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IN THIS ISSUE: MELANIE PARSONS BRAVELY SHARES HER STORY
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TRIBE magazine
CASSANDRA LOON
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FROM STATISTIC TO SUCCESS
* * LEGENDS * REVIEWS GAME
HALLOWEEN FICTION MUSIC CHARTS
Free Vol. 9 Issue 6 OCTOBER 2010 Now Available online www.newtribemagazine.ca
NEW TRIBE
NOTEBOOK from*the*editor Hello New Tribe Readers, Welcome to the October issue of New Tribe Magazine. It’s a transition month in many ways as the weather reminds us that summer is over, colder weather is coming, and a time for change is fast approaching. I’m happy to report that USAY and New Tribe, have finally completed the move to our new location. Check out the new address listed and make plans to come to our open house happening later on this month. The October issue tackles many issues such as overcoming racial barriers, personal tragedy, and tips on how to prepare for the upcoming new season. On a personal note I would like to say how brave I think Melanie Parsons is to share her story with all of our readers. Here is someone that took a horrifying experience and moved forward to live her life in a positive and life affirming manner. I’m proud to know her and honored she used New Tribe to spread her message of growth and learning.
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NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
Need updates on upcoming USAY and New Tribe Magazine events? Feel free to search us out on Face book and join our growing friends list. We post upcoming events, submission requirements and deadlines, and fun stuff like upcoming movie nights and book clubs. It is also a great place to comment on stories or articles you wish to see in our upcoming issues. Do you have an opinion on this issue of New Tribe magazine? Good, bad, or ugly send in your thoughts and we will print it in the letters section. We are currently looking for freelance designers to work on everything from magazine layout, to creating posters and advertisements. Contact editor for more information.(Experience required) Spread the word, and stay true to it. John Medeiros Managing Editor
Calgary’s Aboriginal Youth Monthly editor@newtribemagazine.ca Managing Editor John Medeiros New Tribe Intern Ritchie Hairy Bull Graphic Design Aboriginal Design Group Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth Suite 1109, 615 Macleod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2G 4T8 403.233.8225 Executive Director LeeAnne Sicker Program Manager Rachel Paris Executive Assistant Jessica Hawryluk Board of Directors President Jesse Halton Vice-President Amanda Gonet Treasurer Sarena Provost Secretary Cheryl Hanley Directors Ryan Willert Cherokee Blood 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.
Special Thanks to our Community Partners & Funders
CONTENTS
9
34
24 OCTOBER
COVER STORY CASSANDRA LOON
4
NEWS BRIEFS
14 19 HEALTH
5 WWW.USAY.CA
20
COVER FEATURE
7 WHAT’S GOING ON?
23
STAYING WARM
9 TRIBE ART
24
OUR STORY
10 FICTION
28
LEADERSHIP
12 ON THE TABLE
29
GAME REVIEWS
14 COMMUNITY
31
MUSIC REVIEW
16 HALLOWEEN
33
LEGENDS
18 COOL JOBS
35
KICKS FOR KIDS
PHOTO BY JOHN MEDEIROS
NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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NEWS*BRIEFS
Aboriginal Happenings From Across Canada Movie director commits legal, financial support to Aboriginals
Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation confirmed that Cameron had agreed to help in whatever way he could, including financially.
FORT CHIPEWYAN Ð Canadian-born director James Cameron agreed Tuesday to help aboriginal communities in legal action against the provincial and federal governments to stop waterborne pollution from the oilsands.
Adam said it wasnÕ t determined whether that assistance would be a direct contribution to the legal action or if he would help fundraise for it.
The director, famous for movies such as Avatar and Titanic, met with community leaders and residents in Fort Chipewyan. The small town of 1,200 has been complaining for years about unusual rates of cancer and other illnesses among residents. The majority believe the disease is caused by air and water pollution from oilsands development, which they say also contaminates the wild foods they eat.
When asked after the meetings what his long-term commitment to the issue was, Cameron said: “Until it’s fixed.” He said heÕ ll do what it takes. “The next step is get to the problem, talk to the premier about it tomorrow, talk to government about it tomorrow and then follow up. Follow up with the non-profits, follow up with the leaders that came with me today and with the leaders here in Fort Chip and just stay on it.” SOURCE - EDMONTON JOURNAL
The provincial government has denied the industry has any negative impacts on downstream communities.
