A winter festival is using art, community engagement and environmental advocacy to spark meaningful change. The Sima Festival is back in Terrace with activities in Hazelton & Ktisumkalum as well.
"Upholding winter as a time for introspection and re-connection, this event uplifts individuals and communities as environmental leaders by placing immense value on their lived experience of the territory," wrote the festival organizers on their website.
The name behind the festival originally came from combining the two words soul and anima, but co-organizer and artist Anne Isabelle Leonard learned afterwards that "sima" is a geological term that describes the layer of the Earth's crust that connects water and land together.
"It was quite a beautiful term that fit the festival," she said.
Leonard spoke more about the background of the festival in an episode of the Outdoor Artist Collective's docu-series, "Creative Voices of Change."
"Sima is centred on building community during the darkest months of the year to drive meaningful slow-change for a more interconnected and resilient future," wrote the organizers.
There will be performances, workshops, gatherings, artistic events and outdoor activities that focus on local issues and creative expression. All events are free and some require RSVP'ing ahead of time. The schedule can be seen below.