Dreamspeakers sets stage for second year

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After losing $65,000 last year, it seemed the Dreamspeakers festival was destined to be a one-shot deal. But one year and several lumps later, the festival is back on its feet.

As of July 14, Dreamspeakers Festival Society Executive Director Loro Carmen proclaimed the Aboriginal arts festival debt-free.

"It was a long haul. We learned a lot of lessons, and I never want to see red ink around here again."

Carmen made the announcement at the unveiling of the Dreamspeakers 1993 festival. The celebration included a feast of moose stew, burgers, smokies and bannock and performances by traditional and contemporary Aboriginal artists.

Carmen told the crowd of 100 that paying off the debt is a triumph. She lauded the efforts of volunteer fund-raisers and extoled the society's diligence in paying off its creditors.

"We had to take really tough measures to make sure every available dollar went to our creditors."

Other tough cost-cutting measures including slicing staff positions to just one-full job. Carmen said the experience has left the executive a little older and a whole lot wiser.

"We know better this year. We have learned that if it's not down on paper, we don't take people's word."

Dreamspeakers finances ran amok last year as a result of over-budgeting. Although 40,000 people turned out for the five-day festival, it wasn't enough to pay off debts resulting from $65,000 in funds that Carmen said were promised but never showed up.

Because of last year's shaky finish, the City of Edmonton refused the society's 1993 request of $75,000 instead offering $5,000 and later $30,000. Carmen said the $45,000 shortfall effectively cut back this year's festival to three days from six.

Carmen is unhappy with what she calls a lack of co-operation from city bureaucrats. She called the city's original $5,000 offer "insulting," and said wrangling to have it raised to $30,000 left a bad taste in her mouth. She won't name names, but made it clear she is very disappointed with specific committee members.

"I was most disappointed and really taken aback," she said.

"We feel slighted and we feel the city is not responding in a positive way."

Other 1993 funds include $80,000 from the Alberta Foundation of the Arts and $130,000 from the federal government - $31,000 of which is ear-marked for employee training programs.

Still, Carmen said the funding shortfall will in no way affect the festival's high quality lineup of films and performers. Despite the pared-down schedule, a bounty of performers and artists are slated to show at Churchill Square, Aug. 26-28, including the dance troupe N.W.T. Reelers and Chief Jimmy Bruneau School Young Drummers, also from the territories.

Workshops on producing, directing film and writing, including one with Windspeaker columnist Drew Hayden Taylor, will be held daily at the Westin Hotel, while selected films will be shown at the Colin Low Theatre in Canada Place. A traditional food fair is also scheduled for Churchill Square.

The festival runs about a month earlier this year than last. It's a move organizers hope will attract more visitors.

Unlike last year, Carmen guaranteed the film lineup is fixed.

"I can tell you there's not going to be any eleventh hour changes," she said, referring to last year's kerfuffle with the Aboriginal Filmmakers' Association of Alberta, who, at the last minute demanded five films directed or produced by non-Natives be withdrawn from the lineup.

Carmen is counting on Dreamspeakers 1993 being a success, and one that leaves a good impression with the city.

"I'm hoping next year we aren't going to jump through the hoops and we're not going to have to mount a political lobby again," she said.

"We've paid our dues."