Penticton

Educational sessions on the Idle No More movement will continue this month at the Penticton Museum & Archives and Penticton Art Gallery.

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Participants in an Idle No More rally in December

The series of four was created by a group of local First Nations women who wanted to contribute in a positive way to the movement.

The goal of the organizers is to clear up any misconceptions in a coffee house type setting. Guest speakers will lead the sessions, with plenty of time for questions and answers.

“The museum is honoured to be able to host these sessions as they provide an important platform for discussion around Canadian identity and history, particularly First Nations history,” said museum curator Peter Ord.

Two earlier sessions focused on oral history and First Nations Prophesies and legal acts that have affected Canadian and First Nations relationships through time.

Those acts include the Royal proclamation, Indian Act, White Paper, Red Paper, Meech Lake Accord, Royal Commission on Aboriginal People and Kelowna Accord.

The next will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Feb. 12 at the museum.

Carrie Terbasket-Benson will speak about Bill C-45 and its environmental and health impacts on Canadians and first nations.

Terbasket-Benson is the chair and co-founder of  the South Okanagan-Similkameen Syilx  Environmental Committee, a group of individuals who strive for First Nations participation in conservation efforts throughout the Okanagan Nation and beyond.

Suzanne Johnson, a registered dietician from the Penticton Indian Band, will discuss the environmental impacts of the bill on food and water.

The final session is from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 19 at the art gallery. It will look at future bills and legislation and what that means  for Canadians and First Nations.