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His Indian name, abbreviated, is Pazi. Translated the name means, "He Who Goes Against Yellow Hair". In contemporary circles, he is Fred Pashe, 25, and this year's proud winner of the 13th Annual Peace Hills Art Contest. His acrylic on canvas painting entitled "The Spirit Will Never Die," was of a boy with a buffalo which won him top honours from among approximately 180 entries in the open category.
Second place went to August Natannah of Assumption, Alta, for "Autumn Hunters," while "Tuktu" by Agnes Thrasher of Quesnel, B.C., won third prize. Honourable mention went to Sean Couchie, who took first place two years ago. Cash awards of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 dollars were issued to the top three winners.
About 250 people turned up for the awards presentations at Edmonton's Westin Hotel where they were treated to a viewing of dozens of the best entries, a brunch and traditional entertainment by the Edmonton Metis Cultural Dancers as well as the White Braid Powwow Dancers.
Pashe explained the story behind his winning piece. The buffalo represents the Native people through history and into the future, and the golden eagle in the background represents the spirituality, the truth of the Creator. All these things, especially the little children, their spirits will never die. The boy in the picture is his nephew Brian who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and the doctors diagnosed him as having a club foot, and a twisted spine. He was blind, mentally retarded and crippled.
"We adopted him in a sense (in the Indian way)." Very shortly after birth he had heart surgery and the doctors had little hope for him. "Over time, the boy extended so much love to the family and vice-versa." "Today, he's back to normal," and much of that Pashe attributes to the great love that existed between young Brian and Pashe's family. He sums it all up by saying, "these little children that doctors have no hope for, they have a lot stronger spirit than what we give them credit for."
The variety of art styles by Pashe are many. Apart from realism, he also does surrealism, including animal or monster-like creatures that one normally finds in comic books ? a market he'd like to break into someday. But, it's a tough one to crack, he explains, because of the tremendous volume of art entries received by comic producers. All he can do is sit back and hope that one of the times that he submits his work, it will be the right time for his particular style and subject matter. In the meantime, he'll continue to crank out what he feels from his heart and soul. Outside of that, he holds down a regular job with a sign and screen painting company in Brandon.
As for the three youth categories of the art competition, the winners were: Youth 9 and under ? Brandon Kallliol Tiffany Anne Denault, Reva Cooper. Youth 10 to 13 ? Jacquelyn Fontaine, Rocky Metchooyeah, Shannon Kelly. Youth 14 to 17 ? Alec Chief Calf, Clayton Gauthier, Loretta Boucher.
This year's judges were; Twain Buffalo, Agnes Bugera and Martha Campiou.
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