April 2013 New Tribe

YOUTH COUNCIL

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TA-OTHA STUDENTS

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REDMAN RISING

NEW TRIBE magazine ADAM BEACH THE NEW TRIBE INTERVIEW

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GETTING FIT

*ON THE TABLE *TRIBE POETRY

NEW TRIBE HEALTH

Free Vol. 1 2 Issue 2 APRIL 2013 Now Available online www.usay.ca

NOTEBOOK from*the*editor Hello New Tribe Readers,

USAY and New Tribe Magazine events? Feel free to Welcome to the April 2013 search us out on Face book issue of New Tribe Magazine. and join our growing friends April is a list. We post special month upcoming for me as it’s e v e n t s , when both submission my little girls r e q u i r e me nt s celebrate their and deadlines, birthdays.

I and fun stuff want to wish like upcoming them and movie nights everyone else and book born in April, clubs. It is also a great day a great place with lots of fun to comment and family geton stories or togethers. articles you wish to see in our upcoming In this issue of New issues.

Tribe magazine, writer Aj. Bellegarde was lucky enough Do you have an opinion on this to interview the amazing actor issue of New Tribe magazine?

Adam Beach, and gain some Good, bad, or ugly send in insight on what motivates your thoughts and we will him. We also have some great print it in the letters section. submissions from local writers covering health, poetry, and Spread the word, and stay true personal journeys. to it.

Need updates on upcoming John Medeiros

NEW TRIBE

Calgary’s Aboriginal Youth Monthly usayeditor@gmail.com Managing Editor John Medeiros Graphic Design Aboriginal Design Group Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth Suite 600, 615 Macleod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2G 4T8 403.233.8225 Executive Director LeeAnne Ireland Program Manager Rachel Paris Office Manager Jessica Hawryluk Board of Directors President Sarena Provost Vice-President Amanda Gonet Treasurer Melaina Patenaude Secretary Cheryl Hanley

NEW TRIBE is a monthly magazine. Our mission is to promote a positive outlook on Aboriginal living in an urban setting by promoting information sharing within the Aboriginal and youth communities Opinions expressed in submitted work/letters are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NEW TRIBE or USAY. This magazine is a forum for Aboriginal youth to speak their minds and share their stories without intervention.

The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for plagiarism of the works in the magazine. All writings are presumed to be the original work of the contributing authors.

Special Thanks to our Community Partners & Funders

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CONTENTS

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23 APRIL

COVER STORY ADAM BEACH 20 By: Aj. Bellegarde

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NEWS BRIEFS

15 23 ART

7 WHAT’S GOING ON?

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COMMUNITY

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CREATIVITY

10 HEALTH

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MUSIC REVIEW

12 ON THE TABLE

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MOVIE REVIEW

14 POETRY

34

BOOK REVIEW

15 CREATIVE

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COMMUNITY

16 COMMUNITY

38

U AROUND TOWN

18 REDMAN RISING

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COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

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NEWS*BRIEFS

Aboriginal Happenings From Across Canada Chief Slams Harper’s Absence at Rally for First Nations Walkers

The Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek First Nation has joined the chorus of criticism directed at Prime Minister Stephen Harper for choosing to greet a pair of newly arrived pandas from China rather than welcoming Cree youth who walked 1,600 km to bring attention to aboriginal issues.

In January, seven young Cree men began a twomonth journey on foot— sometimes in -40 degree C weather—from the remote village of Whapmagoostui, Quebec, to Ottawa.

Dubbing the walk “The Journey of Nishiyuu” which translates to “The Journey 4

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of the People” in Cree, the youth called for unity among First Nations while hoping to draw support for the Idle No More movement.

Along the way the group picked up hundreds of supporters, many of whom arrived with them at Parliament Hill on Monday.

“As I understand it, the prime minister was invited to greet the walkers just outside his office on Parliament Hill, but he chose to spend taxpayers’ money to fly to Toronto and have his picture taken with Panda bears from China.”

“We owe a great deal of gratitude to these young people who have inspired us with their determination, while we face a government that simply refuses to consult with First Nations people on ways we can work together to make the future better for everyone in Canada,” Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee, Grand Council Chief of Anishinabek Nation, said in a statement.

During question period in Parliament Tuesday, NDP MP Niki Ashton took Harper to task for the noshow.

“What will it take? How many more kilometres need to be walked for this Conservative government to listen to First Nations people?” Ashton said.

