Session Title: 12 Community Vision: What is our dream of ourselves?
Convenor: Frank Godwin
Note
taker: John Gahn
Participants:
Steve Dunsmuir, Siglinde Ewing, John Gahn, John Wiznuk, Judith Rees-Thomas
Summary
of discussions:
What
is an overall view of community? What
are the dreams of people living on the island
expressed
in terms of community?
Various
values were shared and included the importance of self determination in
government;
the
need for more families and young people on the island; the need to respond to
the changes on the horizon in the Gulf Islands; how to preserve a life style
while the island population is aging; and the importance holding an intention
of an overall community dream.
Bringing
more young people to the island was discussed in length as a way to keep the
community vital and growing. Currently,
some school students on the island are recruited
elsewhere
and the 3 high school grads last year left for greener pastures.
What
are ways to bring more young people here?
Ideas
for this included:
1. Internet businesses.
2. Affordable housing
3. First Nation peoples’ return to living on
the island.
4. Revisiting cultural heritage and honouring
the land and community.
It
was expressed that the dream of a solid community includes people of all ages
working together. Steve Dunsmuir,s goal
is to blur the line between school and community making all citizens teachers
and reconnecting with the natural world, as well as making the school an
education destination.
John
Wiznuk brought up the Fire Department as a good example of community
cooperation
bringing
together a diverse group of people working together to provide a vital service.
There
is a rarity of cohesive community in the western world and being mindful of
holding what Saturna Island has created is very valued. The idea of holding a shared dream included:
Putting people first;
Maintaining age
diversity, especially encouraging more youth;
Recognizing the
changes coming in the Gulf Islands;
Continuing to sit in
circle;
Keeping channels of
communication open;
Respecting all members
of the community;
Allowing space for
life;
Bringing First
Nations’ people back to the island.
Making the school an
education destination.
Also
discussed was the idea of holding to a dream and reviewing dreams as life
requires.
| Funding
Provided by: |
