Dear Port Moody,

Our In the Presence of Ancestors project is finally standing on these shores. I am so grateful to all of you who have walked these past SEVEN years with me, learning, hosting ceremony, and growing as a community.

My vision has always been rooted in re-presencing the original caregivers of these land, re-aligning to the original values of these lands, and carving these ancestral stories and prayers for the future into the fabric of our community.

I am here at the final stage of the project, waiting to publish the literature for each house post in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, Squamish sníchim, and English. Uncle Shane Pointe was adamant about language, encouraging us to always explain the stories in our art and the calls to action inherent in our symbols. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Squamish sníchim speak differently than English, and after nearly two years of care, learning, and back-and-forth with language speakers, I finally have a final draft that we're all proud of. I am asking for your support in helping me fund this final stage, to make sure this project is completed with the care it deserves.

There have been many unforeseen roadblocks and challenges along the way but it has always remained my goal to work with integrity, even if that meant I was the one who wouldn’t be paid. The fundraising target is broken down like this.

Final hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ Language Archival Translation — $1,200

Direct funding for the final, specialized hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ translation fees to ensure exquisite representation of the ancestral language of the land.

Literary Curation & Original English Text Author Fee — $3,000

Compensation for editing and authorial work in creating the primary English manuscript.

Creative Direction, Inter-Nation Coordination & Production Management — $4,000

Compensation for work coordinating between the City and the Nations, managing the administration, and carrying the overall production with integrity through to completion.

Total Campaign Target: $8,200

In the Presence of Ancestors stands in our community for a lifetime with many hands that have joined me in making it happen in a good way. Your support helps make sure I can finish with the care, the language, and the integrity this project has always sought to embody.

Raising my hands to you.

Tasha Faye Evans