SOURCE -THE EPOCH TIMES

COMMUNITY

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TRIBE*ART

CHRISTIANA LATHAM 6

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What’s Going On? APRIL,2013 April 06 - 07 Bump, Baby & Kids Show Stampede Park Calgary, AB

April 19 Easter Seals “We Care” Ball BMO Centre Calgary, AB

April 06 - 29 Calgary Spoken Word Festival Various

April 20 The Intergalactic Nemesis Jack Singer Concert Hall www.epcorcentre.org Calgary, AB

www.calgaryspokenwordfestival. com

Calgary, AB

April 11 - May 12 Cirque du Soleil Big Top at Stampede Park Calgary, AB April 12 - 14 Flat Track Fever Olympic Oval http://flattrackfever.com Calgary, AB April 13 - 14 Aggie Days Stampede Park Calgary, AB

April 16 Holly Cole in Concert Theatre Junction Calgary, AB

April 22 Calgary Zoo - Earth Day Calgary Zoo Calgary, AB April 25 Candlelight Gala Hotel Arts Calgary www.mcsc.ca Calgary, AB April 29 Imagination Movers Jack Singer Concert Hall Calgary, AB

April 26 - 28 Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo BMO Centre www.calgaryexpo.com Calgary, AB

Calgary Flames Home Games

04/03/2013 8:00 PM Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames 04/10/2013 7:30 PM Vancouver Canucks @ Calgary Flames 04/12/2013 7:00 PM Phoenix Coyotes @ Calgary Flames 04/15/2013 7:00 PM Minnesota Wild @ Calgary Flames 04/17/2013 7:30 PM Detroit Red Wings @ Calgary Flames 04/19/2013 7:00 PM Anaheim Ducks @ Calgary Flames

Calgary YMCA Rec night Every Tuesday 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

If you have an event you’d like us to include in our monthly calendar, email it to us - usayeditor@gmail.com by the third Wednesday of the month.

Submission deadline for the May 2013 issue: April 26

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COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY

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HEALTH

Getting Fit by: Christine McFarlane

The sun is shining, the weather is getting warmer, and more and more people are putting away their heavy winter coats and boots, and pulling out their windbreakers and running shoes. You see more and more people around you biking or running, walking, skateboarding or engaging in other outdoor activities you would not be able to do if it was still winter.This is when the little voice in the back of your head says, “it is time for me to get fit too.”

Everybody wants to feel fit and feel good about themselves, especially after a long, cold winter when the skies are gray and there is a bone chilling cold whipping through the layers of clothing you wear to protect 10

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yourself from the elements.

Getting fit is important but it is not just about feeling well physically. It also means feeling emotionally, mentally and spiritually balanced and it involves incorporating an attitude and lifestyle that helps you to feel good about yourself in every way possible.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), “Physical activity plays an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of Canadians. People who are physically active live longer, healthier lives.Active people are more productive,and more likely to avoid illness and injury,” and “Physical activity helps: healthy growth and development,

prevents chronic diseases like cancer,Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, makes us stronger, gives us energy, decreases stress and prolongs independence as we get older.”

Keeping myself balanced mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually means that I need to take the time to pay attention to how I am feeling in every way, and incorporating a routine into my daily life that helps me to stay focused. That means getting outside more, walking, journaling and/or painting and getting together with friends even if my mood says otherwise. You have to do what works for you.

COMMUNITY Sometimes when you look at getting fit, you worry about the cost of it. If you cannot afford the costs of a gym or health club, look at the great outdoors as your playground (remember when you were a kid and you ran around the playground?) or if you feel self conscious about others seeing you huffing and puffing and getting all sweaty, you can find ways to exercise within your home. Get out your Nintendo Wii or X Box Kinect and get yourself into the exercise games, better yet make it into a family affair or get together with several friends.

Make a rule that you are not going to be judgmental of each other because company when you exercise can often make it a lot more fun than if you were to do it alone.

If you are worried about finding enough time to squeeze in exercise, there are several ways in which you can squeeze physical fitness into your schedule. The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines suggest how you can modify your individual or family’s daily routine, replacing sedentary time with activity from dawn until dusk.

In the morning • Physical activity can be a better morning boost than caffeine. Set your alarm 10 minutes early, and devote the time to stretching or taking a short walk or bike ride to start off your day.

• Pack a skipping rope or baseball glove in your child’s backpack to encourage active

play at recess and lunch breaks. initiatives hosted by your workplace health committee En route that can help you achieve your • If you work close to home, fitness goals. leave the car and walk or bike in.

In the evening • If you take public transit, get • Make after-dinner walks a off the bus a stop (or two) early. regular family activity. Circle • Driving to work? Park your the block or head to the park car at the back of the parking to toss a Frisbee or climb the lot and make up the distance on monkey bars. Explore new foot. streets and neighbourhoods to • Instead of driving the kids to make it an adventure. school, start a “walking school • Set limits on your children’s bus” with other parents and screen time (from the television, take turns walking groups of computer, etc.). According neighbourhood kids to and to ParticipACTION, kids in from school. Encourage older households with established children to walk or bike to screen-time rules do indeed school. lead less sedentary lives.

• Take an evening fitness class, At work such as tai chi, yoga or step at • Take the stairs instead of the the local gym or community elevator whenever possible. centre. Try a class to see if you • Instead of booking a boring like it; many offer free trials old conference room, grab before you have to sign up. your colleagues for a “walking • Yard work doesn’t have to be meeting” and discuss business a chore. Make it fun by adding while hitting the pavement. an element of play. Reward the • Instead of sending an email, child who rakes the most leaves walk across the office to relay a by letting him or her choose message to a coworker. what you’ll have for dinner.

• Contract your stomach • Combine social time with and back muscles, roll your active time by joining a friend shoulders and stretch your for a brisk walk or run. neck while sitting in your chair.

