LETTER FROM SALT SPRING ISLAND Saltspring Islanders for Justice and Reconciliation (SSIJAR) wish to express their solidarity and support for ŒHaida Spirit Rising. We are sending ... a cheque for $250 towards expenses at the campout. The cheque represents money donated by some of the members; others are donating directly. Below is a short description of SSIJAR and some of our involvements: SSIJAR is a group based in the community of Saltspring Island (close at points to both Victoria and Duncan). The core aims of SSIJAR are based in recognition, understanding and respect. We seek to increase awareness of aboriginal culture and history, as well as contemporary issues for First Nations such as language, cultural renewal, treaties and other political issues. For the past three years we have been working to promote understanding within our mainly non aboriginal community of the issues faced by First Nations and have hosted and attended many events including a Speaker Series in which were highlighted: Guujaaw, President of Haida Gwaii; Chief Judith Sayers, Hucapasath FN; Robert Morales, Chief Negotiator of the Hul_qumi_num Treaty Group; Ronald Wright, resident, author and 2004 Massey lecturer; Kim Kornbacher, member and archeologist; Chris Arnett, author and resident and many others. Disturbance of ancestral remains and middens due to development on Saltspring and other Gulf Islands has been a major focus for us. Last week some members attended (by invitation) a reburial of ancestral remains on Saltspring Island. We regularly keep our emailing list up to date on FN issues which has included the Haida Spirit Rising bulletins.