On Sunday September 2nd, 2012, the Wilderness Committee and Tanker Free BC are joining Coast Salish First Nations to co-host a very exciting event: the Save the Salish Sea Festival. This free, family-friendly event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver, right next to the Lonsdale Quay Seabus.

Featuring live music, DJs, guest speakers, local Indigenous artists, interactive art displays, a kids zone and more, this festival is the perfect opportunity for citizens to show their support for Coast Salish Nations in the fight against oil pipelines and tankers in their traditional territory.

The event will be taking place just a day after a First Nations canoe journey through the Burrard Inlet, which hopes to raise awareness about the increasing tanker traffic coming in and out of Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby marine terminal. The canoe trip on September 1st is planned as a peaceful gathering, demonstrating the unity of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in their ongoing efforts to protect their land and waters.

The much-anticipated concert will feature two different stages with a variety of performers: the Salish Seas Main Stage (rock, indie and folk music) and the Beats Not Tankers Stage (DJs, electronic and hip-hop artists). Performers include The Boom Booms, Wayne Lavallee, Phyllis Sinclair, Maga Bo, Skookum Sound and Emotionz. (For the full line-up, visit this link).

Speakers at the event include:

• Chief Ian Campbell, Squamish Nation
• Rueben George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
• Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Greenpeace
• Naomi Klein, Author and Social Activist
• Rex Weyler, Writer and Co-founder of Greenpeace International

We want this festival to be a big success, but we can’t do it without your help. With less than two weeks to go before the concert, we need to spread the word and build more community support for this important campaign. If you would like to lend a hand, please contact Sven@TankerFreeBC.org and he will get you involved. If you’re in the Vancouver area, you can also stop by our office (top floor of 341 Water St. in Gastown) to pick up posters and flyers to distribute in your neighbourhood.

Please help by passing along the details and/or our Facebook event page to friends, family and colleagues.

This is gonna be a great show and a lot of fun for a really important cause. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Ben West | Healthy Communities Campaigner
Wilderness Committee