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Conference

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMEMORATIVE PROJECT
September 4, Tuesday- noon
100th anniversary of anti-Sikh and anti-East Indian riots.

Speakers and a proclamation by
Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas and Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen
Our community is approaching an important anniversary of an event that must not be overlooked.

September 4, 2007, is the 100th anniversary of anti-Sikh and anti-East Indian riots. In 1907, approximately 200 Sikh East Indian residents of Bellingham were rousted from sleep, roughed up, and thrown out of town. Most of those who were attacked had been working in local lumber mills. Shortly thereafter, riots occurred in Vancouver, B.C., and Everett, Wash., in which East Indians were forcibly expelled.

The Human Rights Commemoration Project, a diverse group of concerned citizens, is working to assure this anniversary is not overlooked. The members of the project invite the greater Whatcom County community to help mark this anniversary by attending any of the events hosted by the project.

Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen and Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas have jointly proclaimed Sept. 4, 2007, a “Day of Healing and Reconciliation” and will read that proclamation aloud at the Sept. 4 event.

LOCATION: Whatcom County Courthouse Rotunda
INFORMATION & INTERVIEWS: Please see below

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ANNIVERSARIES OF CHANGE
September 7 & 8 (Saturday,Sunday)
The 1907 Race Riots & Beyond: A Century of TransPacific Canada

Anniversaries of Change presents a two-day community conference examining aspects of recent history omitted from official accounts. Jointly sponsored by University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, and University of British Columbia, The 1907 Race Riots and Beyond: A Century of TransPacific Canada features papers and panel discussions focused on different aspects of the 1907 riot, including topics of migration, racism, transnationalism, gender, identity, and more.

Participants include writers Larissa Lai and Rita Wong, media artist Dorothy Christian, historian Patricia Roy, and poet Roy Miki, along with scholars and community leaders from across North America. The 1907 Race Riots and Beyond is part of Anniversaries of Change’s program of events and is open to the public free charge.

The 1907 Race Riots and Beyond: A Century of TransPacific Canada
LOCATION: Simon Fraser University
Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings
Vancouver, BC CANADA

Friday September 7 8:30 am - Registration: (main concourse) A. 9:00–10:30 - Concurrent sessions
o Transnational Perspectives: From Guyana to Bellingham   o Translocality, Gender & Identity	Room 1520 Room 1510
10:45–12:15 -   Mapping the 1907 Riot:	Labatt Hall
12:15–1:00 - Lunch
B. 1:00–2:30 - Concurrent sessions
o Ongoing Research on the Vancouver/Bellingham Riots   o Women, Resistance and Cultural/Community Activism	Labatt Hall Room 1520
C. 2:45–4:15 - Concurrent sessions
o The 1907 Riots: Reaction&Consequences   o Actively Asian Canadian: Framing Issues, Transforming Questions	Labatt Hall Room 1520
4:15–4:45 Next Steps	Room 1510
Saturday September 8
9:00-10:30 The Chinese in Canada: a Century of Historical Change & Continuity	Room 1530
10:45-12:15 From Redress to Justice: Cross-Community Collaboration in Search of Social Change	Room 1530
12:15–1:00   Lunch
1:00-2:30 Catalyzing Agents: the Ethics of Doing “Asian Canadian "	Room 1530
For more information, contact: Beverly Yhap, coordinator—778.232.3928 admin@anniversaries07.ca www.anniversaries07.ca

a  n e t w o r k  o f  o r g a n i z a t i o n s
  d e d i c a t e d  t o 
h i g h l i g h t i n g  t u r n i n g  p o i n t s  i n
v a n c o u v e r ' s  h i s t o r y

STEERING COMMITTEE
Hank Bull * Centre A * George Chow * Vancouver City Councillor Stan Fukawa
Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre * Charan Gill * Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society * Harbhajan Gill * Komagata Maru Heritage * Miko Hoffman * Powell Street Festival Society  * Tatsuo Kage * JCCA Human Rights Committee * Karin Lee Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC  * John Price * University of Victoria * Bill Saunders  * Vancouver District Labour Council  * Mabel Tung  * Vancouver District Labour Council * Rika Uto  * Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall   Hayne Wai * Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC * Harley A. Wylie  * Aboriginal Liaison – Provincial Capital * Commission Henry Yu  * University of British Columbia

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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMEMORATIVE PROJECT
September 13, Thursday- 6-8pm
100th anniversary of anti-Sikh and anti-East Indian riots
Guru Nanak Gursikh Temple is hosting a commemorative event in memoriam of the earliest Sikh and East Indian settlers in Bellingham

The Sept. 13 event at Whatcom County’s Sikh temple is an opportunity to show respect for and experience the hospitality of the local Sikh community. It is an open invitation to all community members to attend and celebrate diversity. Many people of diverse religions and nationalities are invited to speak on this occasion.

