Page 2A FACE IN Ta Sty The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, May 26, 1993 Annual festival a cultural rejuvenation SAMY BISHAY For The Sun This past weekend marked the 46th annual Youth Festival for the Union of Youth of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC). The event took place at the Cultural Centre in Brilliant, This year's theme_was the commemo- ration of the 50th anniversary of ISKRA, ISKRA is a bi-monthly publication by members of the Doukhobour community. The newsletter name, ISKRA, is a Russian word meaning “Spark” The idea was to retain cultural heritage by the passing on of the “spark” in 1943 as a weekly bilingual paper. To this day it has a strong influence on its readers, as is evident by the young peo ple who are still familiar with their cultural heritage. As young Doukhobors contin- ue to move further apart for rea. sons such as education and employment, ISKRA's:role as a communication link will become increasingly vital. ISKRA also pravides a means of learning about Doukhobor history, cus- toms and traditions and provides a tangible link to beliefs. The USCC (Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ) was formed to bring together the 36 Name: Sandra Where you work: Playpen What you do there: | play Pet: Cat - Frisky Castlegar likes: Mom & Dad Best kept Castlegar secret: Bowling alley What would you rather be doing? Sleeping with all my toys Vehicle: Stroller T Would you like to be our Face In The Sun? - Or do you k office at 465 Columbi. “Give us a call at 365-5266 or ~— by our id? Cuts to National Book festival severely limit literary exposure SAMY BISHAY For The Sun Many of you might remember the recent visit by Ben Wicks to our community. This visit was sponsored by the Canada Council as part of their National Book Festival. The program was engi- neered to facilitate the travel of Canadian Authors to remote communities so their works could be. promoted to the public. The program was important in the sense that it enabled Canadians to pride in the work of their brother and sister nationals. The work of Canadian authors, if not recognized by Canadians, falls short of its mark Unfortunately, gone are the days. when writers like Wicks, W.O. Mitchell, or Alice Munro can journey to the smaller com- munities to meet the public and autograph their works for patrons of literary arts. It was indeed day for Canadians when the Federal Government cut the Canada Council budget by almost ten percent. Some Canadians will feel that it is mo great loss, and consider- ing the state of the economy, cuts have to be made. All Canadians to some degree will also agree that the national debt is way too high, almost unmanageable. This is of course not the only area the Federal Government will be mak- ing cuts in the 94/95 year. It is however the focus of many Cana- dians including Castlegar librari an, Judy Wearmouth. Wearmouth, who organized the National Book Festival activi- ties locally for Castlegar, and for other West Kootenay communi- ties, wrote to the government requesting that the funding cut be reconsidered. “As the librarian of a small public library. I have co-ordi nated author tours for the past fifteen year nding a wid variety of exciting writ t many as cleven making National Book Festi our main vent f th vear None of u ould afford t bring in authors without th funding the National Book Fes tival provided, and the authors have had the opportunity to feel other librar increase their readership and travel to areas they might never have managed to visit At atime when Canadian liter ature and publishing are strug gling to survive and literacy has become such an important issue Wearmouth said it is counter-pro- ductive to eliminate a program which exposed and celebrated these very things. "National Book Festival has proved itself very effective in this mandate; perhaps the govern- ment's funding cuts could be redirected to other areas which do not so directly benefit writers and local communities from coast to coast." Dr. Paul Leduc, the Canada Council, responded to Wearmouth, stating why the cuts were made, and promised that she, as well as her co-work- ers will lobby the government for a reinstatement of the bud- get as it was. “Two essential activities were identified as being crucial to 'ful- filling the council's mandate Support to individual artists for the creation of new work, and assistance to arts organizations which perform; publish and exhibit the arts," Leduc said. The letter went on to explain ‘reductions were not enough to cover the $8.7 million cut to the Councils grants budget. The council:therefore had the difficult task of prioritizing its existing programs. It examined each one in light of several factors: its con- tribution to Council's. priorities; impact on the ‘clientele; its raison d'etre as a distinct program; the possibility of offering the same type of support under revised and enlarged programs; and the avail- ability of support through other Council or federal programs I can director of assur Council, along ymmunit ontinu Canadiar ritical role th society and under importance t nation,” Ledu ce ies and organize them into a strong group. From this was formed the Union of Youth, which is made up of both men and. women aged 16-30. The youth group meets once a month for both social and spiritual activities. Activities are current- ly organized under the leadership of Paul Semenoff, who has taken on the role of chairman. Semenoff stated the. impor- tance for younger generation Doukhobors to learn and under- stand their culture. "The culture and traditions must be learned in order for them to be carried on, he said. The festival was full of tradi and music, as well as funny skits put on by