• Take a break from sitting Getting fit and being active once an hour, and set aside 10 does not have to be difficult. minutes of your lunch break for For more information on how a brisk walk. to get fit, visit Physical Activity• Organize a recreational Healthy Living-Public Health softball or baseball team with Agency of Canada at http:// your coworkers and join a www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/ league. Not only will this get you hl-mvs/pa-ap/index-eng.php moving, it will foster teamwork or check out local community and boost morale as well! centres in your area.

• Inquire about events and NEW TRIBE APRIL 2013

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FLAVOR

On the Table Chicken Noodle Casserole INGREDIENTS

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 6 ounces egg noodles 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 cup sour cream salt to taste ground black pepper to taste 1 cup crumbled buttery round crackers 1/2 cup butter DIRECTIONS

Poach chicken in a large pot of simmering water.

Cook until no longer pink in center, about 12 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside. Bring chicken cooking water to a boil and cook pasta in it.

Drain. Cut chicken into small pieces, and mix with noodles.

In a separate bowl, mix together mushroom soup, chicken soup, and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Gently stir together cream soup mixture with the chicken mixture. Place in a 2 quart baking dish.

Melt butter in a small saucepan, and remove from heat. Stir in crumbled crackers. Top casserole with the buttery crackers.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 30 minutes, until heated through and browned on top.

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connect

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POETRY

A personal hell my shell this cell I failed I sail through days in jail the crime aint mine but shhhh don’t tell silent time my heart wont sell.

I train my pain I swoll my frame max my stats a vital again etch her name into my skin self-mutilation with this pin.

A rescued addict no more panic all bad thoughts have left the attic a clear view bad habits in rear-view jealousy nil killed all the fear too.

A new man with a new plan shovel in hand to remove quicksand sold my soul but refunded hard now I leave my fate with God. -Tony Bear

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CREATIVE

AVERY IRONSIDE NEW TRIBE APRIL 2013

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COMMU NITY

by Amanda Foote

Ta-Otha students love to animate!

A look at Stoney Animation Camps

“Our school’s animation workshops are great because I get to draw, and see everyone really happy” says Stewart at Ta-Otha Community School in Big Horn. The school offers animation to students over three day camps up to three times every year. Students have the chance to learn different types of animation, film production, and story telling, all of which they enjoy. Mariah says “At the animation workshop we make films or drawings for credit. I came because I find animation workshop fun. My favorite part is using a camera to film your work. Filming and editing is the best because it’s fun and I just love to use the camera.”

The instructors who are members of the Stoney communities, also enjoy the workshops, as they get the chance to work with youth to help them tell their stories and to build confidence.

“They feel so great at the end when their work is shown up on a big screen.

The fact that they realize the power of stories, and their traditional roles as story tellers, is just really great” says Chanelle Simeon, who took a train-the-trainer workshop to learn to animate & facilitate the workshops in Stoney schools.

Jarret Twoyoungmen is the workshop

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leader, he completed one of Quickdraw Animation Society’s Youth Animation Project, and credits this as instilling in him a love of film, animation, and teaching youth. “I really just want to help the kids, it’s my dream. Someday I hope to work with other schools and nations, but right now it’s just Stoney youth, and that’s a good start.”

Jarret coordinates the workshops, and provides training for other young people in the community to learn to facilitate workshops, or just to express themselves though animation.

Most of the students have a lot of fun with the art, and they build useful skills, and learn more about both traditions and modern technology. Despite all these benefits, motivation for coming to the workshops is pretty simple.

Emilio says “I came to the workshop because it’s better than being at home.” And a lot of the students echo his sentiments: Brandon says “I came to the animation workshop because I had nothing to do at home.” Naomi continues “I came because there was nothing better to do. But it’s important for young people to try things like animation so they understand and learn about a better life.” One gets the sense that life in Big Horn would be a lot more exciting for the young people

if they had more to do, but that they make the best of the opportunities that do come their way. Life on the reserve is different from life in the city, but student often think that City living is easier and much more exciting. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and youth in cities, and home on reserves might really benefit from getting to know each other better. The Big Horn students are excited to make urban connections, and although they haven’t been to Calgary with their work, they have had the chance to screen their animations at Mount Royal University, and at the Calgary Society for Independent Filmmakers.

Some students really do appreciate the animation art form, and even hope to turn it into a career: Bobby says “I love animation, it is always awesome.”

Whether the students appreciate the art form, the story telling, or the life skill building elements of the workshop, everyone has a great time, and leaves feeling great. As Shawna says “the workshops inspire me because everyone puts a lot of energy into their work and it turns out great.”

COMMU NITY

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Community

REDMAN RISING by: Cory Littlelight

If there ever was a time for us as Aboriginal men, young and old, to rise up and start to really break the cycles of addiction, domestic violence and going to jail, it’s right now. If there ever was a time for us to step up and learn to become better fathers, husbands, boyfriends, family men and leaders to our people, then the time is now. We as men, warriors and protectors of our people need to be doing a better job when it comes to performing our roles as Native men. But don’t get it wrong, I’m not saying that we’re doing a horrible job, I just think that we can do a lot better. I think that there is always room for improvement. And why not?

