Every Saturday at City Hall in Kamloops, a small but devoted community gathers to stand with Ukraine. Since February 2022, when russia launched its full-scale invasion, this weekly practice has become a ritual of solidarity, hope, and commitment to justice.
At the heart of this gathering stands Gwendoline Campbell-McArthur—Gwendy—whose presence has become the steady pulse that keeps the community grounded. As an Ojibwe/Saulteaux Métis woman with Ukrainian ancestry, born on Treaty 5 territory at Kississing, Manitoba, she brings to these weekly stands something irreplaceable: the deep understanding that comes from knowing what colonization costs a people.
Week after week, Gwendy arrives at City Hall carrying more than just signs and flags. She brings her considerable talents, her generous spirit, and her commitment to doing whatever she can, wherever she is, to support Ukraine. Her contributions have enriched every aspect of our weekly gatherings—from the blue and yellow hats she crafted when winter winds whipped around City Hall, to the stunning beadwork that always blends her Indigenous heritage with Ukrainian symbolism.
“Indigenous people know the cost of colonization and occupation,” Gwendy explains to curious passersby who stop to learn about their weekly stand. Her voice carries the authority of someone who has spent five decades as a psychiatric mental health nurse, who has worked as a senior researcher and activist, who has been shaped by Elders and spiritual leaders in the Shuswap Nation where she has lived as a welcomed guest since 1988. “We know in our bones why the people of Ukraine are fighting, why this stand matters.”
The weekly ritual has become more than just a demonstration—it’s a practice of bearing witness, of refusing to let the world forget. Each Saturday, the familiar faces gather: some regular supporters who have been there since the beginning, others who join when they can, and always the curious passersby who stop to ask questions, to learn, to understand why this small group continues to stand.
Gwendy’s beadwork has become a signature of their gatherings. Each piece she creates—whether it’s earrings, decorative items, or wearable art—tells a story that weaves together her Indigenous roots with Ukrainian symbols. The traditional techniques passed down from her ancestors find new expression in blue and gold, in tridents and symbols of resistance. Much of her work is gifted to supporters or used to fundraise for Ukrainian relief efforts, another way she channels her talents into action.
“When we wear these pieces, we carry Ukraine with us,” she says, showing visitors her latest creation shared on Facebook—trident earrings where brilliant blue beads capture the Ukrainian sky, interrupted by the golden gleam of the trident. “Each bead is placed with intention. The blue for the Ukrainian sky we see on their flag, the gold for the strength of the trident.”
The weekly practice has created a rhythm of solidarity that extends beyond Saturday afternoons. The community stays connected through social media, sharing updates, celebrating Gwendy’s latest creations, and organizing their ongoing support efforts. When Gwendy posts photos of her newest beadwork on Facebook, the excitement ripples through their network—another beautiful piece that will soon find its way to the weekly gathering.
Having Indigenous support has meant everything to the Stand with Ukraine community. Gwendy’s presence validates their understanding that struggles for sovereignty and self-determination are connected across cultures and continents. Her wisdom, drawn from her work her role as a valued Métis Elder, and her decades of community activism, helps others understand the deeper significance of their weekly stand.
“Justice isn’t a limited resource,” she tells a young person who asks why Indigenous people would stand with Ukraine when they have their own struggles. “When we stand with others who are fighting for their sovereignty, their right to exist on their traditional lands, their right to speak their language and practice their culture—we strengthen our own fight.”
The weekly gatherings at City Hall have become a place where conversations happen, where understanding grows, where the connections between different struggles for justice become clear. Gwendy’s presence ensures that these conversations go deeper than surface-level support—they touch on the fundamental human right to exist freely on one’s ancestral lands, to maintain one’s culture, to resist occupation and colonization.
Week after week, through changing seasons and shifting global attention, the small community continues their practice. They hold their signs, wave their flags, share their stories, and welcome newcomers who want to understand why they stand. Gwendy’s spirit uplifts them all, her quiet strength inspiring them to continue, her grounding presence reminding them that this weekly practice matters.
The Ukrainian flag flies alongside Indigenous symbols at their gatherings, a visual representation of the solidarity Gwendy embodies. Her latest beadwork creation sits ready to join the next weekly stand, another tangible symbol of the connections between peoples who understand that freedom is worth fighting for, always and everywhere.
This is the practice of standing with Ukraine in Kamloops—not just a weekly demonstration, but a commitment to solidarity, a ritual of remembrance, and a testament to the power of community. At its heart stands Gwendy, whose Indigenous wisdom and generous spirit have made their weekly gatherings a space of hope and understanding, a place where the fight for sovereignty and justice transcends borders and connects all peoples who refuse to be silenced.
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