various tional songs The 46th Annual Youth Festival for the Union of Youth of Spiritual Communities of Christ was full of traditional clothing, songs and dance groups that attended from throughout parts of B.C..The si were set up to display historical events that occured in the early days of Doukhobor settlement. Attired in tradional garb, the young people Elia Popoff, historian and translator of Russian, said the Doukhobor were a strong breed of people. Though illiterate, they managed to build a life for them. selves here in Canada after being SUN PHOTO /Samy Bishay Unfortunately the newer genera- tion is getting cought up in other things and the culture may be in danger of dying. One of the rea sons for this is movement of young people from the Kootenays to the cities. “It is hard to pranced and sang about the stage with some narration pro- vided by a young couple evidently travelling back in time to witness some of these events. The couple ‘The culture and traditions must be learned in order for them to be carried on.’ PAUL SEMENOFF keep tradition and culture alive when you. aren't sur rounded by people of your own kind.” The youth group, with a mem- bership of over Chairman ) OO, is still strong played by Ernie Verigin and Liana Zwick, con- versed in both languages as they walked among their ancestors involved in daily activities. This particular skit was quite a theatri- cal achievemént. The contempo- Tranes, were a great contrast to the hardships faced by their predeces- sors. Evident was the ease of life ‘bought and paid for by their ancestors sweat and blood exiled for reasons such as refus- ing military service. Popoff feels that the very fact Doukhobors have managed to keep their cul- ture alive for almost a hundred years is a testament to their com. a and quite support ive of one another. They are a close knit community with open arms for strangers. After the for mal festivities ended at the cul tural centre, 100 or so people converged at Mel's place for mitment and strength. Popoff said when the Union of Youth began their were 1,500 members and all were dedicated to keep ing the culture alive some early morning As the freelance journalist cover ing this event, | was had a wonderful tim: DASVIDANIA socializing invited and New manuals provide awareness of learning disabilities Submitted The Castlegar Chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association has coHated sever al Employer's Resource Manu als and will be distributing them to local supporters of the Association The purpose of the manual is to provide information that will help them to increase the employer's awareness of employees, or potential employees who have learning disabilities The information suggests ways to which to examine the needs of employees who have learning disabilities and pro- vide accommodations in the workplace which greatly enhance the well-being and the productivity of their workers. Some examples-of such work adjustments could be: flexible work assignments, access to word processors, calculators, tape recorders, extended train- ing periods, a distraction-free work place or written, demon- strated or taped instructions. Police Chapter President, Bernice Beckstead (right), presented Celgar’s s Human Resources Manager, Al Blessin (middle), and Employment and Training Cootdinator Kennedy with their Employer's Resource Manual Phot Roadside vehicle inspection nets car thieves Submitted A roadside vehicle inspection May 19 netted more than tickets for derelict vehicles. Two men were charged with possession of stolen property when they stopped by police and it was found that the vehicle had been reported were stolen The vehicle, a Mazda 323 had been rented out by a Vancouver rental agency and was reported stolen after it failed to be returned in March A 38-year-old man, James Wood of Canmore, Alberta, and 1993 42-year-old Richard Preston of Seton Portage, B.C charged with possession of stolen property. During the inspection. police also charged a person with pos session of marijuana. There were 460 vehicles and vehicles checked during the vehicle inspection. Major defects resulted in 15 vehicles ordeted off the 30 motor vehicle act charges were laid and 84 check-up slips were also issued The motor vehicle inspection was conducted by the RCMP and motor transport personnel. ~ were private 30 commercial road RUBES By Leigh Rubin Creators Syrcicate. inc © 1993 325 I Witt $u T Wil = Mr. Jones had nagging doubts about whether Bobby had really learned his lesson { Wednesday, May 26, 1993 Human rights The Castlegar Sun Castlegar man embarkes on dangerous mission Bud Godderis acting as protector to Guatemalans entering their own country SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor About the time Castlegar read. ers glance over this story, Bud Godderis will be in)}GQuatemala, putting his own life On the line to further human rights and dignity in that highly oppressive Country. A Castlegar ident and social worker at the Trail hospital, God- deris was asked to accompany a friend who is travelling to Guatemala fer a week-long series of meetings on human rights. Marta Gloria Torres, who, along with her family and friends, was forced into exile in the early 1980s for their efforts to improve living human rights conditions. Approximately 300,000 others were also exiled. Starting in 1988, Marta and her co workers made a series of brief visits back to their homeland, secretly meet- ing with human rights, students, church, labor, indigenous and other groups who are trying to gain respect for their human rights from the Guatemalan gov- emment and military. In this latest visit to Guatemala, Godderis is lending protection under the banner of his Canadian citizenship status. “It's