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We as First Nations men need to evolve and rise up and be the men that the Creator always wanted us to be. And the fact is, we as Native males in general have come such a long ways in life. We have had to overcome impossible odds and we are still here, standing strong, still thriving and leading our people. We as aboriginal men have always kept our culture and traditions alive. And most importantly, we still haven’t lost our Native Pride.

For those of us that have kids, I believe that they should absolutely be our number one priority in life. Because our kids need us, they need fathers

in their lives and if we are not there for them, then who is going to be there for them?

All of this nonsense of kids growing up fatherless needs to stop right now. It is time for us as men to break that cycle. We need to be doing a better job at being fathers/father figures.

We also need to be doing a better job at supporting our families. We need to take better responsibility when it comes to all of these things. And I think that where it all has to begin is we have to start believing in ourselves first. Because before we can become good fathers and family men, we need to have the confidence and believe in ourselves as men first.

COMMUNITY Another cycle that needs to broken is the fact that the highest percentage of incarcerated inmates in all of Canada, are Aboriginal males and females, more than any other race. Which basically means that, it is aboriginals who mostly populate the prisons in this country. We make up the majority and to me, that is a sad statistic. I don’t know about some of you guys out there, but I’m sick and tired of going to jail. 9 whole years in and out is enough for me. And I don’t know about the rest of my brothers, but I still don’t want to be going in and out of jail when I’m like 50 years old.

That’s just sad man. It’s time to break that cycle of going to jail.

And I believe that for those of you that are still caught up and trapped in the criminal justice system, you can break the cycle too. Because this life is short and it’s time for us to really start living. It is time for us as aboriginal men to rise up and conquer our lives. You see my brothers, change is possible.

For years I was a major alcoholic. I mean I still drink once in a while, I just don’t drink every day like I used to.

I also used to sell crack in the streets for real, for like 6 years, and I ended up doing 18 months for it, and I’m not proud of it.

The whole point that I’m trying to make is that, we as Native men need to rise up and break that whole cycle of addiction

because it can only lead you down a dark road and get you into more trouble.

When addiction rules your life, you’ll only end up losing, like I used to. I couldn’t do it by myself, I needed to get sober and quit my out of control lifestyle, and so I went to a Native treatment centre for my addictions and found my spirit once again.

that I’ve become. And Change is possible.

It is time for us as aboriginal men to rise up. It is time for us to break all of these vicious cycles that are keeping our people down. We must rise out of the ashes, the oppression and the struggle and start to fight back.

Our people need to thrive, and we as a whole, each and every one of us, men and women, need to come together better and start to really conquer these problems that affect our aboriginal community in a negative way. Because I believe in my fellow Native brothers and most of all, I believe in change. We have the power.

As a proud Native man myself, I also believe that it is our job to break the cycle of domestic violence, which is still so very rampant within our Aboriginal community. As men we do not have to continue being contributors to domestic violence, we must break the cycle now. We must start making better, smarter decisions in And the REDMAN will rise! our relationships with women, because our women are sacred and they deserve to be treated like the queens that they are.

It is never okay for a man to lay his hands on a woman in a physical way. I also understand that a whole lot of us, including myself, have made mistakes and at one time or another was abusive in a relationship.

I mean I’m not going to deny what I did in the past, I have to be accountable, but at the same time, I’ve forgiven myself and made a change for the better.

I’ve changed my ways and have truly begun to move forward in Cory Littlelight is a regular my life. I’m not the same man contributor for that I used to be and I’m very New Tribe Magazine proud of how far I’ve come in life. I’m proud of the new man

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Community

ADAM BEACH

by Aj. Bellegarde Photo by Michael Parmelee

Adam Beach’s first film appearance was as an extra in the 1990 TV movie, ‘Lost in the Barrens’. He remembers, “It was the first time I was on television, and I was an extra paddling a canoe. For me it was very important because it signified that I can be an actor on television or film and it made me realize that my dream could come true”

memorable role as Victor Joseph in the 1998 Chris Eyre-directed movie ‘Smoke Signals’, allowed him to explore the feeling he had over the tragic death of both of his parents when he was only eight years old. “Smoke Signals was an introduction to my personal life and the connection with the death of my own father. I never really dealt personally with the death of my mother and father and The 40 year old Salteaux actor that movie enabled me to embrace is from Dog Creek First Nation it and mourn for that time in my in Manitoba, and he lives in Los life.”

Angeles when he isn’t on location.

With over 20 years in the acting Adam says “acting is all about selfbusiness, and over 60 projects discovery. You’re trying to grow as to his credit, Adam has amassed a person and as an actor. You’re a body of work that includes big trying to emulate your personal budget Hollywood films like ‘Wind vision of how you see the world.”

Talkers’ with Nicholas Cage, and He says he loves working in the the Clint Eastwood directed ‘Flags film industry because, “Every day of our Fathers’ where he played US is different. Sometimes you work Marine Ira Hayes . He also spent 18 hour days where you’re just a season as Detective Chester exhausted. Sometimes you work Lake on the popular crime drama only 5 hours and you’re done for ‘Law and Order: SVU’. His latest the day. Its random schedules and project is as the lead role of Bobby it depends on how involved you Martin in CBC’s Artic Air. are in the movie. Your day really depends on what scenes are being For Adam, his job as an actor shot that day. But there’s a lot of has been sometimes therapeutic, variety of characters, situations, especially in his early career. His life experiences, that you’re able to

have outside of your own life, and be a part of creating and watching characters come to life.”

