The Red Jam Slam Society was founded on June 10th, 2010, and exists to host events, celebrations, and annual festivals that feature emerging and seasoned aboriginal artists and performers.

The Society encourages grassroots with inclusive strategies that honour all Aboriginal voices and encourage all to participate with continued growth, presence, and expression within all media.

More information can be found on the Red Jam Slam website.

The Board Members of the Red Jam Society are:

Doug West, Board Member and President

Doug is a communications professional who has worked with First Nations communities for the past 23 years. Doug was a journalist for Kahtou the Aboriginal provincial monthly newspaper, then editor of the Awa’k’wis Newspaper on Vancouver Island. After a one year sojourn with the film industry in Vancouver, Doug moved onto community television production in the lower mainland, and then worked as an independent video producer for BC First Nations. After pursuing an Arts Degree with a Concentration in Information Systems Doug now helps businesses and organizations as a Web Hoster and Developer for online solutions. Contact: doug AT redjamslam DOT com

Stephen Lytton, Founding Board Member

Stephen moved to the Downtown Eastside (in Vancouver) in 1992. At first, he found some aspects of life in the area frightening but, as time went on, and with the involvement of friends, he grew to care deeply for the community. He loves the character, heart and courage of the Downtown Eastside. He has learned much about the human spirit and its will to survive in spite of all the challenges it encounters.

Stephen enjoys poetry, creative writing and acting. Something he particularly loves about acting is the ability to share a message in a way that provokes thought and feelings without preaching. He believes artists must think about how their work is presented, keeping in mind that sensitive issues can negatively impact audience members after they leave. Stephen believes that the arts help shed light on the issues of our community, uplift the spirit, and play a key role in building bridges to other communities.

Stephen has acted in a number of community arts initiatives with Vancouver Moving Theatre – Bah Humbug, Downtown Community Eastside Community Play, the Shadows Project, Crime and Punishment, Minotaur Dreams. Stephen participates in the Carnegie Community Choice and Mothers and Grandfathers drum group. He sits on the on the boards for Carnegie Community Centre and urban ink, Aboriginal network on disabilities society, Roundtable Dialogue in Community and speaks at city council regarding issues such as housing, homelessness, missing women, residential schools and addictions.

Dave Rufus, Board Member

Dave Rufus is Namgis and an artist and wood carver of Pacific Northwest Coast art. With direct instruction from well known master carvers such as Beau Dick and Joe Peters, Dave has been developing his technique and perfecting his craft for over 20 years. Dave has commissioned works far and wide, as well has designed, engineered, and raised the Memorial Pole at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver.

Charlotte Laronde, Board Member

Charlotte is a business person in Vancouver who is interested in the Aboriginal arts community of BC. She has been generous in supporting past RJS events by services and donations in kind and promotes and assists whenever possible.

Elwin Xie, Board Member

Elwin is our technical wizard. He was the on-air technician for the Vancouver Slam Event in February, 2013. He is a tech operator for Bulland Awaaz and Media Mornings programs at Vancouver Coop Radio, and as well has been on the production team of numerous cultural events within the Downtown Eastside. Elwin is also involved with the Chinese Canadian Historical Society.

Lillian Howard, Board Member and Executive Director

Lillian is a member of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation and is of Nuu-chah-nulth and Tlingit ancestry. She is an advocate for Aboriginal, environmental and social justice. Lillian has worked with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Assembly of First Nations, various First Nations and the Vancouver School Board. She has been on the board of Environmental Aboriginal Guardianship through Law & Education, BC Environmental Network, Canadian Environmental Network, BC Spaces for Nature and the Institute for Indigenous Government. For the past 5 years Lillian has been an active participant at the annual Pacific Northwest Tribal Canoe Journeys with the Alaska One People Tlingit/Haida and Dzunugwandzis canoe families. Ms. Howard is a Co-chair of the Urban Aboriginal Peoples Advisory Committee. Vancouver City Council appointed and established this committee in May 2012.

Gunargie O'Sullivan, Resonating Reconciliation Outreach Coordinator

RJS Founding Member Gunargie O'Sulivan has been dedicated to community and campus radio since 1989 and attributes her knowledge to her guests and her community. The Resonating Reconciliation project was originally her idea and she helped develop the proposal. She will be working from Vancouver four days a week and email is the best way to reach her at cheryledwilliams AT gmail DOT com.

Gunargie is the founder of the shows "Late night with Savages" on CFRO-FM Vancouver Co-op Radio and “Nation to Nation” on CJSF-FM and currently produces "When Spirit Whispers" and "Sne’wayulh" at CFRO-FM.

She also founded the Red Jam Slam Society, which exists to initiate celebrations, events and festivals that feature Aboriginal artists and performers and encourage grassroots and inclusive strategies to honour all Aboriginal voices. The Red Jam Slam Society is also a partner organization in the Resonating Reconciliation project. Gunargie was also the Aboriginal Representative on the NCRA Board of Directors and head of the NCRA’s Native Caucus.

Gunargie was on the Board of CFRO-FM and currently sits on the Boards of WMovers and Women’s Wellness and Cultural Centre for Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She is a member of the Tlowitsis tribe. Gunargie is both a direct and inter-generational survivor of Indian Residential Schools, and was fostered and then adopted by the age of seven. Her inspiration to carry out this important work has changed the landscape of Aboriginal radio.