Dreamspeakers festival preparing for another exciting year

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Despite cutbacks to the tune of $120,000 last year, and another $20,000 this year, Canada's only Aboriginal film and art festival is on stream and "actually ahead of schedule", reported its executive director, Sharon Shirt.

Budgets are definitely a determining factor in this year's Dreamspeaker event. "We learned to do some serious negotiating," Shirt said.

She's been impressed with the response from performers and film makers who have accommodated the festival organizers.

The 1996 budget has dropped to $350,000 with most of that money earmarked for the entertainers and film makers. Cutbacks have steered the society "to establish good relationships with the corporate sector," and this will be pursued further, stated Shirt.

The financial picture has been partially brightened thanks to volunteer help.

The festival will require approximately 200 volunteers this year. Then, there are the profits from the sales of festival souvenirs and food.

Kokum's Kitchen's bright red bus will again make the rounds of the powwows and other events in Dreamspeakers' continuing efforts to bolster its bank account.

Founded in 1992 2ith Greg Coyes as president, Dreamspeakers has offered some of the finest talent the Aboriginal world has to offer. Everyone, from singers such as Buffy Sainte-Marie and David Campbell to actors Gary Farmer and Tantoo Cardinal to film makers Alanis Obomsawin and Gil Cardinal have made an appearance in past years.

This year's line-up looks promising with confirmations from New Zealand singer Emma Paki, Oklahoma's rap singer-actor Litefoot, New York's Ulali, the Aztec Fire Dancers, the Inuit throat singers Tudjaat, B.C.'s Northern Shadow Dancers and the West Coast Haida drummers, singers and dancers. Winnipeg's classical guitarist Jason Tuesday and blues man Billy Joe Green are also confirmed.

Then there's the Dene Tha drummers-singers, Kikino Nothern Lights-a Metis jigging-square dancing group, hoop dancer Dallas Arcand, Mens Traditional Dancers from Alberta's Paul Band, drams artist Don Burnstick, rap singers World Citizen and more. They will perform May 24 and 25 from late morning until late evening at Edmonton's Argyll Velodrome at 6850-88 St.

As for film, workshops at the Edmonton Inn will feature contributions from veteran and budding film makers. Their workshops run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with film screenings 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 21 to 24.

Exactly which films will be screened and which film makers will be involved "will be finalized by the end of March," said Shirt, who adds that this year's retrospective will honor Graham Greene from 9 a.m. until noon on May 24.

A bonus May 21 to 24 will be the 9 p.m. to midnight "walk-up" entertainment of local and visiting singers and musicians. The doors will be open to the general public, although preference will go to paid delegates in the event of overwhelming interest.

The gala banquet at the Edmonton Inn on May 24 will have actors Greene, Tom Jackson (master of ceremonies), Gordon Tootoosis, Adam Beach, Ryan Black and Litefoot all seated at separate tables which the public can "buy into" at an additional cost.