EVENT: 6th Annual Walbran Convergence

July 27-28, 2019

Kaxi:ks (Big River) – Central Walbran Valley

Pacheedaht territory

 

Join the Friends of Carmanah Walbran, Wilderness Committee – Victoria Office, Sierra Club BC and all lovers of the incredible Walbran Valley for a weekend to celebrate past activism to keep this rainforest standing, and re-commit to fighting together for environmental justice here and everywhere.

This family friendly event takes place in the heart of the central Walbran, or Kaxi:ks (Big River), in unceded Pacheedaht territory. We recognize Pacheedaht sovereignty in this valley, and want a solution for this rainforest that includes the return of land to the Nation and social and economic justice for its people.

Saturday evening: Speakers 5pm, Community Dinner 6pm.

Despite the climate crisis and the fact that the majority of low-elevation productive old-growth forest has already been logged, the Walbran still faces the threat of industrial logging. By holding space in this valley together, we aim to highlight and celebrate the values this place holds outside of its value as timber.

TRANSPORTATION:

Because of the costs and time-consuming nature of providing bus transport, we’ve opted not to rent a bus for the Convergence this year. Instead we will coordinate rideshares and look into renting smaller shuttle vans, with options to accommodating those planning a day trip and overnighters. All info will be posted on this page.

– Carpooling: If you have a seat available or need a ride please post on this site: http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/39kmws

– Book a seat in a rental van! Contact Jessie for more info and to reserve a spot: jessie.demers@gmail.com

– Self-transportation is always an option, see here for driving instructions: https://friendsofcarmanahwalbran.com/visit-the-central-walbran-driving-instructions/

FOOD:

As always, a focal point of the Convergence will be a community dinner on Saturday (the 27th) evening. The meal will be coordinated by the amazing Jon Cash, with vegetarian/vegan/gluten free options available. The meal will be ticketed, so please buy your meal in advance.

A pancake breakfast will be provided by donation on Sunday (the 28th) morning, coordinated by our pals at Sierra Club BC. All additional meals and snacks are the responsibility of individual attendees.

Meal tickets:
Saturday dinner will be available on a sliding scale of $15-30 and breakfast on the Sunday morning will be by suggested donation of $10-20. Meals can be arranged by etransfer to friendsofcarmanahwalbran@gmail.com or through cash-drop at Wildfire Bakery (1517 Quadra St.) or the Wilderness Committee office (#202, 3 Fan Tan Alley).

PLEASE BRING your own plates and cutlery. Volunteers are needed for the food committee — please email Jon at joncash75@gmail.com if you’re able to help out.

DINNER MENU (Saturday @ 6pm):

– Free Run Organic Pulled Smoked Chicken BBQ Sliders on
Brioche Buns (GF available)
– Vegan/GF Sliders
– Taku Lodge Baked Bean (vegan/GF)
– Organic Coleslaw (Vegan/GF option available)
– Vanilla & Mango Infused Watermelon wedges
– Wildfire Breads and Roast Red Pepper Hummus

PROGRAMMING:

This year we’ve shifted the opening ceremony to become a pre-dinner ceremony that will take place at 5pm on the 27th, featuring a welcome from Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones, other speakers, and announcements about the weekend. After dinner, a few acoustic musical acts will play through the sunset on the Bridge.

Several workshops are being planned, to take place over the course of Saturday and Sunday morning. If you’re interested in leading a workshop at the Convergence, please contact Emily at emily@wildernesscommittee.org.

Guided hikes will also be offered, happening on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

More information about the schedule, workshops and hikes will be posted on this page in the coming weeks, and will also be posted in the valley on the weekend of.

CAMPING:

As always, campsites are first come, first served. We ask everyone to consider choosing campsites on the road and to do all cooking and things like that on the road, to limit our impact on the forest. For folks who are able to pack all their gear in a backpack, we’ll likely ask you to move your cars up the hill from the main camp to provide more space. We ask for your patience as we’ll likely ask folks to move vehicles and keep space free along the road around the bridge for events, speakers, workshops, etc.

There will more than likely be a fire ban on, so there will be zero tolerance for fires of any kind. We request that everyone practice leave-no-trace camping, wash dishes in designated areas, and use the outhouses (so lovingly dug by WC and FoCW volunteers) rather than the woods.

We hope to see you out in Kaxi:ks, for what is always the highlight of the summer! Sierra Club BC’s Karli Mann and Elisabeth Hazell will be there, come say hello!

For any questions about the weekend, please contact Emily at emily@wildernesscommittee.org.

This event is being held in the unceded territory of the Pacheedaht Nation, and the organizers promote efforts to decolonize environmental activism in the fight to protect Kaxi:ks and all ancient rainforests.