A New West-based book store is excited to showcase Indigenous authors at this weekend’s Indigenous Market at Westminster Quay – and throughout the year.
New West Craft is teaming up with Shop First Nations to host an Indigenous market on Saturday, June 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s being held on the boardwalk at Westminster Quay, the traditional territories of the Qayqayt First Nation.
The New West Craft Indigenous Market will feature 25 vendors, as well as live performances.
“This market is an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous makers, artists and small business owners and to give space to connect with the community,” said a notice from Arts Council of New Westminster, which hosts New West Craft. “The New West Craft Indigenous Market aims to bolster First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists and small businesses by encouraging consumers to invest in Indigenous made art, goods, and services. By introducing the community to local Indigenous artisans and entrepreneurs, the event hopes to foster a connection through food, art, and craft and create relationship-building and learning opportunities.”
Anne Uebbing, owner of Kinder Books in River Market, is excited about this weekend’s market and hopes it brings many visitors to the market in support of the Indigenous community. She said she was chatting with Laura Grady from the arts council, when she mentioned she’d had an Indigenous Day storytelling event on her wishlist for a long time.
“Laura responded that she too had something in mind to honour Indigenous Peoples Day. We merged our ideas, and this market was born,” she said. “I shared it with many agencies, such as Spirit of the Children and my connections to the Indigenous community through my previous work with the Noons Creek Hatchery in Port Moody.”
Kinder Books has arranged for a visit from Haida Storyteller, Kung Jaadee, who will perform Haida Raven Tales and Songs at 11.30 a.m. on the boardwalk. The performance was made possible through a grant Uebbing received from New West Literacy and Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
Kinder Books carries Kung Jaadee’s books Raven's Feast and Gifts from Raven, which will be available for purchase at a book stand being set up at the market. Kung Jaadee (moon woman) will also be signing her two books at the event.
“The author Kung Jaadee is a longtime friend of Kinder Books. I love when she comes in for a visit and shares her Haida wisdom with me. It grounds me and puts things in perspective for me. It's about connection and respect,” Uebbing said. “I had initially met her many years ago when she presented her Haida Raven Tales and Songs at an Art Starts event. I had been dreaming about hosting an event like this ever since. And now the time has come.”
Uebbing sees Kinder Books as a place that can help create a deeper understanding and knowledge about Indigenous stories.
Uebbing grew up in Germany, where her perspective of Indigenous Peoples experiences was shaped by a German author who had never been to North America and wrote adventure fiction. It was after moving to North America in 1999 and seeing an exhibit about the Native America Navajo tribe at the children’s museum where she was working in San Diego that Uebbing was inspired to learn more about the First Peoples real experience in North America and to better understand the effects of colonization.