their country and they want to work towards its free- dom. I’m not going with them for my benefit—but for their protec- tion only,” Godderis said. “There would be quite an uproar here in Canada if something happened to any of us while in Guatemala.” Godderis has the support of his union, which recently passed a resolution pledging full strength for the cause from the Christian Task Force on Central America, violations in Guatemala have increased sub- Stantially this spring. Indigenous people, students, trade unionists and homan rights activists have been the main targets of the insti- tutionalized repression there Most of the cases of torture, dis- appearances and summary execu- tions are perpetrated by members of the Guatemalan Army or the police. One of the responsibilities Godderis will have, aside from providing protection to the Guatemalans while in their coun- try, is to pull together a network of groups and individuals who are prepared to send FAXES or make telephone calls on _ the Guatemalans’ behalf if they are threatened or badly treated. “These people whom I am accompanying are my friends, and the suffering is so great in their country. I feel that any risk I might be taking is worth the effort to improve human condi- tions there.” Editor's note: After this story was written, a number of new developments, all of them tragic, have occurred in Guatemala and now place a greater threat on the exiled Guatemalan's safety, as well as Bud's. As of Tuesday, the constitution in Guatemala has been suspended, eliminating all respect for human rights. With the parliament dissolved, the presi- dent of the country has declared he will now rule by decree. As well, the head of the Supreme Court, and a Human Rights Ombudsman, have both been According to a press release — placed under house arrest, Bud's Volunteerism BUD GODDERIS wife, Anne Godderis, has told The Sun that the Canadian Embassy will be attempting to get God- deris and the exiled Guatemalans who have been living in Canada for the past few years, out of the country as sooh as possible. The Castlegar Sun will be closety fol lowing these new developments, and ts hoping, along with the rest of Castlegar, for Bud's safe return home Local cycl LEON ARISHENKOFF st will be peddling Leon Arishenkoft hoping to raise SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor It’s going to be a slow climb to the top, but Leon Arishenkoff knows that getting there just might be half the fun after all For the second straight year, the Castlegar cyclist is attempting to raise money for the British Columbia Lung Association's Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath This annual fundraiser involves 200 cyclists collecting donations and participating in a 200-kilometre tour of the scenic Fraser Valley and north- wester Washington State. In order to participate, each trekker must raise a minimum of $350 prior to the first day of the trek, September 11, 1993 While participating last year, Arishenkoff raised more than $5,000 for the Lung Associa- tion, and was the second best fundraiser in the province for this event This year, Arishenkoff has doubled his goal, and is planning to raise a whopping $10,000! “Because I have set my goal at this level I'm starting to do fundraising now. It takes a lot of time, but it’s just something I like doing,” Arishenkoff said. Starting in June, the local cyclist will be canvassing door to door in the Castlegar area. He has already been receiving some for cash $10,000 because no matter where for the Lung money he goes, he solicits Association I embarrass my kids a lot. But heh, if you don’t ask get it Scott McDonald, executive director for the Lung Associa- you don't tion’s annual fundraiser, said ‘1 embarass my kids a lot. But heh, if you don't ask, you don't get it.’ — LEON ARISHENKOFF Cycling for the Lung Association Arishenkoff’s efforts help pay for research into such diseases as lung cancer, emphysema, asthma and occupational lung disease, as well as cOntribute to educating thousands of school children about the importance of clean air and healthy lungs Last year, the combined (efforts of all ekkers raised a grand total of $172,000. This year, the B.C. Lung Association's goal has been increased to $200,000. Official tax receipts are pro- vided to all people who donate WEATHER __ OUTLOOK: The forecast for Wednesday; A mix of sun and cloud, 60% chance of showers and thunder showers. High tem perature near 25. Outlook: A moist, unstable southwesterly flow should provide slight- ly cooler, unsettled conditions Thursday and Friday. A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST WEEK: Min/Date Mean Normal Mean 13.5 Temperature: Max/Date 30.3/17 6.3/23 17.0 Normal Total Precipitation: Rain Snow Total t 0 19.4 13.7 Normal Number of Hours 53.5 Sunshine: REMARKS: A ridge of high pressure maintained very warm, sunny conditions through mid week. Fairly intense thunder showers were experienced Thursday morning as a wave of moist, unstable air tracked northwards from the coast of Oregon. This unstable southwesterly flow provid- ed unsettled conditions into the weekend. Forecast provided by The South - East Interior Weather Office at Castlegar, B.C ARROW LAKE RESERVOIR FORECAST May 21-1409.90 May 29- 1416.60 Post-secondary review panel has June deadline in sight for decision SHARLENE IMHOFF post-secondary institutions. Sun Editor The panel has been reviewing the ion, and is now con- It’sta long and tedious process, but it's on target to meet a mid- June deadline Jeanette Matson, executive assistant for the Kootenay Post- Secondary Education and Train- ing Review project, said the review team is Currently meeting, with experts and its own advisory committee to discuss new