The BC Sports Hall of Fame newest exhibit will recognize Indigenous athletes who have made an impact on British Columbia’s sport history
On September 25th, the BC Sports Hall of Fame will unveil an exhibit celebrating and recognizing Indigenous athletes who have made an impact on British Columbia’s sport history.
The Indigenous Sport Gallery celebrates the rich history and many contributions to sport by First Nations and Métis athletes, teams, coaches, builders and volunteers in BC, and attempts to remedy the fact that Indigenous athletes and teams have not been properly celebrated and honoured over the course of our province’s history.
Jim Lightbody, Chair of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, says the sport in the Indigenous communities has forever been intertwined.
“The new Indigenous Sport Gallery at the BC Sports Hall of Fame is another step towards celebrating the Indigenous athletes, coaches and builders who have made positive impacts on sport in BC and will educate future generations of these important accomplishments – both in our province and on the world stage.”
Released after a five-year cross-Canada consultation process, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) issued 94 Calls to Action in order to “redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.” Call to Action #87, calls upon all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations, to provide public education that tells the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history. Together with its partners, the BC Sports Hall of Fame advances this Call through the new Indigenous Sport Gallery.
The Indigenous Sport Gallery will feature over 1,000 square feet of permanent exhibit space, including: information about traditional Indigenous games; artefacts and memorabilia from Indigenous athletes in all levels of sport; a feature on the North American Indigenous Games; and a dedicated space, the Circle of Champions, which honours the Indigenous athletes that have been formally Inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
Lara Mussell Savage, Director of Sport for the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) and a Trustee of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, says the Indigenous communities of BC have had a massive impact on sport in our province, and it is great to see the BC Sports Hall of Fame and its partner organizations recognize this through the creation of a new Indigenous Sport Gallery.
“We hope the Gallery will inspire the next generation of Indigenous athletes and teach all British Columbians about the incredible stories of Indigenous athletes and leaders.”
The Indigenous Sport Gallery Exhibit is open to the public beginning, September 26, 2018 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. The location: BC Sports Hall of Fame is at Gate A at BC Place. For more information about the BC Sports Hall of Fame, please visit: www.bcsportshalloffame.com
The 2018 AFN Annual General Assembly was held on July 24 to July 26 at the Vancouver Convention Centre amid cruise ships and the beautiful Burrard Inlet’s picturesque setting.
A total of 522 chiefs attended the Assembly, along with their proxies, to vote for a National Chief. It took a second ballot to declare incumbent, Perry Bellegarde ultimately came out as the winner of this year’s election. There were five candidates who ran for national chief, including Kathryn Whitecloud, who did not go onto the second ballot because she secured the fewest votes in the first round of voting. The national chief must secure 60% of the votes to be declared the winner:
Perry Bellegarde — 328
Sheila North — 125
Miles Richardson — 59
Russ Diabo — 10
Controversy swirled at the convention centre as the voting took place. Candidate Russ Diabo, a policy analyst from Kahnawake in Quebec, accused Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett of “political interference” on the Wednesday after she met with a group of chiefs on voting day.
Diabo told CBC News that, “This is the first time I have seen a Minister come in to influence chiefs on voting day,” said Diabo. “I see that as political interference.”
A statement from Minister Bennett’s office read, “In no way did the Minister interfere in the electoral process for National Chief. This is a decision for First Nations to make without outside interference.”
The Ministers office also said that “the Minister was invited by Regional Chief [Marlene] Poitras to listen to the regional concerns of Alberta Chiefs this morning. At no point was the election for national chief ever discussed.”
After the results revealed that Perry Bellegarde was elected national chief, Diabo addressed his closing statements to the convention centre, “You’ll suffer the consequences” in reaction to election results. A chorus of boos erupted during Diabo’s closing speech.
Carolyn Bennett addressed the Chiefs on July 26th to a half empty convention centre, as most chiefs returned home after the June 25th elections.
Also speaking, were the families and representatives of Colten Bouchie, urging the national chief and leaders to end the injustices.
Michael Greyeyes and Jessica Chastain in Woman Walks Ahead
Canadian First Nation actor Michael Greyeyes plays Sitting Bull, the great Sioux leader, in the summer movie, Woman Walks Ahead.
Greyeyes co-stars with Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain, who plays Catherine Weldon, and Academy Award-winner Sam Rockwell, who describes his role as the legendary Sitting Bull as one he was destined to play.
“Playing Sitting Bull is the role of a lifetime, and I am truly honoured that I was chosen to portray this great historical leader. My entire family were, of course, excited and very happy that I got the role,” said Rockwell.
Woman Walks Ahead is about Weldon, a portrait painter from 1880s Brooklyn, New York, who travels to North Dakota to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull and becomes embroiled in the Lakota peoples’ struggle to maintain their right to their land.
I asked Greyeyes about the main challenge playing Sitting Bull. “Trying to play someone who’s larger than life. An actor can’t possibly recreate someone, a whole person, but I wanted to create the mood, the emotional life of the character so that audiences could see what Sitting Bull may have been feeling during that time,” said Greyeyes.
He says studying the Lakota language was also a great challenge in preparing for the role. “I knew some of the history of the period, but what helped me the most was studying the Lakota language. World view is embedded in any language, so as I studied my Lakota dialogue I had to come to understand how cultural meaning was revealed inside the language,” said Greyeyes. “The production provided me with resources, so that was of great help. I also had the guidance of Ben Black Bear, my language instructor. He’s truly an inspiration.”
In the movie, Sam Rockwell plays Silas Groves, the US Army officer who tries his best to sow division among the Sioux to thwart Sitting Bull’s effort to convince his people not to forfeit Sioux land.
The scene where Sitting Bull gives a speech in full Lakota dialogue is one part of the movie that stands out in Greyeye’s memory.
“The commission speech! I felt a lot of pressure to get that scene right. We must have shot that scene 30 times in one day,” said Greyeyes. “I just wanted to get it right because I knew there would be Lakota speakers watching this movie and I wanted to make sure that speech was accurate and truthful, as Sitting Bull was a great orator. It is a significant scene in the film and I wanted to do it justice.”
Catherine Weldon (1844 -1921), was a Swiss-American artist and activist with the National Indian Defense Association. Weldon became a confidante and the personal secretary to the Lakota Sioux Indian leader, Sitting Bull, during the time when Plains Indians had adopted the Ghost Dance movement.
Greyeyes said before he got the script he was not aware of the story between Catherine Weldon and Sitting Bull. “No, I was not aware of her story before I read the script. I am just glad we are able to share this story, as this was a dismal period in American history,” said Greyeyes. “The state wanted Lakota territory and were willing to use violence and starvation to clear the land, so we discover Sitting Bull at this desperate moment in time, caught in a titanic struggle for survival.”
It could be said there are some comparisons to the film and what is happening in today’s Trump Administration so I asked Greyeyes his thought on this issue.
“Unfortunately, there are too many comparisons that can be made to the Trump administration,” said Greyeyes. “We, Indigenous people, have been resistant to the settler agenda since long before the days of Sitting Bull, and we continue to be the resistance today. Everything from the Dakota Access Pipeline to the more recent ethnic hatred around immigration. This is very familiar to us as native people. Sad to see so little has changed.”
Greyeyes said working with both Chastain and Rockwell was a great experience and that both actors had great energy. “It was so wonderful working with Jessica; she is one of the most generous and intelligent actors I’ve ever worked with,” said Greyeyes. “Working with Sam was also a great experience, so hard-working and generous. He worked really hard to learn his Lakota dialogue; he and I would get together to practice on the weekends. They were both incredible collaborators to work with.”
Greyeyes has starred in 31 TV movies and series beginning with his 1993 debut on American television’s movie of the week (MOW), Geronimo. Presently, he plays the role of Qaletaqa Walker, in Fear the Walking Dead.
One movie that sticks out as one of the most memorable for Greyeyes is a 1997 movie of the week. “It was a film I did for CBS, actually a MOW called ‘Stolen Women, Captured Hearts.’ What was interesting about it is that I got the most fan mail, by far, for that movie, back when we actually mailed stuff, before the internet and Facebook,” said Greyeyes. “It reached a world-wide audience, and I received mail from around the world, reminding me that movie had really made an impact to their thinking. It really struck me how important and positive the media is in conveying that history.”
The list of great Native American and Canadian actors like the late Chief Dan George, Will Sampson, and Floyd Red Crow were true idols and actors Greyeyes looks up to. So I asked him if it was tough for him and his contemporaries like Adam Beach, Graham Greene, and Wes Studi, to find good roles as a native actor.
“Really tough to find a good role as an actor. Period,” said Greyeyes. “The native roles are, therefore, even tougher to find, to tell our stories authentically, but the writing is getting better. I played Qaletaqa Walker in ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ and I enjoyed playing that character. He was unusual in that he was both brutal and keenly intelligent at the same time.”
Along with being an actor, Greyeyes is a choreographer, director and educator. He is from the Muskeg Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan. His father was from the Muskeg Lake First Nation and his mother was from the Sweetgrass First Nation, both located in Saskatchewan.
“I grew up in Saskatoon, in Treaty 6 territory, so I didn’t grow up on the rez. But my family and all our relatives were either on reserve or in Battleford, so I was able to spend a lot of time there,” said Greyeyes. “Of course, our band, Muskeg Lake, like many other communities, now has something like 80 percent membership off-reserve.”
Woman Walks Ahead is a good movie and captures a moment in time that many people are probably not aware of. Greyeyes as Sitting Bull is truly a great performance and is worth watching the movie.
Finally, I asked Greyeyes what he hoped audiences will take away from the movie.
“I certainly want people to be aware that Sitting Bull was assassinated, that his death was politically motivated,” said Greyeyes. “Like I said earlier, it was a dismal part of history, a terrible landscape of violence and aggression against our peoples. It is a great opportunity for the film to show this to audiences, allow them inside our struggles, and show them a neglected aspect of this shared history.”
Photographer Baz Kanda Performance: STAR DANCERS by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre
The first National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in 1993 were held to celebrate excellence in the Aboriginal community.
Those awards were televised and it was an exciting time for many First Nations, Metis and Inuit people because they were seeing themselves for the very first time being recognized and honoured in a first class ceremony.
Since then the awards were changed to the Indspire Awards and have been hosted in cities across the country with this year’s ceremony being held in Winnipeg for the third time.
This year’s theme for the awards ceremony was, “Indigitropolis, Where Language Lives,” which came from the vision of Indigenous language reclamation and revitalization.
The Indspire Awards Ceremony program reads, “When it comes to Indigenous language, there are many layers, but at the centre of the conversation is a striking reality: Indigenous People across Kanata have witnessed the near extinction of their languages since the dawn of the Residential School era(s).”
This impacted community well-being, sense of self and identity. This is why the movement of Indigenous language reclamation and revitalization is essential if our communities are going to thrive.
The goal was to create a show that embodied the essence of, “Indigenous languages thriving.” To us, Indigitropolis is a place where Indigenous languages live and thrive. It is where Indigenous culture, ceremony and identity prosper, where everything in life is witnessed through an Indigenous world view. It is rural, it is urban, it is everywhere.
This year’s hosts were actors and comedians Darrell Dennis and Kyle Nobess. Performances included Cheri Maracle, Indian City, the Asham Stompers, Star Dancers, member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra with choreographer and dancer Santee Smith.
Presenters included Dances with Wolves actress, Tantoo Cardinal, actor Johnny Issaluk and CBC Radio host of Unreserved, Rosanna DeerChild.
In the program, the awards committee said they were inspired by the neon signs on a skyline for the stage’s unique backdrop effect.
“We translated the words ‘Speak’ and ‘Language’ into nine Indigenous languages including Innuaimun, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, Nisga, Michif, Ojibwe, Inuktitut, Dene and Plains Cree, and erected a skyline that embraced the entire stage to ensure that every performance, recipient reveal, and host introduction was being supported by language, identity, and indigeneity,” according to the awards committee.
The 2018 Indspire Awards will be televised on APTN and CBC in June, with the date to be announced in May.
Edmonton Oilers Recall Bear While Skating for AHL’s Bakersfield Condors
It was inevitable that Ethan Bear would be dressing to play with the Edmonton Oilers sooner than expected.
The Oilers 2015 draft pick played with the Western Hockey League’s (WHL), 2017 champion Seattle Thunderbirds where he earned the honor of being named the WHL 2017 top defensive player.
The WHL is the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. The league has 22 teams spanning Western Canada and the Northwest U.S.
Drafted in the fifth round and 124th overall, the 20-year-old, 5’11” 209-pound, rookie defenceman from the Ochapowace First Nation played his first National Hockey League game as an Edmonton Oiler on March 1st.
Though the contest ended in a 4-2 loss against the Nashville Predators, Bear said suiting up as a NHL player was a dream come true.
“I love the game. It’s pretty amazing and the intensity, speed and playing with Edmonton, things could not be better,” said Bear.
The Edmonton Oilers recalled Bear from the American Hockey League (AHL), where he was playing in Southern California for Bakersfield Condors where he had 16 points (6G, 10A) and 12 penalty minutes in 34 games. The AHL is the NHL’s primary developmental league.
Bear played for Canada’s National Under-18 program twice, winning gold at the 2014 Hlinka Memorial and a bronze medal at the 2015 World U18 Men’s Hockey Championship in Switzerland.
Growing up, Bear never had a favourite team, but his favourite players were Jordin Tootoo, and Shane Webber.
“I never really had a favourite team, I just really followed hockey a lot, and played and loved the game, but I always rooted for the Canadian NHL teams, and Team Canada,” said Bear.
Bear faced the same challenges as all players who came before him when he began playing in the juniors. Among the greatest were being away from home at a young age and making the right choices.
“Making those sacrifices and learning to take care of your body, and learning to be a pro before you’re a pro,” Bear added to the list of challenges.
Bear said noticing other native players in the junior ranks was nice to see knowing Aboriginal players were a good thing for native people and their communities.
Family support is something Bear does not take for granted and knows it will be important through what he hopes will be a long NHL career.
In his first game as an Oiler, dozens of family, friends and supporters made the nine hour trip from his Saskatchewan home community and the Ochapowace First Nation.
Bear said giving back is something he strongly believes in. Each summer he runs a hockey camp back in his community – a camp for everyone.
“The hockey camp is for younger kids, and I approach it how I wanted to be taught when I was a kid,” said Bear. “It is all a part of giving back, and hope we can inspire future hockey NHL players.”
Bear said he feels comfortable as the newest Edmonton Oiler. “Just getting in, moving it and getting in your groove. You start to make plays and playing faster. It’s a simple game. You play simple, move it quick,” Bear said. “Offence will come. I still have a lot to learn defensively but they’ve been patient with me so I appreciate it.”
Through eight games, Bear has two assists and has been near the 20-minute mark in three of his last four contests.
In his last few games he’s been paired with defenseman Oscar Klefbom, a partnership Bear feels is working well.
“He’s always in the right spots,” said Bear. “Everyone’s always an option for you and talking to you on the ice. That makes a big difference, knowing where all your teammates are on the ice. They’re always talking and telling you your offence, calling out plays.”
Perhaps the first aspect of Bear’s game to rise to this level of professional play has been his passing, which is something Head Coach Todd McLellan has spoken about.
His teammates are also starting to realize there’s some potential with the 20-year-old.
“Very mobile, good skater,” said fellow defenceman, Klefbom. “I like playing with him. He’s going to be a very good defenceman, Obviously, it takes a while to get into the League and know what it’s all about. I remember when I came into the League and played an easy game and built that confidence to do something good with the puck. He’s definitely off to a good start here.”
Bear is a right-shot, offensively inclined defenceman, which is something the Oilers would like to add to their special teams arsenal.
Following practice before the team hit the road for Cowtown (Calgary), a local Edmonton reporter asked Bear about his participating in Battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames for the first time.
A big smile came across his face and Bear showed excitement over his upcoming, first-ever experience.
“It’s a very intense rivalry, so I’m looking very forward to it,” Bear said. “Everybody always wants to beat Calgary, right?”
Growing up in Ochapowace, Saskatchewan Bear watched plenty of Battle of Alberta games and has a built-in understanding of what it means when orange and blue clashes with red and yellow.
“It’s a rivalry you want to be a part of and know how to get up for,” he said. “They’re pretty intense games, so I want to go out there and play hard.”
Edmonton head coach Todd McLellan said Bear is very optimistic about getting to play in Battle of Alberta after only a few games in the league.
“He’s getting there,” said Head Coach Todd McLellan. “He’s certainly not hurting us a lot, but there are segments of his game he knows he has to work on. He’s a very fast learner, he’s willing to learn, he’s got a high IQ and he picks things up quickly, so we think he can continue to improve.”
