2025 Events
WE ARE ALL TREATY PEOPLE
On the afternoon of Saturday, November 15th, hundreds of people gathered in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) at the Commons to stand Shoulder-To-Shoulder with the land and water defenders of Tqamuoweye’katic (Hunter’s Mountain) and across Mi’kma’ki.
The Rally opened with a sacred prayer led by Mii’kmaq land and water defenders. Elder/Dr. Albert Marshall said it best: “The energy that is generated here, I know will motivate and empower others to do the very thing that we are no longer going to be silent [for].”
Also in his speech, Elder Marshall suggested that the PC government pool together “some extra money and buy an old pair of glasses and a hearing aid for the Premier, so hopefully, he will not only see but hear… People [in this province] are no longer going to remain silent and in denial of how our Earth is being used indiscriminately.”
Alexina Doucette, a land defender & Treaty Rights holder, who has been devoted to protecting Tqamuoweye’katic in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), continued, “No matter what colour you are, no matter where you come from, this is our home. […] In our ways, we are supposed to leave the land better than we found it. And right now, we’re failing our future so bad”.
Michelle Paul – water defender, land defender, Treaty Rights holder – called to the crowd of 450+ people proudly, “We issued the call, and you answered the call!” The crowd cheered, and she continued, “We’re going to need to continue this – this is not a one-time thing… I need you to know that we are all in this together.” Michelle concluded her speech saying “I want you to know that the energy you feel today, we can keep that going – that energy is called love, the love you have for Mi’kma’ki.”
SOOF’s president, Nina Newington, captivated the audience with her poetic and motivational words. “This is the way forward — Shoulder-To-Shoulder. If we want a livable future, then this [rally] must be just the beginning… There is so much joy and strength to be found in standing together and getting in the way of what damages the earth. I felt that joy and strength flowing through Hunter’s Mountain both times I’ve been there.” Nina then asked the crowd directly to take the following pledge, which she herself has made to this earth: “I will do what I can.” The crowd cheered and repeated back to her, “I will do what I can!” Nina concluded her speech by saying, “If enough of us make this pledge, and we [Mik’maq and settlers], we will change the world… when they flow together, one thousand trickling streams become a roaring river.”
These are simply a few highlights; so many other speakers offered beautiful words of wisdom and lived experience of fighting for the land and for Treaty Rights.
The Rally closed with a drumming ceremony featuring a young dancer, serving as the perfect reminder of who and what we were gathered in Kjipuktuk to speak up for the next seven generations.
SOOFSTOCK 2025
SOOFSTOCK 2025 was a great success and we welcomed over 300 people to the Bridgetown Legion on Saturday, August 23 to help raise money for both the Save Our Old Forests Association and the West Dalhousie Community Hall. The festival is 100% volunteer run and organised, and this year had the added challenge of a last-minute venue change. It was an amazing turn out and we are thrilled to share that SOOFSTOCK 2025 raised $3154 for the West Dalhousie Community Hall. Thank you to our financial sponsors: Municipality of the County of Annapolis and the Valley Credit Union.
2024 Events
SOOFSTOCK 2024
The second annual music festival SOOFSTOCK 2024 took place at the West Dalhousie Community Hall on Friday August 23 and Saturday August 24! The weather was perfect, and much of Saturday was spent outside in the sunshine with live music, an Old Growth Forest Walk led by Bob Bancroft and Donna Crossland, the SOOFSTOCK Market, and fun activities for kids of all ages. Many thanks to all the musicians for contributing their performances, and to the Crew of volunteers who kept things running smoothly all festival long! Thank you to our sponsors: Valley Credit Union, Municipality of the County of Annapolis and the Rotary Club of Middleton.
Moving a Forest – 2024
What is your relationship to the forest? Is it a place to walk and calm your spirit? An endless source of paper? Do the trees warm your fireplace? What does it mean for the forest to be your backyard, your neighbour, your friend?
Moving a Forest, originally created by Borahm Kim (Untitled Road Productions), is an audience-engaging game-theater play about the forest. It explores themes of sustainable balance and “resource” management amid the ecological crisis.
In 2023 the original game-theater was reimagined by Blooming Ludus with help from Borahm Kim and Save Our Old Forests. The show went on the road in 2024 with performances in Annapolis Royal, Canning and Halifax. Spanning conversations from South Korea and Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), this interactive experience asks us to reimagine our relationship with the Wabanaki Forest.
All images: Blooming Ludus
2023 Events
SOOFSTOCK 2023
The first ever Save Our Old Forests music festival SOOFSTOCK was held in 2023 on a (very) rainy weekend in August at the West Dalhousie Community Hall. Thankfully the Hall has an indoor stage and the event was moved inside for the weekend! Festival goers were treated to 11 performances, a forest walk featuring special guests Bob Bancroft and Donna Crossland, the SOOFSTOCK market, and more…
For the love of Lichens
May 2 – 26 and June 1 – 24, 2023 at ArtsPlace (Annapolis Royal) Curated by Susan Tooke. Featuring the work of selected artists, artisans and citizen scientists. This show is about celebrating the forests we want to save and the role lichens have played and are playing in saving some of them. It is about looking, really looking, at a place where art and science meet. It is about delight and curiosity. It is an invitation to look deeply at nature and at ourselves and our place within nature.