Displays detailing the 1907 event will be on display at Bellingham Public Library and Wilson Library at Western Washington University. In addition, in next few months a film produced by Andrew Hedden and Ian Morgan will be shown at several times and venues throughout the county. Community organizations have shown interest in showing the film and continuing the dialogue regarding history and diversity.

Whatcom County should not be known for prejudice, but for its respect for all people. Attend one or more of these events to learn more and show your respect.

LOCATION: Whatcom County’s Sikh temple
Guru Nanak Gursikh Temple (Gurudwara)
176 East Pole Road
Lynden

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS

Paul Englesberg
Director of the Asian American Curriculum and Research Project, Western Washington University
(360) 650-3210
Paul.Englesberg@wwu.edu

Satpal Sidhu
Spokesperson, Guru Nanak Gursikh Temple (Gurudwara)
(360) 305-4948
spsidhu@aol.com

Barbara Rofkar
Chair, Whatcom Human Rights Task Force
(360) 733-2233
rofkarb@openacccess.org

John McGarrity
Bellingham community activist
(360) 201-2726
hrcp100@gmail.com

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 2007: COURAGE TO RESIST!
Friday, September 21st, 6pm
Whatcom Peace & Justice Center will observe its 4th Annual International Day of Peace in Bellingham.
LOCATIONS
6pm - Rally / March beginning at Maritime Heritage Park, Bellingham
7 pm - Program at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave

7 pm program at Frist Congregational features:
The Kulshan Chorus
a simultaneous Childrens PeaceArt Program
Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award.

Speakers include:
Iraq Veteran Evan Knappenberger
Victoria Marx of CodePink and mother of a two-tour Iraq Veteran.

To volunteer, call Marie at 734-0217.

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Peace Without Borders: Building the Movement
Saturday, September 29, 2007
10am to 5pm, Peace Arch State Park

This family-oriented, historic gathering at Peace Arch State Park, on the Canada-US border, will bring together Canadian and American peace activists from various sectors to build a more effective international peace movement and celebrate our common vision for a peaceful, just and sustainable world.

Peace Without Borders: Building the Movement has two parts:
1) Strategic Planning Discussions 10am – 1pm

2) Peace Without Borders Peace Concert 1:30pm – 5pm.

Strategic Planning Discussions

For leaders and activists from and those interested in the following sectoral areas:

War Resistance • Counter Recruitment and Youth • Labour • Women and impact of war
Arts and Culture • Human Rights, Immigration and Refugees • Peace Education in schools/in general • and Environment and Sustainability.

The strategic planning discussions will allow participants to meet and share perspectives how best to build the peace movement and work towards a cross-border Pacific Northwest Regional Peace Forum in the Spring of 2008. Bi-national discussion leaders and recorders will animate the discussion and provide two minute reports within the afternoon peace concert. More detailed reports will be later available online.

The Peace Without Borders Peace Concert

1:30pm-5pm will feature songwriter David Rovics, Latin American music from Correo Aereo, Sudanese sounds from Sudanda, and the mass singing of The Seattle Labor Chorus and Vancouver’s Solidarity Notes along with other artists.

LOCATION
Peace Without Borders will be held at Peace Arch State Park—the park is on the US side of the Peace Arch to the east of the highway. Free Transportation will be available by bus from the King George Sky Train Station in Surrey to the Peace Arch Border crossing all day from 9am -6pm.
See www.worldpeaceforum.ca for details on transportation, maps and parking.

CHILDREN
There will be a children’s activity area.

FOOD
Tamales and other delights will be available from the Las Margaritas collective of Bellingham.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We need volunteers, please email mkinskofer@gmail.com

NEED more information?
www.worldpeaceforum.ca and/or www.whatcompjc.org

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Law Advocates Book Club group
Folks from Law Advocates are interested in beginning a new book group.
For those who are interested, call Sofia @ 734-9761