Top News - December - 2003 Published December 8, 2003 ABC mini-series features Alberta First Nations actors Métis community celebrates its culture and history Prestigious new title for Willie Littlechild This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the December 2003 issue of Alberta Sweetgrass. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sweetgrass, then you have missed out on a lot. Click here for Alberta Sweetgrass subscription information. ABC mini-series features Alberta First Nations actors Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, Calgary Hallmark Entertainment's mini-series Dreamkeeper is guaranteed to be a hit with viewers when it airs on ABC Dec. 28 and 29, if the reaction from people at the special screening held Nov. 8 in Calgary is any indication. The made-for-television movie took 78 days to film in more than 70 locations across southern Alberta, with more than 1,500 Aboriginal people involved in its making. The screening of Dreamkeeper was attended by more than 800 people. Robin Wortman, the Aboriginal advisor for the Dreamkeeper production, was among them. He said he is proud to be a part of the film and the tremendous story it tells. The story begins on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Old Pete Chasing Horse (played by August Schellenberg of Black Robe fame) is a storyteller nearing 100 years old. One boy who could use the wisdom contained in the old man's stories is Pete's grandson, Shane (played by Eddie Spears of Geronimo), a 17-year-old member of a street gang. He owes his gang money, so when the opportunity comes to escort his grandfather to a ceremony in New Mexico, Shane jumps at the chance to leave town. And Old Pete jumps at what could be his last chance to reach out to the boy with the legends and stories of his people. "It certainly showcases Aboriginal culture, and certainly storytelling is very much a part of our culture and heritage and that message certainly comes through in the film," said Wortman. "What really made me proud was watching the film and knowing the people after spending time with them who were on the screen, in the background. They are from our communities here in Alberta and that is what made me proud. This film really shows the spirit and talent of the Aboriginal community. Everyone really worked hard in the film." The cast includes a veritable who's who of Native talent, including Gordon Tootoosis, Michael Greyeyes, Margo Kane, Nathaniel Arcand, John Trudell, Gary Farmer, Dakota House, Tantoo Cardinal, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Travis Dugas, Cody Lightning and Jimmy Herman. Dugas, who plays Blackfoot warrior Ekuskini in Dreamkeeper, said working on the film was a life-changing experience for him. "I cried a couple of times. It was very powerful. It touched on a lot of issues. When I was 16 years old, my father came home to die. He had a heart attack. He knew he was going to go, but I never understood why he came home to pass on. I never ever went through a grieving process, but here in this mini-series in another Aboriginal culture I finally got to grieve over my dad and I let him go," said Dugas, who believes the film will also help build the self-esteem of Native nations. "We are starting to like ourselves, and we are learning to love one another rather than putting each other down. We are starting to use our teachings from the past to learn how to love. We are all keepers of the dream. Someone once told me that what we have as Aboriginal people no other people have, so it is important for us to continue on with our traditions, cultures, stories and language. This is important to me," said Travis Dugas. Chief Chris Shade of the Blood Tribe took a more pragmatic approach to the making of the film. "What we are trying to do by promoting this film at this screening is to create an awareness, not only from an Aboriginal perspective, but from Alberta's movie industry to look at some of the careers that First Nations communities can get involved in," said Shade. "The youth can begin to look into acting as a career goal. The movie industry is a whole different world by itself and there are many career opportunities there for our youth." Alberta Premier Ralph Klein addressed the crowd with a few words in Blackfoot before thanking everyone involved in the film. "It is a great pleasure to be here this evening for Aboriginal contribution in the film industry. As I understand it, Dreamkeeper not only tells of the legends and stories of North American First Nations, but it also showcases the incredible talent and skills of Alberta's Aboriginal people. It goes without saying the generosity of the leaders of the Sunchild and O'Chiese First Nations made this possible for the way they welcomed the film-makers, and provided access in their communities for the film crew. A film certainly cannot be produced without the co-operation and involvement of all the partners involved, and of course Hallmark Entertainment deserves to be congratulated for providing such a fine film and for coming to Alberta to produce it," he said. "We'd like to thank the Aboriginal community for giving us this opportunity," said Dreamkeeper producer Matthew O'Connor. "The ABC executive vice-president for mini-series and movies, after he watched the movie, said that this is the best movie ABC has ever made. This movie may even make it to the Golden Globes and Emmys for best mini-series." Top

Métis community celebrates its culture and history Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton Some show-stopping performances and a foot-stomping good time was part of the annual Métis celebration held across the province in November. The Edmonton Métis Cultural Dance Society and the Métis Nation of Alberta again held separate events to honor Métis culture and historical leader Louis Riel. The dance society kicked off the celebrations with Métis Fest 2003 with the Louis Riel Gala on Nov. 13. The evening's event included the presentations of the annual Joey Gladue scholarship awards-$500 and a certificate each to Shaw Beazley of Edmonton, and Nicola Acuna of Calgary-and the Delia Gray awards-to Elizabeth Ferguson of Lethbridge and Heather Wifladt of Edmonton. Each year, the late Joey Gladue is honored by the society. "Joey was a big part of our group. He started dancing when he was nine years old. At that time he was too small for our main group, but he hung around the big guys and every time we used to practice and go on the road, he used to come along with us. The first dance that he really enjoyed the most was the duck dance, so he always wanted to be included in that one. He always wanted to be the best Red River jigger around, and Joey practised and practised until he became a six-time Canadian Red River jigging champion. He was very proud of that. Of course, his family was, and the group was very proud of him also," said Lyle Donald, dance society director. The late Delia Gray was the first provincial Elder and advisor to the president and vice-president of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Friday