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The 2022 Caretaking Earthside: A Birth Worker Community Conference will take place on the unceded, traditional territory of the Sts’ailes People near Agassiz, B.C.

Recognizing the unique roles that Indigenous birth workers fulfill within their communities, Caretaking Earthside: A Birth Worker Community Conference aims to bring together Indigenous birth workers in the spirit of knowledge sharing, connection, ceremony, and collective care. Through the telling of our interwoven experiences and expertise, attendees will return home to their communities with both an emboldened personal practice, alongside strengthened and newly formed Indigenous birth worker kinship networks. With the central theme of community care and collective liberation, we will explore how we as caretakers can jointly increase our capacity, wellness, health and power — whether it be in the birth room, on the land, within our homes or in our hearts. We look forward to gathering with you, and raise our hands to the Sts’ailes people for allowing us to come together on their unceded territory.

Facilities: 

The conference will be taking place at the Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem Healing Retreat Centre.

The Centre has the following policies in effect:

• • No domestic animals or pets of any kind.

  • No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs.

  • No symptoms of COVID 19 (cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, loss of taste or smell). Should anyone present these symptoms while at the facility they will be asked to leave immediately and to self-isolate at home.

  • When maintaining 6 feet social distancing isn’t possible, guests will wear face masks.

  • Entering the river is at your own risk.

Accommodation: 

Please see the following links to accommodation options near the facility. All accommodation is roughly a 25-30 minutes drive to the Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem Healing Centre. If you are requesting sponsorship for accommodation, please indicate this on the registration form and we will contact you.

Please note: the conference starts at 9AM on September 27, and finishes around 12-noon on September 28. Booking for both the nights of the 26th and 27th is recommended.

For those paying their own way / not requesting sponsorship, you will be responsible for booking your own accommodation. The following locations are options that others attending the event will be booking:

• Harrison Beach Hotel  – 160 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs 604-796-1111 $144-264/night

• Harrison Spa Motel – 140 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs 604-796-2828 $116-$149/night

• Harrison Lake Hotel* – 190 Lillooet Avenue, Harrison Hot Springs 604-796-5555 $109-129/night.

• Hot Spring Villa Hotel & Restaurant – 270 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs 604-796-9339 $108-138/night

Registration: 

Registration has now closed

Sponsorship: 

* Sponsorship will be granted on a first come, first serve basis.*

Once the initial budget is spoken for, we will have a wait list that will be sponsored as additional sponsorship funding becomes available.

Apply for Sponsorship: Participants can be sponsored for the following:

a) Registration sponsorship only (Please indicate sponsorship request on the registration form)

b) Accommodation sponsorship only (Please indicate sponsorship request on the registration form)

c) Travel sponsorship only (Please follow up by submitting a Travel estimate to dafgpassistant@bcaafc.com)

d) Full sponsorship (Please follow up by submitting a Travel estimate to dafgpassistant@bcaafc.com)

Sponsor a Birth Worker: Any donation to sponsor a birth worker to attend this event is much appreciated!

To sponsor a birth worker, please donate by clicking the button below. The button will redirect you to our donation page. You may donate any amount via Credit Card. Sponsorship options are on a sliding scale.

• $100-$200: To sponsor registration fees for one (1) birth worker or Elder.

• $400-$500: To sponsor registration fees and accommodation for one (1) birth worker or Elder.

• $1,000-$1,500: To sponsor registration, accommodation and travel for one (1) birth worker or Elder.

**Note** BCAAFC is a non-profit organization, not a charitable organization.

We will not be able to issue a Charitable Donation Income Tax Receipt.

Payment can also be made via cheque, made out to:

BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

551 Chatham St., Victoria, B.C., V8T 1E1.

Include: “DAFGP Circles of Birth Keepers donation” in the notes.

Alternative payment arrangements can be discussed with Jacquie Snelling-Welsh at: 250-388-5522 ext: 267

For questions, please contact:

Jacquie Snelling-Welsh

Doula Program Coordinator

Phone: 250-388-5522 ext 267

doulaprogram@bcaafc.com

This project has been funded in part by: