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Online at Cascadia Magazine: An interview with Ian Williams
Poet Ian Williams, who’s an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of British Columbia, has a debut novel out called Reproduction–a multi-generational story about the intersections of race and class in Canada. Williams recently spoke with Alison Bate at a cafe in Vancouver and talked about black Canadian writing, the challenge of creating unsympathetic characters, and making the switch from poetry to novels. Find the full interview here.
“I don’t think this book irritates. It might provoke—and other books where I’ve dealt with racism, there’s a provocation. But there’s also an affability. I think the combination of those two things — yes I’m gonna speak the truth and I’m gonna keep smiling through it—doesn’t mean I’m any less serious.”
Read the fascinating Q&A online at Cascadia Magazine here.
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Navy tests could injure orcas, whales
The Seattle Times has a detailed report on proposed US Navy exercises in Puget Sound that, according to a report issued to the National Marine Fisheries Service, would likely harm a variety of marine mammals, including orcas, porpoises, whales, and seals. Meanwhile, an estimated 60 dead gray whales have now washed ashore on the coast of North America this migration season, twice the usual number. And passengers in a whale watching boat off Whidbey Island, WA witnessed transient orcas attacking a gray whale.
To comment on the US Navy’s proposed testing in Puget Sound, please visit Northwest Training and Testing EIS site and make a comment before June 12.
Rezoning Vancouver for legal pot
The Georgia Straight reports that the Vancouver city council is reconsidering rules that ban legal cannabis stores in the Downtown Eastside, the epicenter of the city’s opioid epidemic. Addiction experts say legal cannabis can help with detox from heroin and other drugs. Meanwhile, Willamette Week notes that although needle exchanges clearly save lives, a program in a Portland is at risk of closure after budget cuts.
What’s it’s like to be the only black rep in the Oregon House
OPB has an interview with Janelle Bynum, who is the only black legislator in Oregon’s state House. Last year when she was canvassing for votes, someone called the police on her, and this inspired several new bills. In related news, the Portland city council passed a controversial budget. Council member JoAnn Hardesty, who had looked to cut funding for the city’s police force, cast the lone opposing vote.
Documenting abortion in Cascadia
Crosscut has a feature on a new documentary screening at the Seattle International Film Festival entitled Our Bodies, Our Doctors, that profiles female doctors who work for abortion clinics in Washington and Oregon. There’s also a Q&A with the film’s director, Jan Haaken who teaches at Portland State University. See the film at SIFF on Thursday May 30 and Friday June 1. In related news, legislators in Juneau introduced a bill that would make abortion equivalent to murder in Alaska. And at Crosscut Kim Clark looks at Washington’s defense of abortion rights, noting it was the first state, in 1970, to completely legalize abortion statewide.
Remembering the Vanport flood
On May 30, 1948, a railroad berm on the Columbia river collapsed and a flood destroyed the town of Vanport north of Portland, which was home to much of the state’s African American community. Oregon Arts Watch profiles the annual Vanport Mosaic Festival, which remembers the lost town and celebrates black culture in Portland. OPB has more on the festival, which runs through June 2, here.
“Bad Trick List,” an essay by Alayna Becker
At Pacifica, take a few moments to read “Bad Trick List,” a recollection of growing up in Spokane by Alayna Becker. It’s a brutally honest look at misogyny, harassment, and the strange experience of coming of age in a city when murderer Robert Yates was killing women across the city. “Spokane is near nature, near perfect. Spokane is a great place to raise a family. Spokane is quiet chatter. Spokane is a river valley that got a facelift in the 70’s. Spokane is unassuming, a generic face, one of the crowd. It could be anywhere.” Read the full essay here.
That’s today’s assortment of news, environmental reporting, poetry, fiction, and culture from across the Cascadia bioregion. Hope your day is full of new adventures and experiences. See you tomorrow. –Andrew Engelson
Photo credits: Ian Williams publicity photo courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada