BIOGRAPHY

Fall 1998

COVER:
A Celebration of Unity
Thousands come to Squamish territory to take part in the 5th Annual  Aboriginal Cultural Festival. Ronald R. Barbour

BIOGRAPHY
Buffy Sainte-Marie
A look at the art, music, writing, and most of all the life, of the famous singer.

BUSINESS
Gambling in Court
The Beecher Bay Band will gamble in court that it has the right to build a casino on reserve land between Metchosin and East Sooke. -R. Stewart

CULTURE
End of an Era
The last man alive capable of reciting from memory the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy dies at 76. -Maurice Switzer

EDUCATION
A Victim Speaks
Harriet Nahanee relives the haunting childhood memories of her youth at a residential school. -Lloyd Dolha

MODERN TREATIES

POLITICS
In Court over Kemano The Cheslatta Carrier Nation expects support in its court action over huge releases of water into the Nechako River below Cheslatta Falls. -Staff

HISTORY
A Dene Tragedy
Uranium mining at Great Bear Lake has not only left in its wake a "village of widows," but the water and the land surrounding the closed mine has essentially become a radioactive wasteland. -Ronald B. Barbour

Reconstructing Aboriginal History
We often overlook the fact that pre-colonial Canada was not all sweet grass, sweat lodges and sunsets. - Richard Wagamese

Singer, songwriter, and actress, Mishi Donovan is a Chippewa Cree whose ancestors are renegades from the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota.

Mishi grew up as an orphan without knowledge of her past, her culture, or traditions. She has survived childhood abuses, violent relationships and many other tragedies.

In 1991, with the help of others, Mishi began her journey of healing. The songs she wrote helped her cry and feel again. Mishi’s story and music is an inspiration to all women, men and families, and her CD, The Spirit Within, is a reflection of the heart and soul of her people.

In the spring of 1993, Sunshine Records held an international contest titled The Great Canadian Talent Search. It was this contest that Mishi Donovan, an Aboriginal singer/songwriter from Alberta, entered in hopes of winning a few hours of free recording time. Upon receiving Mishi’s rough home recording demo, President Ness Michael immediately called Mishi with the offer of a recording contract.

Agreeing, Mishi ventured to Winnipeg and completed her debut album with producer Brandon Friesen. Mishi’s album titled Spirit in Flight has gained international recognition. Since its release, her single Chosen One has received heavy rotation on a number of second market radio stations. It was also used as the theme soundtrack for a CBC documentary about HIV and AIDS, directed by Ken Ward.

Mishi has performed at a number of festivals and conferences, including the Dream Speakers Festival, the White Berade 24^th Anniversary and the Native Arts Festival in Edmonton, the Sagaw Theatre Presentation and the Health and Wellness Conference in Calgary. She also prepared to do a number of screen tests, after being approached by a few directors and agents who wanted her for their motion picture projects.

In the spring and summer months of 1995 and 1996, Mishi found time between her studies and performing to try her take in acting. Mishi played a support role in the Calgary syndicated TV series Lonesome Dove. These experiences have spawned other acting opportunities on ITV Edmonton as well as in live theatre dramas.

In 1997, Sunshine Records released Mishi’s second full length album: The Spirit Within. This recording has received nothing less than the best reviews and has provided a number of strong singles with heavy radio support.

On March 22, 1998, Mishi’s album The Spirit Within achieved the Canadian Music Industries highest acknowledgement, a Juno Award in the Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording.

Mishi will continue to tour and perform in support of her album The Spirit Within and her message of healing. The material for her third record has been written and will be recorded with Winnipeg Producer Brandon Friesen in the fall of 1998, and Mishi will work with director Cam Tjolbulton from ITV in Edmonton, on her next video for Letting Go (A Prayer Song).