evening a talent show and fiddle championship was held, with entertainer Winston Wuttinee in the role of emcee. On Saturday, hundreds of people attended the Western Canada Métis dance competition and the Western Canadian Métis Red River jigging championship. "We have such good dance groups come out to compete at our gala; looks like there are more and more dance groups coming out each year. About nine groups competed in the Métis dance competitions, such as the square dance part. The little dancers from Saskatchewan were dressed very traditionally, Métis-style with their little hats. That is the thing about competitions. The competitors have to dress the way people used to dress long ago. They had a nice costume on and it was great. I'm seeing that the groups entering our competition are younger and younger, and that is actually our mandate, to introduce younger people to their culture." Events hosted by the Métis Nation of Alberta ran from Nov. 16 to 23, and included the Louis Riel commemoration at the provincial legislature, an open house at the Delia Gray Building on Kingsway Ave., the Delia Gray Memorial Gala, the Zone 4 bannock and jammer, and a pancake breakfast. Irene Collins, the director of Métis Governance Intergovernmental Relations with the MNA, said that although most Métis communities across Alberta celebrate their heritage for a week in November, the rest of Canada celebrates Nov. 16 as a day to remember Louis Riel. "Every year we celebrate to proclaim our heritage and to acknowledge ourselves as a nation and to promote our culture. I believe each year this is a real good opportunity for other people visiting our city to be aware of who we are. The activity we had at the legislature was well attended. We had several prominent speakers, including Minister Pearl Calahasen and the president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, Audrey Poitras. "Remembering Louis Riel as our former leader was really the focus of this commemoration ceremony. Our open house at the Delia Gray Building is just a way for us to affirm that we are a people who like to mingle, visit and eat and, of course, we had a lot of food there." Collins said the Delia Gray Gala is a way for people to remember the late Delia Gray, "who was a special lady to the Métis Nation. We often referred to her as the matriarch of the Métis Nation of Alberta. She was our first provincial Elder, so we honor her memory by carrying on the tradition for her love of education, her love for dance, and her love for visiting. We try to combine all of these traditions during the week-long celebrations," she said. Top Prestigious new title for Willie Littlechild Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer , Edmonton On a break from a workshop in Edmonton on Nov. 26, the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations took time to bestow an esteemed honor on Willie Littlechild of Hobbema. He is now the international chief of Treaty 6. Littlechild, wearing a chief's bonnet that had just been placed on his head by Elder Peter Waskahat, addressed the crowd with promises to make treaty rights issues the most important issues in Geneva on Dec. 15 to 17. He and a delegation of six chiefs from the treaty area will travel to Geneva to take part in an expert seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between states and Indigenous peoples. Littlechild said that about five years ago, when the treaty study conducted by Miguel Alphonso Martinez of Cuba was tabled at the United Nations, there was a mechanism for follow-up that was never acted upon. This year, for the very first time, the United Nations will be meeting to discuss treaties and other arrangements between states and Indigenous peoples. He said that he is looking forward to that meeting, because it has been a long time coming. "I now, officially, can take the floor at the United Nations to address our treaty issues and I can now speak with authority with the support of the chiefs. Leaders from the Indigenous people who have treaty agreements will be there," he said. Eric Tootoosis, the facilitator of the workshop, said as international chief Littlechild's roles will include acting as ambassador, spokesperson and Indigenous representative speaking for all Indigenous people in the world. "Well, it is a very significant event and I believe that it is an event that is long overdue," Tootoosis said about bestowing the honor on Littlechild. "He is the international chief on behalf of Indigenous treaties and all Indigenous people. I'm really happy that Chief [Francis] Alexis [of the Alexis First Nation] made this recommendation. It's been something that has been on our minds for many years and having worked with him for many years, we really appreciate how the other chiefs honored him here this evening. There were other Indigenous groups that were given unique titles in the Eastern tribes and also in America, but this is the first time we've had anyone who's served in this capacity from Treaty 6." Tootoosis said that although the United Nations is limited in what it can do, it's managed to help Canada's Indigenous people. "We want to see that our treaties are maintained and not ever dissolved and we are grateful that they've spoken up for us and intervened on behalf of our policies and legislations so that we do not get over-ridden by domestic policies; so that we do not get all our treaty rights and agreements totally stripped away from us. And the role they've played in our situation has significantly prevented that from happening within Canada," he said. "This workshop is looking at treaty agreements, 2003 and beyond, as in looking at the next seven generations into the future. I believe that what we implement now is going to benefit the First Nations people for the next 60 years. We were able to revisit the treaty processes and what it means as to us as an international instrument, and what it should mean to the Canadian government and to the province. It all boils down to us reaffirming the continuance of our Indigenous ways. This representation in Geneva should indicate to the government how we as a group live today and that we should be the same level to share equal benefits of the treaties," Eric Tootoosis said. Ron Lameman, the bilateral co-chair of the Confederacy of Treaty 6, said the treaty organization became involved in political matters on the international scene after a visit from Miguel Alphonso Martinez in 1988. Lameman said that Marinez asked them if he could hold a meeting in Treaty 6 territory to conduct a study he was doing for United Nations on Indigenous treaties. Treaties 7 and 8 were also invited to participate. "He held the first meeting in Treaty 6 territory at Onion Lake First Nation [Saskatchewan]. The Elders also took part in the meeting. They prayed for Mr. Martinez and held sacred steps ceremonies in his honor. They also provided him with wisdom and information to launch the treaty study that took him a number of years to complete. This is how the Confederacy of Treaty 6 began," he said. Top