Cheri Royal of the Siksika Nation is looking forward to her new career as a flight attendant
It was a chance for adventure that made school counselor Cheri Royal decide to change careers and begin training to become a flight attendant.
Prior to this, the Siksika Nation member had been working in the social science field for most of her adult life.
“I was a school counselor, and also had my own class, ran social clubs, coached and tutored elementary and junior high students,” said Royal, a 42 year old single mother. “I have also worked with many children and families by assisting them with supports to better help themselves.”
Royal said the thought of a career change was always in the back of her mind and working for the airline industry was an enticing opportunity.
“I didn’t really consider it until now because my children are all grown up,” said Royal. “Therefore, it gave me the opportunity to pursue it with my kids’ full support. Plus, I needed a change in my life. I needed adventure!”
Royal moved to Vancouver in October of last year to begin her eight month training program and earn a Flight Attendant Diploma with the Canadian Tourism College.
She said the intense training is a compilation of many disciplines: First Aid Level 2, firefighting, self-defense, traveling with a disabled person, leadership skills and food handling, which includes how to serve food properly.
“The most exhilarating part is learning how to prepare for a crash or ditch landing. The thought of this scenario is an adrenaline rush!” said Royal. “You don’t realize the problems an FA (Flight Attendant) has to deal with in all sorts of situations. We are being trained in every area because at 38,000 feet FAs are all the passengers have for help.”
Royal said she is looking forward to the traveling and being an ambassador of the sky.
“I think we need more Natives in the air, whether it be pilots or flight attendants,” said Royal. “It’s a great industry to get into and comes with many benefits.”
Royal discussed her family background and what keeps her grounded. “I am of Blackfoot descent. I come from a close-knit family and I am very blessed to have such an amazing family,” said Royal. “I love my community and the area I grew up in. I enjoyed my time there and became very resilient because of how I was raised. Mom and dad were always traveling, and me being the youngest of five, I was always with them. My dad was a very intelligent, creative, loving, kind and humble man. He had many people that looked up to him and helped anyone in need. My mother is also very kind and gentle. If not for them and their love and support all my life, I don’t know where I’ll be. I have an older brother that I look up to now, he’s my role model my best friend. He has accomplished so much in his life and sets the bar high for me. The Siksika Nation has shaped me into who I am today. They are my people, my culture, and my identity. I enjoy Vancouver with all its’ possibilities.”
Royal will complete her training this May and is looking forward to her new career travelling the world and helping people enjoy their journey.
Though Autumn Peltier just turned 13-years-old, this young girl has already made quite the impact with her views on the environment, especially her passion for Canada’s water.
Autumn is from the Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario and has been interested in the environment her entire life.
Her advocacy for protecting water began at 8-years-old when she entered a writing contest in her community.
Stephanie Peltier is Autumn’s mother, said Autumn entered and won a Odawa/Ojibwe language native speaking contest.
“She chose to write on ‘water’ and the essay was received well enough for her to win that contest,” said Stephanie Peltier, who works full time with Raising the Spirit Mental Wellness Program. “From there, she won another writing contest, which eventually caught the attention of organizers of the Children’s Climate Conference in Sweden, where she was invited to attend.”
Peltier says she is very proud of what her daughter is accomplishing and supports her 100 percent.
“She is very deserving of it. This is her passion. She is always writing about water and the environment,” said Peltier. “Like the other day, I asked her, ‘Do you mind me asking what you’re writing about?’ and Autumn said, ‘I just had a thought and an idea, and I want it write it down.’”
As a parent, Peltier says the attention her daughter is receiving is overwhelming, but her priorities are being balanced when it comes to Autumn. Of course Peltier does tell Autumn there are people out there who do not share the same views as hers.
“She does not have access to social media, so she’s not fully aware of the impact she is creating,” said Peltier. “I want to steer her away from some of the negative comments that some people post on social media, and at the same time share with her the positive feedback.”
Autumn was eight years old when she gave her first speech about the universal right to clean drinking water. Since then, she has worked as an advocate for protecting natural water resources.
Her efforts include working toward the treaty signing against the expansion of oil sands to lobbying world leaders for water protection at the Children’s Climate Conference in Sweden.
