More than a dozen authors, poets, profs, and students spoke at a festival aimed at fostering connections between Palestinian and local literature this past weekend. The 2nd annual Watermelon Seeds festival of literature took place at VIU Saturday. It comes on the heels of an event last spring that took place at the Palestinian solidarity encampment that had been set up on campus. Midcoast Morning spoke with a pair of presenters, including former VIU student Sara Kishawi, who spoke about a two year suspension from the school which she recently petitioned the BC Supreme Court to have set aside.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Image: Illustration from Watermelon Seeds Festival of Literature (Chantey Dayal).

With Nanaimo City Council voting in favour of a motion Monday to name the park at 933 Park Avenue Five Acres Farm Community Park, Midcoast Morning explores the history behind the name, as well as the urban farming that’s still taking place on the land.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Five Acres Farm Community Park (City of Nanaimo).

Cree artist and creator George Littlechild is sharing his art with the Comox Valley this fall with a vast exhibition at the Comox Valley Art Gallery and a special film screening at North Island College. The film being screened this Saturday, October 4th is nanekawâsis, a documentary featuring Little Child's life and art. Both the artist George Littlechild and the filmmaker Conor McNally will be in attendance at the screening on Saturday. Littlechild spoke about the film, the ongoing art exhibition at the CVAG, and his experience as an Indigenous creator, a Sixties Scoop survivor, and a Two Spirit person. Metis filmmaker Conor McNally describes the experience of making the film. You can learn more about the film screening here.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.

On the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, hundreds walked along fifth street in downtown Courtenay before gathering in Lewis Park. Midcoast Morning spoke with some of those present about the meaning of the day.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Spirit Walk attendees walk to Lewis Park in Courtenay. Photo by Joe Pugh.Full program notes can be found at www.chly.ca/midcoastmorning

Following decades of advocacy, Hamilton Marsh near Qualicum Beach appears on its way to becoming a protected area. Earlier this month the Regional District of Nanaimo announced it had reached a conditional agreement with Mosaic Forest Management to buy 360 hectares of land for $30 million. That land includes the marsh itself, which is about 36 hectares in size, and a mature forest, that if undisturbed, will reach old growth status within 150 years.The purchase will require long term borrowing of over 21 million dollars, to be paid back over 20 years.. For an average Nanaimo household, it’s expected the annual repayment cost will be around 19 dollars. The RDN is also looking to raise $7.5 million from partners like the provincial government and conservation groups. The Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) has committed to raising $250,000. Midcoast Morning met up with longtime advocate Ceri Peacey at the marsh, and spoke with NALT Executive Director Paul Chapman in studio.Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month.Podcast Photo: Ceri Peacey in front of the Hamilton Marsh. Photo by Joe Pugh.