Name: Dance Temple Presents : Fundraiser for Old Growth Forests
Start: 2026-04-11T14:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-04-11T16:30:00-07:00
Location: Church of Truth

Dance Temple Presents : Fundraiser for Old Growth Forests
Schedule
2:00 — Doors open & opening circle with Bill Jones
2:30 — Chiyokten shares teachings & Coast Salish stories
3:15 — Dance journey begins
4:15 — Closing circle
Connection is medicine. Let’s dance in remembrance of the strength of community and our shared commitment to the land. Come with an open heart, a spirit of reciprocity, and a willingness to learn and be part of the circle.
Gather in community to learn about the ongoing efforts to protect old-growth forests in the Upper Walbran (Kax:iks) Valley and the Fairy Creek (Ada'istx) region on Pacheedaht First Nation Territory. Land and water protectors continue to stand in defence of some of the last remaining ancient forests on the coast.
Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones will share about his court case as he stands for Indigenous sovereignty and the rights of his territory. In his teachings, old-growth forests are sacred — the forest is his temple.
Chiyokten, a W̱SÁNEĆ land defender, Coast Salish story carrier, and wisdom keeper, will also be present to share teachings for the land along with Coast Salish stories.
Reverence and ceremony will flow into movement as we open the space for dance with Dance Temple. DJ N Joy (Naomi Jason), co-founder of Dance Temple Salt Spring and Dance Temple International, will guide a journey through music and movement. With over 16 years of experience, her sets weave together diverse genres and cultures—from deep beats to soulful rhythms. Chiyokten, a multi-instrumentalist, will weave alongside DJ N Joy for part of the dance journey.
Elder Bill Jones is taking legal action to protect the land and uphold natural law. He has also launched a fundraiser to support land defenders recently arrested while protecting the forests in the Upper Walbran Valley. Funds raised will go directly to Elde Bill Jones and those who stood in defence of these ancient trees.
Learn more about the legal defence fund and contribute direct here:
https://chuffed.org/project/defend-the-upper-walbran-stand-with-pacheedaht-elder-bill-jones
Purchase tickets for the event @ the door or through Eventbrite
Sliding scale from $25 and up
(All proceeds support land defenders)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-fundraiser-for-old-growth-forests-tickets-1985946507464?aff=oddtdtcreator

*This Fundraiser is being organised on the unceded territories of the WSÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən peoples of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and the organisers call on all participants to be respectful of this. We ask that people who come to remember long standing requests from local people to "walk with good minds and hearts”