Hello Everyone

My name is Rose Henry. While I was speaking out at the anti-racism rally this past March my name had been put forward to the United Nations to attend the world conference on Anti-Racism. This year the U.N. is holding it in Durban South Africa on Aug. 28/01 until September 8/01. As far as I know I am the only one that I know of that is going to the conference from Victoria and one of an even fewer group of First Nations people going to this conference from Canada. This honor has been bestowed upon me only because I have found the courage and the will to share my story and experience of racism and poverty.

I am a part of the Salish Nation (coastal) my mother is from Sliammon (Powell River), my late father was from Squirrel Cove. Back in nine -teen ninety-three I married a man from the Snuneymuxw Nation.

For the past seventeen years I have learned to speak out about things that are destroying people and their ability to be at one within themselves.

To give everyone a little history of my back ground; I came to Victoria seventeen years ago as a single parent with the ideas of becoming a child care worker. In stead of becoming a child care worker I came out eighteen month later as a home support worker. Were I worked with special needs and the elderly. But I only fought when I wasn't able to handle the "isms "any more. How I dealt with being a shamed of myself was through lashing out in anger, thoughts of sucides - when I was in grade eight, to turning to alcohol and the streets as an adult. I even went as far as to getting involved with an alcoholic who was exteremly racist and abusive. I was so a shamed of myself that I slowly became what I thought society expected of me I was becoming that F'n Drunken squaw that would never evolve into anything. At this point in my life I didn't see and really wasn't looking into what the future had for me. Because I figure that if I did see it I wouldn't want it because there was really no way I could get what I want out of life which was to be considered "White".

It most preveilant to me when people tell me their experiences and how much it hurts to try and live with it. When I go shopping for groceries or clothes the security is usually right on my tail following me to the cashier who says can you afford that or you know that other stuff is just as good as this but it is cheaper. Then there is the police they are supposed to be unbiased and ready and willing to protect all no matter what the color of your skin is ( that is if you are the right color). Well I think we all Know what happened to Anthony Dawson two years ago when he died while in police custody. It was shortly before Anthony's passing that my husband had been threatened by another person who threatened to shank me because this person wanted to fight with him. My husband did not and still has not retaleated. After I was told about this threat I went to our local police station and reported this to them. They in turn told me that I was at the wrong station that I should be going down town so I head to the down town station where I told the same story only to have them tell me the same story as the first one only. They added that it was highly unlikely that they would be able to do anything because this person hasn't followed through with his planned action. So to this day I continue to live knowing that this person is free to walk around the community, has the law on their side and can continue to threaten me and my family. Simply because of their skin color and their right to excerise their abusive anger on me. The police claim that they can not do anything until this person follows through on their action.

After having personally witnessed other people being denied adequate services in addition to experiencing it myself. When the oppression got to be too much for me I decided to try and do something about it. So far it has gotten me out of my shell and speaking out, I have been on the Ministry of Income Assistance Advisory Council (2years), the Victoria Native Friendship Center board (5 Years), on the board at Together Against Poverty Society (eight years) and worked in a MLA's constituents office for about two years

I have also learned that I am just one of a few people going to this conference and that I am also one of the fewer First Nations people going from Canada. It is at this time I would like to send an acknowledgment to my dear friend Elizabeth Carron(T.A.P.S.) and David Turner (V.I.H.R.C.)for honoring me with this incredible journey. I know that it will be a learning one for everyone.

** URGENT** Right now I am needing yours and the communities help to cover the cost of this incredible trip. You can send your donations to the Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition at Room # 418-620 View Street, Victoria BC. V8W 1J6, Telephone. # 382-3012 (Sorry there is no tax receipt available yet. we're not rich enough for one). If anyone would like to donate items for future raffle it would be grateful appreciated. You can send them or drop them of at the T.A.P.S. and or the V.I.H.R.C. Monday to Friday 9:30 am-4: 30 PM.

My goal is raise $5000.00 By the middle of July 2001. The money raised will cover the cost of my plane fare, food, hotel, transportation and other additional expense like a passport and cost of printing these letters etc. I will be selling my anti-poverty T-shirts as another fundraiser.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration