Where there's a Wil, there's a way

Page 8

Back in the days that I knew Wil Campbell, a Metis from the Batoche, Saskatchewan area, some people would say that Wil was rowdy and could fight his way out of any situation.

But then again, many of our Native boys grow up rowdy. Maybe it's a part of Native Culture?

When I think of Wil years back, he was somewhat of a radical but knew more about the Metis than most people did. Even then he was a leader. Whenever Wil and his brother John got together, they would talk about what could and should be done for the Metis. They took their experience from life and a history of the Metis that they both knew so well.

It is sad to note that John drowned near Batoche a few years back while trying to save a young boy in the Saskatchewan River. He too had leader qualities.

Over the years, Wil has turned his energy to setting up communications in Saskatchewan. Seeing the potential and need for distribution through television, radio and print of Native topics, Wil worked on many projects and put Native people together to make it happen.

Wil was instrumental in the 13 part series "Tales of Wesakeechak" intended for television and for a children audience.

This pilot program and teacher's guide were produced with the co-operation of

the Saskatchewan Educational Media Services and the Department of Education, Native Curriculum, on a completely volunteer basis.

It was Wil who travelled throughout Saskatchewan to try and raise funds for the project.

Through a lot of hard work, he reached his goal and after receiving the interest of CBC Regina, Wil's project was provided with $115,000 toward the production cost.

The series should air across Canada sometime this fall and will also be available to schools for educational purposes....a feat Wil can take pride in.

Today, Wil Campbell is on the Board of Directors and Administrator for Ka Tip Aim Media Productions Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Ka Tip Aim Media Productions is a group of companies and individuals with an

all Native board of directors that was incorporated last August 1984.

The production company works in specific sound recording, film and video productions and has a wide resource pool of professional individuals of producers, directors, writers, project managers, Native cultural advisors, business and adminstrators and various types of technicians.

Currently their involvement consists of a 15-minute video information overview that is promoting the aims and accomplishments of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, three 30-minute docudrama radio specials for CBC Regina, featuring significant Saskatchewan Native people, both historical and contemporary and a half

hour film pilot on "Poundmaker A Century of Peace," for a potential series on Western Canadian history from the Native point of view.

Wil's belief is in unity and when he visited the Windspeaker offices, a few months back, he stressed this.

"We should try and help each other to move ahead. Would it not be nice to have

a Native communications network across the provinces?"

If my mind serves me correctly, John has been stating that same desires for many years.

It was a dream of his and today in my mind, he has fulfilled his dream. It's not to say that Wil has an easy road ahead, but with the experience he has gathered, and love for plugging head-long into positive things, his road most definitely must have less and less curves to it.