Adam’s love of making film and television has inspired him to start the Adam Beach Film Institute, (www.adambeachfilminstitute. com) a project a long time in the making. “10 years ago me and my friends were talking about why natives don’t have their own unique system of entertainment under sovereignty law. There are a lot of benefits there. Investment into Hollywood is a good economic game plan because they make billions of dollars every year.

Why can’t natives invest in their film fund or group together to put money into the movie industry?

At the same time, you’re educating people to take part in a place that needs our people to be recognized more through film and television.”

His vision for the Institute is clear.

“My whole idea is in creating kind of a Walt Disney platform. Where Disney has their structure for film and television and I’d like to do that same kind of structure, but on reservations. So instead of Mickey Mouse, you have Mickey Moose!”

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COMMUNITY he explains with a laugh. “But we want to educate people to take part and to be recognized more through film and television projects.”

And he’s got big plans for his project. “There’s going to be one in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, possibly Thunder Bay, Arizona, Los Angeles, New York. I plan to do one in Germany or overseas.

There’s no reason we can’t do it anywhere we want to.”

In addition to being passionate about having Aboriginal people telling our stories through television and film, Adam is passionate about educating people about First Nations issues.

“I’ve been talking about our issues for the last 15 years but they don’t write about it. They have an agenda to keep when it comes to writing in magazines and newspapers. But now we don’t need all of that. We can tweet from our own bedroom and say ‘this is the way I feel, or this is the way it should be’.

The platform has allowed us to unify. I’ve been at it for the last 15 years. Now it’s on a platform where anyone can have a voice.

Adam visited Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat First Nation during Christmas while she was on her hungry strike to bring attention to the issues on her First Nation, something that 22

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was extremely important to him.

“For me, Chief Theresa presented herself in a way of sacrificing herself to bring attention to the struggle that a lot of First Nations have, especially her community.

Christmas was coming along and it reminded me of how Christmas is based on a belief of giving good will to family and sharing gifts. It was unique opportunity for me to go there and say thank you for doing what you’re doing because it’s now spreading the education and messages about the difficulties that our people have when dealing with the government and moving forward.

And I wanted to be there to show appreciation for her sacrifice. It was very moving for me.”

Adam has also been a supporter of the Idle No More since its inception. “The thing that brought Idle No More to light is social media. We live in an internet world now, where everyone communicates through with Twitter, Facebook, etc. We were able to express the way we feel and create a powerful unified voice using social media. 20 years ago you couldn’t do that.

voice.

It’s now that the technology is there, there is no stopping us. It’s already making changes. ” He says social media has played a huge role in educating people about the movement. “People were able to see it because we were filming it ourselves and then Tweeting it out to the world.

Nobody else was putting it on the news until it reached a worldwide audience. People started putting it on the news. You can’t run away from anybody now because social media is our most powerful voice that we can connect people all around the world, and the thing about it is that it’s free.”

As an actor, Adam has been given a platform to talk about the issues that directly affect Aboriginal people. He also uses that platform to encourage youth to follow their dreams. “We have to find our own motivation that connects us to our passion. For example, you could write a short story and you’re officially a writer! A lot of people are quick to say ‘I can’t do that’ before they even try. I say find the motivation in yourself to pursue something. And only you know what that something is.”

But 20 years ago we have AIM movement who were acting on behalf of us, and motivating and Follow Adam Beach on twitter @ educating people on our struggles adamruebenbeach of maintaining our sovereignty.

What is it is basically aligning ourselves to share our personal

ART

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COMMUNITY

Cochrane Youth Council Every Monday at 5:00 PM a group of youth from Morley depart from their community; their destination is the Boys and Girls club where they meet from 6:15 to 7:30 with the Cochrane Youth Council. Well, actually, it’s usually more like 8:00 PM when they leave, after the meeting everyone enjoys hanging out at the Club playing video games, pool, and ping pong. “It’s like we take some time to unwind. Mondays are really long. After school we get ready for the meeting by doing work together, and we even cook our own dinner. After the meeting we just need to relax a bit and be kids.” Says Amber Twoyoungmen, one of the Council members from Morley.

The Youth Council participates and organizes a wide range of activities. While staff are on hand to lend support the Council’s work 24

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is directed by the youth participants who plan, design, and carryout their own activities and events. April Powderface says “My favorite

cookies, and selling them around the community, then the proceeds of the sale were used to buy healthy dog food for strays.

Goblins for Goods Halloween food drive thing that we did was to organize a DJ dance to support breast cancer, which is a disease that has affected my family.” Another member, Tori Beaver notes, “We also helped the dogs in Morley” by baking dog

The Cochrane Youth Council has a long history of youth engagement, and students from Morley joined last year. In two years of working together, youth connected with the Council have formed friendships and better understandings of each other’s community. Youth from Morley who are also Council members note that they bring something special to the group “I think that being an Aboriginal youth means strength and power and having a strong heart.”

