The Aboriginal Newspaper of British
Columbia & Yukon
Top News - December - 2003
Published December 8, 2003
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Bronze sculpture unveiled in Vancouver
Educators get international recognition
Chief made vice-chair
This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the December 2003 issue of Raven's Eye. If you are not receiving your own copy of Raven's Eye, then you have missed out on a lot.Click here for Raven's Eye subscription information.
Bronze sculpture unveiled in VancouverRaven's Eye Staff, Vancouver
On Nov. 28, a 14-foot-tall bronze sculpture created by master Haida carver Jim Hart was unveiled in a traditional Haida dance ceremony at an apartment complex in Kerrisdale's Quilchena Park area.
The monster work now standing in a waterscape setting took Hart two years to create and is one of the largest Haida sculptures ever commissioned. Hart, who has received the Order of British Columbia for his cultural work, supervised casting at the Tallix Art Foundry in Beacon, New York.
He named his imposing creation The Three Watchmen after the watchmen figures on cedar totem poles found all over Haida Gwaii, which guard the people from danger in this life and in unseen worlds.
"As an artist, it's my job to carve these supernaturals to show people what they look like," said Hart. "This project with the three watchmen is a spiritual thing for me because they actually do look out for people all the time."
Hart describes this, his largest work, as a career milestone. "When you do a raising, in a sense it shows that we're still around as a people. It shows our beliefs and gives some depth to them."
The process for creating the modern bronze megalith was complex.
"It was quite a learning curve for me to work this piece of bronze," said Hart. "I had to learn how to work the model, blow it up to full size, rework that."
Then Hart said he worked on the final detailing. "I had to think a little deeper, then I put this stuff, this material they call plaster lean on the surface. You build it up and then you shape that into what you want, then get your texture on there, and once you look at it and make sure everything is right on, the mold makers will come in. They'll bust it apart and cut it here and there ... and cut it in sections and they'll apply their mold maker materials, make the mold, and then from there, they'll do a wax."
Hart then checks and re-works the wax as necessary.
"That's my last chance to get any of the major work done to the piece."
After that, workers cast it in bronze pieces, weld it together, clean it up, put the texture back. Hart checks the work again and does touch ups to the metal. "Of course its metal, it takes a lot longer, but they have tools for it.
"And then you've got to select color, work with your color people." Hart said a lot of different experts work within the foundry. "I work with them all ... so I get to learn a lot from each person."
Polygon Homes Ltd., a condominium housing developer in the Lower Mainland, commissioned the sculpture.
Educators get international recognition
Brian Lin, Raven's Eye Writer, Penticton
International environmental organization Ecotrust has chosen a British Columbia educator for the Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership.
Jeannette Armstrong, executive director of the En'owkin Centre in Penticton, received the award for her work in environmental education. Four finalists were also honoured at the Dec. 2 award ceremony at Ecotrust's headquarter in Portland, Oregon, including North Thompson Indian Band Chief Nathan Matthew.
Armstrong, from the Okanagan Nation, says the biggest issue we face today is "finding a way to contribute to the recovery of a process that's rapidly taking a dangerous course: the degradation of the earth by humans."
"There is a lack of principles and ethics that used to govern how we interacted with the land and all other living creatures," said Armstrong. "This is a result of the degradation of the human spirit, and we must find a way to shift that paradigm in order to recover better practices for the earth to recover."
Armstrong speaks the Okanagan language fluently and has studied traditional teachings under the direction of the Okanagan Elders for many years. She says Indigenous people had always lived according to a philosophy and best practices that respect the natural world around them, but those ethics and their ethos were eroded by colonizing interests.
"The balance of power has been shifted away from those who practice 100 per cent sustainability on their lands. The ceremonies and agricultural practices of the Indigenous people are based on not only taking those resources but sustaining them.
"For 25 years, I've been working to find ways to incorporate these practices in the contemporary world, so the principles of caring and respect for the earth can be used in today's lifestyles."
Armstrong stressed the importance of education in changing our society's emphasis on individual gratification. "As long as the education system keeps turning up people who are indoctrinated in feeling that money is the only measure of success, success will continue to be measured that way in our society."
Armstrong's work with the Centre for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California has resulted in a number of schools in the state restructuring their curriculum so students have an opportunity to practise principles that value and respect the spirit of the land.
At the En'owkin Centre, faculty and students implement Indigenous knowledge and systems to create a culturally sensitive learning environment.
Her next project is to use the fellowship provided by the Buffett Award to turn the land surrounding the En'owkin Centre into a garden that bears berries, fruits and medicine.
"The land adjacent to the En'owkin Centre is one of the last cottonwood habitats and home of many endangered species," explained Armstrong. "Our goal is to find a way to both benefit the land owners and conserve the cottonwoods."
Armstrong is using the fellowship to set up an endowment fund. The yields would then be used to lease the land long-term for educational purposes.