Autumn is now in the running for the International Children’s Peace Prize. She is the only Canadian up for the prestigious award where the top ten finalists will be chosen November 10th. Then, on December 4th, the Peace Prize will be awarded to the winner in Amsterdam,
Netherlands.
When I had the opportunity to chat with Autumn I learned she is an intelligent and well-spoken young girl, and asked for her thoughts on being considered for the Peace Prize.
“If I do win the award, I will use that as a platform to further educate people about the current state of water and continue my advocacy on the issues of water and environment protection,” Autumn said. “When I think about how polluted the water is, I think of future generations. Will they even have clean drinking water? Water is alive and has a spirit, and like water is so sacred.”
Autumn also spoke about meeting Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
“I was only supposed to present him with the water bundle as a gift,” said Autumn. “But at that moment when I met him, I took the opportunity to tell him that I was very unhappy about the broken promises he has made towards our people and discouraged about the pipeline and how unsafe they are towards our environment.”
Autumn said that the Prime Minister told her, “I understand that and I will protect the water.”
Autumn said her 8th grade classmates at Waase Abin Pontiac School watch her sometimes on livestream and they support and share her views on protecting the water. Autumn said she is grateful for their support.
Among her many accomplishments, she recently addressed the Assembly of First Nations and told the First Nation leaders her sadness over the state of water, not only in Canada, but around the world.
Autumn is the middle sister of three. Her older sister is named Naomi and is 19. Her younger sister is Ciara, and she is 11.
Autumns’s favourite subjects are literature and mathematics, and she plans to attend law school and study political science.
“My dream one day is to be AFN National Chief and Minister of Environment,” said Autumn.
The Road Forward is a powerful musical documentary by creator and filmmaker Marie Clements about the Native Brotherhood of BC and their struggles and tribulations to get their voice heard. The film has received rave reviews after sold-out screenings at Vancouver’s York Theatre.
The Road Forward
The Native Brotherhood of the BC formed in the 1930s when it was illegal for native people to meet in a gathering or group. The Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood of BC were powerful organizations working towards the same cause. They brought the First Nations together as one.
This Aboriginal Blues and Rock-n-Roll film takes viewers on the journey of the struggles and determination of the characters as they fight for their Native Rights being oppressed by the government. Filmmaker Marie Clements said in the North Shore News she thought it was important to celebrate the investment needed to create change and the ensuing victories because Aboriginal people need to celebrate these as they don’t often read about Indigenous victories and celebrations.
“We don’t often hear about it, and also I think it’s important to look at issues that we’re still dealing with in a truthful way, a contemporary way,” said Marie Clements.
Clements first thought of the idea to create the film when she came across an issue of the The Native Voice – a newspaper that began publishing in the 1940s and became the official voice of the Native Brotherhood of BC. The newspaper served as the platform for the Native Brotherhood to promote their issues and voice their concerns from a native perspective.
The film educates viewers on heroes many are unfamiliar with, and offers a compelling insight and wonderful narration about events that have affected Aboriginal people. These include the Right to hunt, discrimination, the protection of Aboriginal language and culture, residential schools, the Constitution Express, the White Paper, and missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
In the scene where Cheri Maracle leaves home to find work, she faces the brutal reality of the 1940s for an Aboriginal woman. She experiences racism, job refusal because of her skin colour and is unable to even check into a hotel until an unexpected stroke of kindness and opportunity. The Road Forward honours those who came before and created positive change while recognizing issues like the Murdered Indigenous Woman that still need to be resolved.
The cast includes actors, singers and narrations by Michelle St John, Russell Wallace, Cheri Maracle, Thomas Berger, Evan Adams, Leonard George, Doreen Manual, and more.
Clements has created a powerful film that must be seen to understand struggles, victories, and legacies Aboriginal people faced in the past and still confront today. Find more information on The Road Forward at WideAwake.nfb.ca
Upcoming Screenings:
Saturday, September 30, 5pm. The Civic Theatre 719 Vernon Street Nelson BC
Monday, October 16, 5pm. AGH BMO World Film Festival, Hamilton ON
Theatrical Release at Winnipeg Cinematheque on Saturday, October 21, 3pm; Friday, October 27, 7pm; Saturday, October 28, 7pm; and Sunday, October 29, 3pm.
