Alexis youth experience their traditions to a new beat

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A special night for residents of the Alexis reserve and their guests included a meal and entertainment in a very unusual atmosphere July 5.

The doors of the Alexis First Nations Hall were shaded so that no outside light would get in through the thick glass. A few minutes would pass while people's eyes adjusted to the darkness and they could identified people and subjects.

Drums formed a circle around microphones in the centre of the hall. Above them hung a large metallic construction of modern disco lights. Red, green, blue, yellow - they playfully blinked on dancers' faces.

On a large screen, scanned images of memorable pictures from people's albums changed continuously. Some of them were glorious moments of junior hockey games. Some were just faces of people's loved ones.

"This is all done for the first time ever," said Rob Alexis, one of the organizers, with obvious satisfaction in his voice. "It looks very different, modern." This atmosphere should attract younger generations of the First Nations to traditional gatherings, he said.

"Our younger people are more into Madonna than powwows. Now we have the technology. The slide presentation brings you back to the roots, shows the honor in your family and presence of cultural values," said Alexis.

The show was organized by the Logan Alexis Singers, who raise money by singing at graduations and other social functions. Rob Alexis said they keep money in a bank account to use it later for their creative ideas and community gatherings. "It keeps us going, sober and happy."

The dance with lights and slides cost about $5,000. Most of the money went for renting the equipment.

The singers also hired camera people to film parts of the event and the participating youth. They want to make a video. "Maybe a half-an-hour special - sort of Indian rock & roll round dance," said Alexis.

The idea of setting up the lights and the slide show for this round dance belongs to Rob's brother Eugene. He is a DJ. Once he set up music in an arena for a hockey tournament. Then he decided to try it at the dance.

Dwayne Alexis said they used to do the round dance every weekend, but it was tiring and very much work. "We should try and do the dance with disco lights annually. It's very original."