> THE LAND
This event, along with the majority of the organizing done by the Black Lives Matter Vancouver Coalition and other organizers, will be taking place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory and homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Stolo First Nations. We invite our communities to join us in solidarity with Indigenous peoples across and beyond Turtle Island in naming and engaging with the realities of colonial violence, which as we witnessed on June 12th, is inseparable from anti-latinx, anti-black and anti-queer and anti-trans violence. We are grateful to the Coast Salish people for the knowledge, kindness and indomitable spirit with which they have taken care of this land for millennia and will continue to work in solidarity with their work at this, and in future events.
> THE EVENT
On June 12th, a devastating attack took place in Orlando, Florida. The event was a violent attack on the LGBTQ+ community. The attack took many from the Latinx, Afro-Latinx and Black communities, yet this has largely been ignored by mainstream media, and sadly by much of the LGBTQ+ community here in Vancouver.
We would like to hold this space to heal and connect as queer and trans people of colour, and uplift decolonial ways of loving and nurturing our communities in these hard times. Let’s come together to grieve, love and heal.
This is space being held exclusively for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Muslim, and other people of colour whose identities fall on the intersections of being queer, trans, two-spirit or elsewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum (QTBIPOC).
The space and organizing will prioritise those from the Latinx, Black, Indigenous and Muslim communities and ensure a safer space for them. However, all QTBIPOC are welcome.
In remembrance to those who passed during the attack, the space will contain an altares de muertos put together by our latinx organizers. Decorated with traditional papel picado, candles, flores de cempazuchitl (marigolds), sugar skulls and the picture of those who lost their lives, any further offerings of flowers and candles will be welcome. The organizers are conscious that altares are traditionally exclusive to Day of the Dead, but given the impact this attack has had on the Latinx and Afro-Latinx communities in Orlando, this feels like an appropriate way to celebrate both the lives and identities of those who are no longer with us.
Indigenous folks are invited to bring drums, songs, or other medicines they wish to contribute to the healing space.
There will also be space for quiet reflection, prayer, meditation, art supplies etc. Light refreshments will be available for those needing to break their Ramadan fasts. Active listeners from allied QTBIPOC communities will be available to help create a safer space, especially for the prioritizied QTBIPOC communities impacted and for general support.
> THE SPACE
Gallery Gachet.
This event is being organized by:
Black Lives Matter Vancouver
Breaking the Fast Muslim Arts Collective
Members of the Indigenous,Latinx, Afro-Latinx, Black and Muslim communities of Vancouver