ideas. We're very much at a testing stage right now,” Matson said. For the past six months, the Kootenay Post-Secondary Educa- tion and Training Review project panel has been reviewing the future of post-secondary educa- tion and training needs in the Kootenay region. The govern- ment commissioned project called for community input earli- er this spring, and received both written and oral submissions from individuals, businesses, city councils, school districts and sidering new opportunities said Matson. “We're more than half-way through the process—it’s now a matter of building on ideas that we feel will hold up and be acceptable to the people of the Kootenays.” Officials from both Selkirk College and the Nelson Universi- ty Centre have stated their facili- ty should have degree-granting status, and when asked if the competition for the status was affecting the panel's decision- making, Matson said there would not be one magic answer. “There is so much diversity in the Kootenays, and therefore many diverse needs. We're hop- ing to look at new ways to open up opportunities as well as build on what's already there.” A final report is to be present- ed tothe government in June. KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff Helmet might have prevented serious injury, warn RCMP “Most cyclists wear them If Castlegar RCMP member Corporal Al Brown had his way all bicyclists would be required by law to wear hel- mets. “I would like to see a law passed where helmets are mandatory. It would save a lot of injuries.” Brown was referring to a recent bicycling accident which involved two 14-year-old girls, one who sustained neck and head injuries, which Brown said could have been avoided with the use of a helmet. and do so for their own safety.” The acci di when the two girls were cycling down Columbia Ave. The girl in the lead had just crossed over the railway tracks when avoided serious injury it could have tufned ont differently. The accident happened May 18 while the girls were on their way to school. Cascade landowners voice concern and caution over plans to restore power operation GRAND FORKS GAZETTE Property owners at Cascade will have to wait to find out if they'll lose land to a proposed hydroelectric development Powerhouse Developments Inc. President Bill Ling met with con- cerned landowners at a Cascade residence Sunday, but he didn’t have the answers they were looking for. “A's landowners, we are opposed to the project 100 per cent. We are very concerned about the environmen- tal impact and flooding of land,” said Howard Hunt, co-chair of the ad- hoc Kettle River Cascade Flood Coalition Ling’s plan is to resurrect the Cascade Water Power and Light Com. pany’s operation which closed down in 1919. The site sits two kilome north of the Cascade-Laurier border crossing, the.development Ires Falls, as well as could affect several below We do not have a water license. We have had the environmental wed by most of the government processes,” Ling Until he knows just how much power West Kootenay “we can't tell a lot of about 25 properties upstream of Cascade study revie explained Power is prepared to purchase and at what price, ¢ other things.” Ling said Based on information from Triton, Ling’s environmental consulting firm, landowners say the project will raise the water level high enough to flood land and affect the river height all the way upstream to Gilpin A Triton representative told landowners the height of the old dam was 6.1 metres (Ling is proposing a dam 13 metres high), said Hunt That would result in flooding, he added However, a study prepared for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) in 1990 claims the old dam was a little over 16 metres. Old photographs also show the old dam was higher, Ling said “There won't be any private property under water,” he ‘There: is no way they (the Ministry of Environment water licence if we were going to flood property Concems about profit motive. noise from the power plant, maintain ing the heritage values of the area, habitat and the possibility of a dry gorge for part of the year were also aired. You're berlefiting from our loss,” said Sue Adrain tered by saying he didn't know what landowners would be losing, as flooding would not occur “We built a camp ground there (by the powerhouse) because ICs peaceful and quiet,” said Mary Planedin, adding that the scenic ¢ ascade Falls are also a tourist draw would give us a but Ling coun maintaineth ss “He denied the allegat ion that the gorge would be dry in the sum- mer,” Hunt added. “This project report says that eight months of the year, it will be dry. I think the biggest problem so far is conflicting reports.” He doesn’t yet have all the answers to their questions, Ling said. A public hearing will be held June 15, by which time all information will have been collected. Landowners will prepare for that hearing by con- tinuing to gather information about the project and its impact on sur- rounding property and the environment The coalition is also sending a letter to the comptroller of water rights at the Licensing and Utilities Branch in Victoria requesting an independent confirmation of the technical and environmental data and an impact statement prepared by someone other than Ling “We feel sure that a review of the proposed project will show that it is neither desirable nor viable and would ask that a water license be refused,” the letter states RDKB Area C director Margaret Maximenko was unable to attend Sunday's meeting, but later told The Gazette: “We agreed with the pro- posal in principle pending a public hearing process by the Ministry of Environment, specifically inviting and involving both the upstream and downstream adjacent and affected property owners