Sunday, October 22, imagineNATIVE Closing Gala, Toronto ON
Tuesday, November 21, Port Hardy Civic Centre, 7440 Columbia Street, Port Hardy BC
Wednesday, November 22, Gate House Theatre, 11-1705 Campbell Way, Port McNeill, BC
Wednesday, November 22, Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, ON
Friday, November 29, Art Gallery of Alberta, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, AB
Friday, January 19, 2018, 7:30pm, Eden Mills & District Community Club, 104 York Street, Eden Mills, ON
This past August 26th, the Intermountain All-Women Hoop Dancing Championships were held and the event was a huge success. The first competition of its kind, ever, included 42 dancers from the United States and Canada. The one-day event consisted of two rounds to determine the ladies hoop dancing champion.
(Right to left) Violet John of the Kehewin First Nation and Sandra Yellow Horn of the Piegan Nation
Sandra Yellow Horn of the Peigan Nation won first place at the inaugural competition, while Violet John of the Kehewin First Nation took the runner-up trophy. The event was held at “This is The Place Heritage Park” in Salt Lake City, Utah,
I had a chance to ask Violet John, former Miss Indian World 2006, about the competition and her thoughts on hoop dancing. John said she was happy to see this competition take place because it will draw attention to women in hoop dancing.
Violet John prepares her daughter for competition
“It’s very rare to see female hoop dancers and to have this first ladies hoop dancing competition is so good for the women and young girls to get involved in this beautiful dance,” said Violet. “Three of my daughters are hoop dancers and this event will only encourage them and other young girls to start dancing in the future. It was so nice to travel to Salt Lake City and compete here.”
Hoop dancing has a long-standing tradition. This unique dance can involve the use of more than 50 hoops. Hoop dancing communicates individual and tribal stories using hoops to create symbols and depict animals or other life found in nature. The continuous circle of the hoops symbolizes the circle of life and change of seasons.
It is not clear which tribe founded traditional hoop dancing because many tribes have a history of the practice in various ceremonies. Traditional hoops were made from wood of a willow tree, whereas modern-day hoops are made from reed and plastic because of the durability of the material when travelling.
The hoops are then decorated with tape and paint to symbolize the changing colours of each season. Traditional hoops are still used on rare occasions. Native hoop dancing is traditionally a male-only dance, but over the past few decades women have picked up the dance. In 1994, Jackie Bird from South Dakota became the first woman to compete in the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest.
Future Hoop Dancing Champion
Saanii Atsitty, the Intermountain All-Women Hoop Dancing Championships organizer says judges are looking at precision, timing, rhythm, craftsmanship, creativity and originality. For the ladies’ competition judges also look at grace and elegance. The two rounds of competition for the ladies consisted of 5 minutes and 7 minutes in the final round dancing to Northern Drum, White Bull, and Southern Drum, Southern Soul Singers.
“I think the first go-round went well and created great interest and excitement,” said Atsitty, organizer of the hoop dancing competition. “We are glad to create a space and platform for these beautiful women and girls to showcase their dancing. We are looking forward to the 2nd Annual next year.”
The Maori All Blacks is one of the most successful sporting team in any sport. The New Zealander rugby team has a winning percentage higher than the likes of Manchester United and Golden State Warriors.
On August 10, Rugby Canada and the New Zealand Rugby Union announced they will host the second ever Senior Men’s Fifteen match at BC Place with Canada taking on the world-famous Maori All Blacks.
Presented by AIG, as both teams prepare for their respective November Internationals in Europe, the All Blacks will play the Canadian men’s rugby team at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium on November 3.
In the past four years, ten of the Maori All Black players progressed to play for the New Zealand national team – winners of the last two Rugby World Cups – while 18 have “bounced” between the two teams at various times. Twenty countries compete in the Rugby World Cup tournament, which is one of the world’s biggest sporting event outside of North America.
The All Blacks have been a YouTube sensation with their “Haka” traditional war dance – a fierce display of a tribe’s pride, strength and unity. Before every game, the All Blacks perform the traditional Maori war dance the New Zealand natives used before going into battle. The dance is also used as a form of respect when groups come together in peace.
The All Blacks have defeated teams with players from different nations – international opponents – including the British & Irish Lions, a team with players from England and Ireland.
Look forward to our next issue when we speak to representatives of both the All Blacks and the Canadian Men’s Rugby teams.