The youth that attend the meetings weekly come for different reasons, some out of a desire to help their community, some because they want to create fun things for

COMMUNITY themselves and their peers to do.

Kelsey Twoyoungmen explains “I joined the youth council because I heard it was great, I mean awesome.” Yet all their reasons

Merry Christmas Roo fundraiser for dogs in Morley

to create change and escape the boredom of life on the reserve: “I joined because it’s fun talking about events, planning them, it’s lucky I joined or I don’t know what I’d be doing if I didn’t” says Doug Ear. The youth believe that things like after school programming help improve their lives and keep them from being affected by other more negative influences. Tori, Doug, and Amber agree: “Things like youth councils help young people stay away from drugs.” “Youth council is important for the young so they can keep off the drugs and stay in school.” “Youth council is important so they don’t get bored and stay out of trouble”

for being part of the council seem All the participants feel that being to relate to the student’s desire part of the Youth council has

helped them to gain new skills and strengths, they hope to use these in careers in technology, medicine, law enforcement, and art. But it’s more than just job skills, as Kelsey Twoyoungmen says “As a result of being part of the youth council I’m learning to be a leader.”

Pathways Round Dance volunteer garbage patrol

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COMMUNITY

Celebrate our Aboriginal Youth Potential

by Wyanne Smallboy-Wesley

“Determine never to be idle.

No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.”

-Thomas Jefferson. With that said, let us celebrate that of which we are doing.

Bridges Social Development, Unveiling Youth Potential leadership training workshop and I saw first hand the effect of storytelling. There I learnt a great deal about community building through shared stories

I have learned a great deal about community building through sharing our own stories of personal triumph.

It is impressive how sharing stories has a beautiful effect on youth and the more you hear Photo courtesy by Bridges Social about other youth’s stories, you Development Canada might just be amazed at how our community is filled with many of personal triumph. role models and local every day heroes that we all can be Speaking of my own story, inspired by. right after high school I came to Calgary to earn a post-secondary Recently I had the wonderful education at DeVry Institute opportunity to take part in a of Technology. Coming from 26

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Bighorn Reserve in the North West Rocky Mountains, I had to overcome a lot of obstacles transitioning to urban living in the city. I had to learn quickly and adapt to my surroundings of the big city. Being the first to attend a degree program from my reserve I had no support or advice about living in the city, managing studies and family life. No one in my family could provide me with that kind of support in which I believe is crucial in the development of one’s personal growth and life skills.

I was on my own, the only Aboriginal in my classes and the only one from my family going through this amazing experience of diversity and adversity living in the city. Living on your own is one story most Aboriginal youth

COMMUNITY entrepreneurial goal is to get the youth to support each other to reach their full potential and to encourage one another rather than to envy or judge. We are all in this together, finding what will make our lives fulfilled with meaning.

One by one we Aboriginal youth are making a difference to our country because we are connecting the bridge between urban and reservation societies.

Every Aboriginal youth needs the support from the Aboriginal community, the elders, the University faculty, the City and most of all each other.

Your stories will help others to

succeed and be inspired. Sharing stories has helped me get through life and lets me know that we are all going through the same challenges but in different ways. Let’s share our stories and inspire each other to grow our minds to the possibilities of our dreams.

This May marks the second annual Aboriginal Youth Explosion hosted by Bridges Social Development and it is just that, an explosion of stories by our local youth. Present and past youth participants are heroes - as they are overcoming obstacles to achieve their personal goals, they are displaying their wonderful

talents with the community.

I encourage everyone to join in the explosion of unveiling youth potential through song, dance and storytelling. It is a day of inspiration from our Aboriginal youth from Calgary and surrounding communities.

As Aboriginal Youth, we are the branches of our community to expand and grow, for which we are to celebrate our talents and share our stories to help support each other. We are here to support one another and celebrate ourselves with our community to see our light shine.

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CREATIVITY

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TA LENT

S ’ T I

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E LEGENDS R E H

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BEATS

Turn up the Volume

By Katty Jo Rabbit

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito Turns out that after ten years you can still bring in some thing old and make it new with the fourth album from this New York trio it has become a lo-fi produced album. Which almost makes it new, and why not vintage is trending again, and who better to delve into that genre then Karen O herself? With great art album art work and bonus tracks this album will take you back to when garbage pail kids were still relevant. It will also take you back with the amount of story involved with this album as the song flow is not over produced. It is a raw look at the past ten years of YYY’s, it is also a great way to return to your roots, which Karen O needs to do. If any of you fan’s have noticed she has dyed her hair blonde, and has yet to do a touch up! All judgement aside, this is actually a great album to remind yourself of why you became a fan in the first place.

Over all the sound is the same, you get the quirkiness of Karen O with the base line and energy of her band mates; guitarist Nick Zinnear, drummer Brian Chase and really what more could you ask for. Of course they will never be able to regenerate a signature song like they had with Maps, but they do have a signature sound that hasn’t aged, or dulled to seem like they have lost it. To be honest, it could very well be that on a musical sense, they could still be trying to find it, and will need ten more years to locate it. Anyway we can all hope so, because then that means we will have years of music to discover along with them.

