The Alberian Survival Guide to the Kootenays

Project Vision

Provide a hands on, practical multimedia communication platform for locals and newcomers to the East Shore, so that both communities can clearly define their differences and expectations regarding this land (the East Shore) living on this land, and living – successfully - with each other.

One group in particular among the newcomers: Alberians, or “Barbarian Albertans”.

Wikipedia :: Barbarians ::

"Barbarian" is a pejorative term for an uncivilized person, either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos perceived as having an inferior level of civilization, or in an individual reference to a brutal, cruel, warlike, insensitive person whose behaviour is unacceptable in the society of the speaker.[1]

Barbarians are distinct from savages in that they are willfully ignorant, choosing to remain primitive despite contact with more civilized societies, such as the Greeks.

In other words, the “Alberian Survival Guide to the East Shore” will provide hints, tools, tips, dos and don’ts for living on the East Shore, as offered by both locals and newcomers.

These hints, tips, dos and don’ts will be published and distributed through the following multimedia platform:

• Print: a 20 to 28 pages guide, with color cover and black in white inside content.
• Radio: a show of 6 to 8 emissions, 30 minutes to 1 hour long, broadcast over a community radio and the
• Internet. Web:  a website that optimizes geopositioning such as Google Maps and with community tools such as online forums, chats and calendars.
• Optional: a short documentary or a series of short  films that complement the guide.

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Project Description

Describe activities that will need to be undertaken so Project can be completed.

• Build/Update the database of all East Shore individuals, groups, non profit associations, gvt agencies etc, from both communities, who might be interested in participating in this project.
  
• Define the keywords/tag clouds and parameters needed for a common dictionary: Alberian, Alberta, East Shore, real estate, relationships, work, money, environment, fishing, pollution, food, etc.
• Invite both populations to fine tune these keywords, and apply them to specific areas of the East Shore.
• Build the communication tools (phone line, website, radio show etc.) so both communities can pitch in their hints, tips, dos and don’ts for living on the East Shore.
• Publish and distribute 2,000 print copies of the Alberian Survival Guide to the East Shore.
• Establish a series of public meetings focusing on the main points of dissension and convergence so both communities can share a common vision and action plan regarding specific keywords (i.e. real estate) and locations (i.e. ferry, camping, Starbelly Jam) of the East Shore.

Why is this project important for the community?

The East Shore actually has 2 main – year round - communities: the locals and the newcomers like me.

Among the newcomers (Vancouverites, Germans, Americans etc.), the Albertans have had the longest and largest economic clout from the recent Albertan gas and oil development, from Kootenay Bay to Creston.

Their clout is particularly visible when it comes to acquiring land on the East Shore and living on the East Shore, with the ethics and expectations they gained in Alberta and bring to their life in the Kootenays.

Their clout is also particularly visible during Summer Season.

From my short time on the East Shore, looks like both communities share an uneasy truce, with grumblings and rumors on both sides, but no formal talks.

Hence the need for the Alberian Survival Guide for the East Shore.

This project also includes a thrist community, who will help spearhead the project: the local youth, both in school and out of school. Their input will be needed and appreciated in every step of the project.

As the Albertan and the BC economies go through the next Tar Sands project and North American Union/SPP, it will be interesting to watch how the East Shore changes in culture, housing developments etc.

What are the challenges of this project?

• Recruiting and building the core team from both communities (especially the youth) that will build the communication tools and publish the resulting print, radio and web guides.

• Recruiting and building the partnerships with allied organizations and teams such as radio station(s), school, classes, newspapers, non profit organizations, govt agencies, Internet Societies etc.

• Steering the project toward conciliation and peace throughout the mistrust and acrimonies (bitching and whining) from all communities involved.

• Editing the guide with an attitude of ruthless compassion.

What additional resources (beyond this grant) will you need to have to accomplish the project?

• (Mandatory) Light transport vehicles (motorcycles?) for interviews across the East Shore.
• (Optional) Having GIFTS - the Gulf Island Film & Television School - youth and their mentors help the local East Shore youth and filmmakers produce a documentary and/or series of short films related to the Alberian Survival Guide to the East Shore like they did with their Palestinian – Israel - Canada Peace It Together project.
• (Optional) Local Radio/Internet Broadcasting studio for radio show and website
• (Optional) Local Film/Video Publishing studio for documentary and shorts.

What is the proposed start date for the project?

March 09 – Planification and Core team building.