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Music Biz 101

There's an adage that goes "to be forewarned is to be forearmed" and this most certainly applies in the music industry. It is an industry rife with musical terms and lingo that can be intimidating to the novice in the business. It's also rife with sharks that prey on innocent victims. In this case, "ignorance is bliss" does not apply.

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Harmonica-playing Mike Stevens was already carving out a place for himself as a bluegrass legend and certainly was a Canadian musician of considerable renown before he ever heard of Sheshatshui or Pikangikum. But now he's spending considerable time trying to figure out how he'll get to play music with the kids of the most troubled reserves in the country.

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Whether your taste in music leans towards rock, blues, folk, traditional or alternative, chances are you'll find something to your liking among this year's lineup of Juno nominees in the Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording category.

Although this year's Juno awards are heading East-the ceremonies will be held in St. John's, Nfld. on April 14-all of the nominees in this category are based in the West.

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It's one of the best films that you haven't yet been able to see. But the movie Atanarjuat (Inuit for 'fast runner') will sidestep the fate of most Canadian films, which are in and out of theatres with little fanfare and faster than you can say, 'what was that about, anyway?'

Atanarjuat's distributor, Odeon Films, says the movie is going to get the attention it deserves over the next few months. This means Atanarjuat will get the type of hoopla usually reserved for Hollywood mega-flicks with a mainstream launch set for mid-April.

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On Feb. 3, the St. Mary's Band council met with a large gathering of their members to discuss the recent posting that all hunting privileges on the reserve had been revoked, effective immediately.

The council's decision was in response to allegations of over hunting and abuse of rights. Although the council could not legally revoke the hunting rights, they certainly stirred up an hornet's nest.

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The second annual Aboriginal Governance In Urban Settings conference will be held March 7 to 9 in Vancouver.

As many as 350 people are expected to attend the three days conference that will spotlight the success of Aboriginal organizations and groups in regards to Aboriginal governance in urban settings.

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Changes to Early Intervention funding could leave dozens of children and teens at the Kikino Metis Settlement and in Lac La Biche without a place to call their own.

Alberta's Child Services department announced late last year that the province has altered its focus on where early intervention dollars will be spent. The funds will now be directed toward helping children who are already at risk, rather than preventative programs like those offered at the youth centres in Lac la Biche and Kikino.

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On Jan. 28, the government of Saskatchewan took a major step forward in its ongoing relationship with the province's Metis populace by proclaiming the Metis Act. The new legislation formally recognizes the contributions Metis people have made to Saskatchewan and paves the way for further negotiations in all areas of interest to this large segment of the population.

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Windigo Tribal Council (Ontario) chairman Wally McKay is part of a national group that's planning a residential school survivors conference for May in Ottawa. Their objective is such as form "pressure groups" and develop other strategies that will help move claims along, especially those of elderly survivors.

"It's good that the residential school file is under the deputy prime minister," McKay told Windspeaker from Sioux Lookout. "The only problem is the residential school file is probably at the bottom rung of his priorities at this particular time."

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Dene Nation chief Bill Erasmus has called for the removal of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

He filed a formal complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council on Feb. 18, 10 days after Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin used the term "conquered people" during a speech to the Order of Canada luncheon at the Canadian Club of Vancouver.

The remarks also prompted an expression of concern on Feb. 8 from the National Chief Matthew Coon Come.