Rob Zombie Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor Every time someone mentions Rob Zombie, Dragula immediately comes to mind. This is because that song alone has to be one of the best rock songs ever to hit sound waves, and since then there hasn’t been another from Rob Zombie, of course there are people who will argue his sound but let’s leave that to the hard core fans who won’t move on.

Now enter Dead City Radio, a perfect blend of the old sound with the new that intentionally brings you along a narrow winding path down a dark lighted forest and tries to scare the be-jesus out of you, while of course rocking your socks off. Turns out that it actually works, with the sneak peak of this album being a puzzle that you had to figure out to hear the song, it makes for a great platform that only a musician turned director can muster.

This is electronic fan engagement at its best. Because soon after this release, the next film from this creator Lords of Salem will follow, what better hype to create then your own.

Check out Revelation Revolution, Rock and roll (In a black hole) and The girl who loved the monsters if you’re feeling reminiscent for White Zombie.

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BEATS

Music You Can Feel In Your Toes Marnie Stern The Chronicals of Marnia’ For the second time around Marnie is able to take us with her as she hits the highs, and sighs the lows, in her musicality she comes across as a weird girl with a message, but instead of passing on her secrets she forgets to tell you that she really was only lying. If that makes any sense at all, listen to Year of the glad for proof. Isn’t it nice to know that you’re not the only one who does this from time to time?

Part catchy, fast explosive drums, part guitar tapping, the sounds of this album are different in a way that doesn’t catch you in its snares right away. It has to grow within your ear cavity. Or it has to be played on the radio a hundred times for you to appreciate the lyrics and the overall meaty-ness in the entirety. Most of the time neither will happen, but that is okay, even if you just like one song, at least your exposing yourself to another world that exists just on the other side of Forest Lawn.

For someone who has the blog name Marnie’s Fagina a serious second album wouldn’t fit, this girl or rather woman is too young in her ability to create to start to make it heavy. Which is nice, especially since there are a lot of us who are still struggling to grow up, there really isn’t any relevance to this only that she puts herself out there, makes her sounds work for her, and doesn’t expect to party with Lady Gaga or Madonna any time soon.

Girls Names The New Life If there is any thing in life that can make it new, it would be heavy bass lines. Nothing makes more sense than making something heavy, melodic and realistic. All synth aside this album really takes you to a new life, let’s say you were a punk and now you have decided that you want to change, this is the transition album. For the band it must be the same way with an album called Dead to me there is a theme here that we have to touch on. Or at least acknowledge which we just did.

A lot of the appeal is found in the instruments, just like with all moody rockers like Robert Smith and Ian Curtis you will find that their sound is usually just that their sound.

You won’t find it on the top of the pops, but you know that it is something you should probably listen too. It will keep the winter blues away that is for sure, only because there is a warming sound in something that sounds familiar.

Check out the songs Hypnotic Regression, Occultation, and The new life to collect a taste for the 80’s referencing in the music; and listen to the song Pittura Infamante if your doubtful of the comparison to The cure and Joy Division. You will understand.

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MOVIES

See You at the Movies Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson Perhaps one of the craziest movies of the year, Spring Breakers is rated R, which is generous considering the extreme amount of drug use, profanity, and violence found in this film that was released in 2013. Starring James Franco, Selena Gomez, and Vannessa Hudgens, Spring Breakers portrays a group of young college girls who fund their spring break by robbing a fast food restaurant.

Equipped with water pistols and masks with Britney Spears playing the background, the group is then placed in jail. Ultimately bailed out by a drug dealer named Alien (James Franco), they participate in three-somes, visit strip clubs, and get shot at by drug lords.

Although this film has a unique plot, it’s a bit too mature for college kids and yet too juvenile for adult audiences. Most moviegoers don’t mind occasional use of profanity or a gun here and there, but this film simply overdoes it with so much partying and action that it can feel overwhelming. If a movie was ever put on speed, then this film would be it. The plot is overwhelmed with all of the partying, violence, and loud music to make it feel like a watered down movie that tries too hard. Although most of the characters care about each other and will do anything to stick together, it’s hard to get to know each person in the film because the drug use, sexuality, and dancing seem to override any type of personality each of the girls has.

Spring Breakers is anything but an accurate representation of actual spring break for most college kids, making it unrelatable -- causing a strong disconnect for most viewers. After all, it’s difficult to believe that the girls would appear before a judge in bikinis before a drug dealer with cornrows and a grill walks in and bails them out. At times the film had good choices of music with Skrillex, but it is so loud and overbearing that it clashes with the flashes of light and crazy partying, as it closely resembles last year’s Project X. Perhaps the only noteworthy thing to mention of Spring Breakers is James Franco’s ability to transform into a drug dealer with a wife beater and plenty of tattoos. He looks the part and definitely plays it well, even for such a farfetched film.

