition, where neighbours create something together that can’t happen without joining together.
WOOLY BEARS
The Wooly Bears with Islander Amos Rosen will be making music through the night for the Square Dance next Sunday.

Square Dancing is an old-time tradition within settler communities in Western Canada. It’s a beautiful and fun tradition, where neighbours create something together that can’t happen without joining together. The Pull Together campaign is a similar thing. While First Nations in BC lead the legal fight against the proposed Kinder Morgan Pipeline expansion, they need the support of their neighbours. Bowen island is a settler community. Sierra Club BC, RAVEN Trust and various First Nations have banded together to spearhead the Pull Together campaign, which aims to bring settler communities into a coalition for climate justice and a healthier planet.

Two years ago I went to a Pull Together Fundraiser organized by RAVEN Trust in East Vancouver. It was such a positive scene and such an obvious way for non-indigineous people to support the work of our indigenous neighbours. I thought to myself, I should do something like this. Recently Sierra Club BC approached me to help bring Bowen Island into the fold of the larger Pull Together community and I said yes. As a dancer, I came up with the idea of a Square Dance, which will take place this Sunday at Cates Hill Chapel.

Making the night super fun will be the music and Square Dance calling of the Wooly Bears from Vancouver, featuring Bowen Island’s own Amos Rosen. There will be Chili and Cornbread and drinks for sale to increase people’s opportunities to donate and have some hoedown fun. Young fiddlers will be on site to keep the intermissions upbeat and entertaining.

Come on down to Cates Hill Chapel this Sunday May 28 between 6:30-9:30pm to have fun dancing with neighbours, do a good old-Dosey-doe and support a good cause. Square Dance concepts are easy to master and if you’ve never attended a Square Dance before, than you simply must not let this opportunity pass you by.