"We'll use the land as a teaching resource, as part of our real-world learning. We'll engage students of all ages to learn about the species, involve them in the restoration process, through which they'll learn how humans can live sustainably."
A poet and visual artist, Armstrong also uses the gift of art to help people understand environmental issues. Set in pre-contact time, her children's book "Neekna and Chenai" (Gosh and Maybe in Okanagan language) shows the world through two children's eyes and describes their awe in learning the delicate relationship among all beings.
"I'm very grateful for the gift of being able to create poetry to help people understand these concerns," said Armstrong. "It's a very precious and sacred gift, and I try to use it to speak for those who don't have a voice."
On winning the Buffett Award, which was created by U.S. philanthropists Howard and Peter Buffett and headed by renowned Native American writer Liz Woody, Armstrong said it's particular significant because Ecotrust's programs are "right in line with everything I believe in."
North Thompson Indian Band Chief Nathan Matthew was recognized as a finalist because of his work in improving the social, economic, educational and environmental conditions of the Secwepemc people.
Matthew, who is also chairman of the Shuswap National Tribal Council, was instrumental in recovery operations after this summer's devastating forest fires in his community. "We lost six out of eight houses in a small reservation subdivision," said Matthew. "The power lines were destroyed, which led to a lengthy power outage; and a large sawmill was burned down, leaving a dozen people jobless."
Matthew established an emergency centre, which managed the evacuation and provided food, shelter and information.
In his role with the tribal council and as a professional educator, Matthew is particularly interested in utilizing resources within his traditional territory to keep cultural practices alive.
"A lot of work we've been doing has been 'learning by doing.' We're building a hunting cabin on our traditional territory; we hold an annual relay through our land; we also run education programs around salmon and promote community hunts. "We have a right to celebrate who we are and to continue to practice our traditions and cultures," said Matthew. "Education is the tool we have to transmit those understandings to future generations.
The Aboriginal Education Improvement Agreement, which was developed and implemented under Matthew's leadership, is an incentive program for schools to improve the quality of education fin various areas, including subjects like mathematics and English, as well as improve general attendance and the graduation rate.
"The goal is to decrease the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners," said Matthew. "And we're already seeing great results, which also translates into more government funding."
Matthew said First Nations communities and families must take an active role in the decision-making process in the school system.
"As Aboriginal learners we haven't been able to establish a lot of confidence in terms of who we are, because so much of the education offered through the public school system doesn't have anything that reflect the history and contribution of First Nations people. Through involvement in education, we can be more supportive to our children and the future of our community."
Chief made vice-chairJoan Taillon, Raven's Eye Writer, Ottawa
Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band has added new responsibilities to his already substantial roster of board appointments and economic development initiatives.
On Nov. 20, Louie, who has served on the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board since 2001, received notification that he had been appointed to the position of vice-chair on the board. The appointment begins on Jan. 1, 2004.
On the same date, federal Industry Minister Allan Rock appointed a Saskatchewan-born Métis, Martin L. Klyne, as chair.
Louie was surprised to hear he had been appointed vice-chair, "considering I've only been on the board a couple of years. The minister's office has a lot of say on those type of things," he added.
At the last board meeting held in Montreal this fall, former board chair Roy Whitney from the Tsuu T'ina Nation in Alberta vacated the seat after nine years' service.
"That took everybody by surprise, and of course he's been on there a long time and done wonderful work and everybody was taken aback by his announcement.
"And so there was a lot of discussion about the board being involved in the selection, and the board should be involved and not just the minister and the minister's office ... First Nations people around the table felt they should be involved in the selection of the new chair, and so all the discussion was about the chair."
Louie found out about his own appointment through the media.
"It's cool. I'm busy, but busy people ... you know if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person. I've got no doubts I can handle the duties and responsibilities and be a good advocate like I am already for First Nation economic development and Aboriginal economic development and business and growth."
The board meets "a handful" of times annually, and likely will meet next in February, Louie said. They keep in touch between meetings through conference calls.
As many as 20 private-sector people sit on the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board at any time. At least half are of Métis, Inuit or First Nations heritage. Nominations are made through an Order-in-Council.
Members have two main duties: They work with Industry Canada and other organizations to promote and encourage Aboriginal business efforts, including tourism operations and youth entrepreneurs; and they advise the federal government on Aboriginal economic development issues.
Louie has been chief of his First Nation since 1985 and has worked ceaselessly on economic development issues. He founded the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation in 1998, which today consists of eight businesses and employs 140 people. Louie takes pride in their community's Mk'Mip Desert and Heritage Centre and Nk'Mip Cellars Winery, which have drawn a lot of attention as models of astute business planning and success the past few years.
The chief has received numerous awards and commendations over the years for his vision and his achievements, including an Economic Developer of the Year award in 2000 from the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers.
Louie also serves on Canada's National Child Benefit Committee.