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See You at the Movies

MOV IES

Starring Dwayne Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis One of the most anticipated films of 2013 was G.I. Joe: Retaliation, starring Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, and Bruce Willis. This action-packed film brought the goods with a talented cast and solid plot with plenty of action, humor, and a thrilling script. It undoubtedly had big shoes to fill and much to be expected by its audience as a sequel to G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra from 2009. It was also set to be released in 2012, and had fans anxiously waiting for a year for its release.

Appearing in 3D, G.I. Joe Retaliation the plot of the film can be hard to understand if the first movie hasn’t been seen first. A good amount of the script references back to the original film, without explaining a lot to first-time viewers. It is also easier to enjoy at times with comedic scenes and jokes incorporated into the characters, making the film more light-hearted than in prior years.

In this recent G.I. Joe film, the cast is fighting with their mortal enemy, Cobra, while also having to deal with recent threats of the government that complicate the plot for a thrilling experience that makes the ending unexpected.

Although the script is solid and characters definitely pull their weight in the film, the action is enough to make it worth your time and money. The choreography in the film is impressive and innovative, definitely original from prequels due to the director’s prior experience. It also is sequenced well with the soundtrack, making it exciting and enjoyable for a modern G.I. Joe experience that leaves you on the edge of your seat. This can be expected, considering the director, Jon M. Chu, made Step Up. Although there are key female characters in this film, don’t expect action-packed scenes from the women. The female roles seem to have been written into the script just to have a well-rounded cast. They don’t say anything too significant, nor do enough to have a strong impact on how the plot develops.

For those who are die-hard fans of prior G.I. Joe films, this recent addition lives up to much of the hype and is worth seeing for an exciting action-packed experience. Although it took longer to release than expected, it is worth the wait and delivers, making the next G.I. Joe film that much more anticipated.

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LITERA LLY

Book Reviews For the restless mind

The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 This collection of the New York Times bestselling series The Walking Dead, contains eight volumes of some of the most heart wrenching and blood-soaked zombie fiction ever to hit the shelves. This series is not for the very young or the faint of heart. Parental discretion is advised.

When it comes to creating life after the end of the world Robert Kirkman manages to create a place that has a look and feel that drags the reader right in to the same room as the “Biters�. The Walking Dead’s team brings yet another page turning chapter of this survival/horror series starting off with Rick Grimes fighting for survival after the prison raid.

The group, and handful of survivors who spend day-in and day-out scavenging for what they need to survive while trying to keep the ever present zombie hoards at bay, was quick to learn that man is still their own worst enemy.

After surviving the raid on the jail, and numerous other challenges from both the living and the dead, the group find a little solace in the Community. However, much like many of the characters in this beloved series, the solace is not long lived. Soon after getting a tiny taste of what could be the best that things get in the new world, that taste quickly goes sour as the group is faced, yet again, with tragedy that will have even the most stone-hearted people tearing up a bit.

The artwork, beautifully illustrated by Charlie Adlard and others, creates a grisly air that keeps the reader on edge, while leaving just enough unknown to cause a glance over the should if one happens to be reading it alone at night. Whether it is an urban wasteland teaming with undead, or one on one close encounter with a zombie in a room previously thought to be empty, this artistic team create a dark world that will envelop and excite the reader beyond anything that one could consider ink and paper capable of.

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LITERALLY

Book Reviews For the restless mind Inferno by Dan Brown Dan Brown -- author of The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and The Lost Symbol -- will release his newest novel, Inferno, on May 14, 2013. It will be published by Doubleday in the U.S., and Transworld Publishers in the U.K. Though fans learned Brown was working on something new last year, he has (until recently) remained very secretive about the details of the new book. However, Brown’s fans are just as drawn to solving puzzles as he is, so speculation and investigation abound. With the recent release of the title and book cover, the pieces are starting to come together.

Titled Inferno, Brown’s latest offering surrounds, as the title would suggest, Dante’s eponymous epic poem. The book will be the fourth to follow the protagonist, symbologist Robert Langdon, as he solves new mysteries in (presumably, see below) Florence, Italy, where Dante lived and wrote. The plot of the novel will center on the poem, and contain Brown’s characteristic riddles and puzzles. Also, on Amazon’s listing, there is mention of a “chilling adversary” and history-altering implications to the success or failure of Langdon’s work.

There will be Dan Brown’s usual blending of the ancient and the future, the arcane and the scientific, the spiritual and the material.

The most (and pretty much only) information regarding the novel can be found in the clues on the book jacket, photos of which were released on February 20th. There is a picture of Dante’s head in the center with circles behind him representing the nine levels of Hell. There is also a shot of Florence revealed through a sort of burnt-up, torn piece of paper. As I mentioned above, fans are foaming with anticipation about what the cover symbols represent.

Responses to Dan Brown’s latest work are likely to be as polarized as they have been in the past. His fans gobble the action and intrigue up, while his critics bemoan the blurring of the line between fact and fiction. Scholar’s are showing concern that Inferno will do for Dante what The Da Vinci Code did for Jesus (i.e., bring marginalized, or even settled, arguments back on the table). The public is geared up for another enthralling read, while scholars are bracing themselves for a season of frustration. Either way, it is going to be a long wait.

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usayeditor@gmail.com

U AROUND TOWN

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U AROUND TOWN

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