Social Arts
Artivism
As Artivists, we act against injustice and oppression by protesting and raising social and environmental awareness through creative expression. More importantly, Art (with courage, power, and love) pushes new edges of our imagination and mirrors how transformation is possible.
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"Protecting Sacred Sites"
Summer 2021, a 25-foot totem pole carved by the House of Tears carvers travelled across the US stopping for ceremony and events with communities standing up to protect sacred places that are currently under threat from resource extraction and industrial development. The totem pole, along with the painting, strengthen relationship, honour, and empower these communities. "The pole carries the spirit of the lands it visits and the power and prayers of communities along the way—ultimately delivering these prayers, power and demands to the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress in Washington DC," RedRoadtodc.org.
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"Freeing Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut Means Protecting the Sea"
The Salish Sea Campaign is working to bringing the orca Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut out of the captivity and back home to the Salish Sea. Once called Lolita, then called Tokitae, and now given the Lummi name Sk’aliCh’elh-tenau, she was violently taken from L-pod in 1970, and has been held at Miami Seaquarium ever since. Lummi Nation’s Sovereignty and Treaty Protection Office is working with The Orca Network, The Whale Sanctuary Project and others. For more information, visit SacredSea.org
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"It Takes Courage To Be A Queer Refugee"
While Vancouver can be a safe heaven for many LGBTQ2SI around the world, it can also be very difficult for folks asking for asylum to face the racism embedded in the system, organizations, and communities.
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"We Say Welcome To Sri Lankan Refugees"
As the Government of Canada incarcerates 490 people in 2010 (including women and children) who arrived at the .
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"Health For All".
Sanctuary Health among with many Vancouverites pushes to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare regardless of their immigration status. The fear of debt, deportation, and death should not limit people’s access to services. The responsibility of enforcing immigration law falls onto Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) alone, and it is NOT the responsibility of service providers, health care workers, other police agencies, transit security nor the municipal government.
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"Lets Talk About The Elephant In The Room"
Young immigrant/refugee adults challenge decision-makers in London, Ontario, to reflect deeper about diversity and inclusion in the private, public, and social sector.
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"Lets Daylight the Underground Streams".
Many streams where salmon used to travel and hatch where covered in cement to build the city of Vancouver. In St. George Street, you can listen the stream piped under the ground. This mural was a small step to daylight the stream we call St. George Rainway.
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'Yes To Life, No To Mining'Abuse.
Canadian mining companies are devastating Latin American countries by destroying the lands, the social fabric of the communities, and long term local economies. Local people from San Miguel Ixtahuacan, and Huehuetenango, shared their story with Canadians through a 30ft. banner. A year later, UBC students created a second 30ft. banner for Guatemalans that says 'We Are All Being Lied To." Then, a third 30ft. banner circulated many events in Vancouver asking to reflect on divesting from mining companies: "When lives and land are the cost of golden corporate funding, which business are you in?"
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"'Protect the Burrard Inlet".
Several tankers pass through the Burrard Inled on a weekly basis. Tsleil-Waututh Nation say no to Trans Mountain Pipeline and tanker project. The federal and provinicial government have recenlty approved these project without the consent on the local nations.