Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 18, 1988 17 . Tne 4th Terrace Scouts were recently granted the right to use the clty’s Kermode ! | Bear logo, and with a crest designed by Carl Johansen they’ve begun silk-screening the design on items of clothing that will identify them In the community. Shown here are (rear — left to right) Scout Leaders Doug Barwise and Bill Anderson with Scouts Andrew Haight, Mike Newhouse, Carl Anderson, Robert Barwise, and Leader Rick Warner and Carl Johansen. In the front row are Eric Hermes, Brian Barwise and Stephen Flemming. About 85 women from throughout northern B.C. and the Yukon, including a large delegation from Terrace, gathered in Prince George April 22 - 24 to share information and explore. solutions to common problems of isolation at the ‘Wilderness Survival’? con- ference. Jon-Leah Hopkins from Whitehorse led the ‘‘Politicizing Women’’ workshop where they discussed what it’s going to take for women to become “full po- litical citizens”’. “We are the lar- gest minority and have histor- ically not had power except the ‘power behind the throne’. There are risks when women enter politics. It can be personal- ly hurtful when people question a woman politician about being away from her children.”’ . Prince George North M.L.A. ‘Lois Boone mentioned this dur- ‘ing her key note address, saying - when she got that question when she first entered politics as a school board trustee, she had a snappy answer:‘‘I handle being away from my family the same way my male colleagues here handle being away from their families.’ Hopkins and Boone both stressed that support from ‘family and friends was required to enter political life. ’ Charlotte Kehler from Fort --S8t. John said her workshop on ’ Women and Native Culture’’ focussed on ‘networking, with “native and white women learn- ing what their differences were and how to deal with those dif- ferences.’ They also discussed the apprehension and adoption of native children, the loss of status many native women suf- fered, land claims, and the Meech Lake Accord. In ‘“Women and Addictions”’ Terrace’ Carol Harvie pointed out the special issues for nor- thern women. As northerners, they- may have increased isola- tion, loneliness, and fewer re- sources; as women, their addic- tion problems may be seen as ‘more horrible’? because of their roles as caregivers. ‘‘The workshop had a prevention slant and encouraged self-help activi- ties such as peer counselling,’’ she said. -Margaret Cissell’s ‘‘Cabin Fever’’ defined the phenomenon as including feclings of isolation when a person first enters a com- munity, or when the community changes rapidly as many new people move in for work. Cycles of the economy, harsh weather, -and the isolation of residential areas in “planned towns’? can also contribute to-that cooped- up feeling. Cissell, now living in Kamloops but a former long- time resident of Chetwynd, said being part of the ‘‘gossip grape . vine’ can combat cabin fever. ‘Although gossip has been seen as a women’s activity, and therefore has been trivialized, it demonstrates the community cares about its members. It is an informal way of sharing information about community “Wilderness survival ” a hit at women’s conference events, and expresses the expec- tations, values and ‘flavor’ of a community in a less direct and non-hurtful way.”” Dawson Creek’s Jane Harper discussed ‘Family Violence’’, including spousal assault, child abuse, and incest. Her commun- ity has established a ‘‘Wife Assault Team’’, made up of women and men, professionals and lay people, as a way to fill the gaps in service small nor- thern communities may have. “Changing the laws doesn’t make a difference — the change has to occur at a social level. People in the community must stand up and publicly express their disapproval of family violence. And we must get more men involved — it’s not just the problem of the women’s centre or the transition house: it’s a problem for the whole com- munity.”’ Judy Kerr from Port Clements led workshop partici- pants in “Issues in Fund- Raising’’. ‘‘We focused on self- esteem. That is, women have to feel good enough about them- selves and their projects to be- lieve they deserve to go after what they want.” Former Terrace resident Rose- mary Supernault, now a legal in- formation counsellor in Burns Lake, discussed family law, in- - cluding custody and mainten- . ance issues. She explained fed- ‘eral and provincial jurisdictions, legal aid assessments, the Family Relations Act, and court pro- Terrace building boom still going With a third of 1988 now recorded history, the entries show the construction industry in Terrace is continuing to grow. -Fo the end of April, Senior ‘Building/Licence Inspector ’ Gerry Lichtenfeld reports 72 permits have been issued with an estimated value of $4.93 million. ; ‘This compares with 82 permits with $1.51 million during the . ame period last year, 42 in 1986 valued at $2.79 million and 47 in 1985 worth a paltry $293,310. So far, April has been the best month for the industry: with per- mits valued at $3.54 million, a little over 71 percent of this year’s total, compared to $428,165 last year which was 28 percent of the first four months in 1987, ss Major contributors to these statistics last month include three single residential dwellings valued at $215,950, a school and gymnasium worth $994,000 be- ing built by the Terrace Calvin Christian School Society and a $2.35 million permit for the new Skeena Cellulose mill. These three categories — single residential units, new industrial and new institutional — are alone responsible for. $4.62 million of the year-to-date total. . cedures and costs. She said it’s. very important for everyone to understand and use the laws af- fecting them, and anyone can learn it. Terrace Women’s Resource Centre staff person Mary Bowering demonstrated ‘‘Re- evaluation Counselling”’. “It’s a process where lay people can help each other learn the self- help skills, without relying on professionals, to increase their self-confidence and power to speak out for positive changes.”’ It involves learning the art of listening in confidential ‘‘co- counselling” sessions with part- ners who take turns acting as counsellor and client. _ The weekend events also in- cluded National Film Board films presented by Lorraine Chan of Vancouver and enter- tainment by Sandra MecNellis and Kathy Gunderson of Queen Piano sales, tut 4703 Straumne Charlotte City. Regional repre- sentative Carol Sabo was avail- able to answer delegates’ ques- tions about the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. Project officer Sue Hollick-Kenyon was on hand to talk about Secretary of State Women’s Program. Her office provided funding, contributing to the conference by subsidizing expenses such as travel and ac- comodation to allow a wide rep- resentation of northern residents to attend. Delegates travelled from the Queen Charlotte Islands, White- horse, Watson Lake, Fort St. John and all along Highway 16 ‘to attend the weekend event, At the conference closing Sunday, delegates were exchanging momentos and addresses, and called for a northern women’s - conference next year to continue learning ‘“Wilderness Survival’’.