Aboriginal history urged for schools
Cameron met with aboriginal leaders from the area Tuesday afternoon in a private meeting closed to the media and the public. After the meeting, Chief Allan
OTTAWA Ð The chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission wants the provinces to incorporate a history of CanadaÕ s aboriginal people and the
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NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
residential schools tragedy into school curriculums. “It was through the residential experience that we got to this point, it is through the education system we will get out,” Manitoba Justice Murray Sinclair testified Tuesday before a Senate committee. On the same day he warned not enough time or money has been set aside to get his job done, Sinclair talked about his education prescription, saying aboriginal students will fare much better if they grow up knowing their own history and non-aboriginal students will fare better if they grow up understanding the aboriginal history. Ò It is not an aboriginal problem. This is a problem all the people of Canada need to address,” said Sinclair. Manitoba has had a curriculum requirement on residential schools in high school for several years but this fall, a new teacherÕ s resource kit is being piloted in four provincial high schools to help give more teachers the knowledge and confidence to teach the unit well. SOURCE - WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
What’s Going On? OCTOBER,2010 Oct 4 Calgary YMCA Drum and Dance Calgary, AB Radisson Park School Time: 6-8 pm 2805 Radcliffe Drive S.E. Oct 12 - Oct 17 WordFest Calgary, AB www.wordfest.com/ Oct 15 - 17 Dream Catcher Youth Conference Edmonton, AB www.dreamcatcher.macewan. ca/ Oct 15 - Oct 17 Calgary Tattoo & Arts Festival Calgary, AB www.calgarytattoos.com Oct 18 Election Day Calgary, AB Oct 20 - 24 ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Toronto, ON www.imaginenative.org
Oct 21 Coheed & Cambria in Concert Calgary, AB MacEwan Hall Oct 23 Halloween Howl Calgary, AB Eau Claire Oct 27 - Oct 30 Heritage Park After Dark Calgary, AB Heritage Park Historic Village Oct 29 Aboriginal Music Festival and Career Fair Saskatoon, SK www.extension.usask.ca Oct 31 Halloween Calgary, AB
Calgary Flames
0/10/2010 06:00 PM Los Angeles Kings @ Calgary Flames 10/14/2010 07:00 PM Florida Panthers @ Calgary Flames 10/16/2010 08:00 PM Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames 10/24/2010 06:00 PM San Jose Sharks @ Calgary Flames 10/26/2010 07:00 PM Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames 10/28/2010 07:00 PM Colorado Avalanche @ Calgary Flames 10/30/2010 08:00 PM Washington Capitals @ Calgary Flames
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
0/01/2010 07:00 PM Montreal Alouettes @ Calgary Stampeders 10/22/2010 08:00 PM BC Lions @ Calgary Stampeders 10/29/2010 08:00 PM Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Calgary Stampeders
Calgary YMCA Rec night Every Tuesday 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
If you have an event youÕ 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 NOVEMBER issue: OCTOBER 25
NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
7
TRIBE * POETRY The Room
Misery.
The cold surrounds me
Misery’s cold. Misery tears at your heart and soul. You try avoiding pain,
darkness embedded in my thoughts
pushing it all away to the back of your mind.
I am alone
How long can you hide the tears and pain before it consumes you?
floating aimlessly
Why can’t you just let go and leave it all behind?
I reach for sparks of hope
Memories seem to guide your heart into pain’s tight grasp.
but rather than warm
Sometimes you can’t breathe when you think of it all again.
they only burn
God, there must be better days beyond this rain.
I ache with the past miseries
The fog seems too thick to find hope.
yearning to move forward without despise
Where did it go wrong and why couldn’t things be better?
hiding behind this smile, disguised
Where’s the strength to pull though?
and my memories are painful
The suffering is deep, your mind is a bag of shit.
a thousand torches ever burning
Your tears are stinging pelts of hard ice.
tearing away at the joyful times
You hate, you burn with madness, you ache with sadness.
I hunger to leave
You thought you could push it away forever.
to escape
But there it stands, all your burdens, in front of you.
to leave this prison
Never ending it seems, never leaving you alone.
I crave to be free
.............
to be heard
There’s gotta be more to life.
to be loved
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Jody Leigh Pacey
NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
TRIBE*art
KEEGAN STARLIGHT NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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FICTION
PRIORITIES TODAY, JUST LIKE EVERYDAY: tHiS iS hApPeNiNg A lOt MoRe ThEsE dAySÉ Then it/s over. One minute he/s doing that, the next he/s just fine. And it/s back to work. Running in the walk-in coolerÉ putting the meat in the display fridgeÉ helping the customersÉ then do it again. No challenge really, he finds himself full of extra time. But it just bothers him more each minute, then he just has one of those moments again. His back just aches, and from the knees to his toes it/s even worse. (Ò I need another smoke. My lungs hurt, but this is too much!”) So he steps out for a moment, even though it/s between his breaks. He deserves it. Those people he works with don/t really do as much as him on a shift. Just shopping for themselves, avoiding the customers, passing the work onto him, doing nothing at all really. So he deserves to step outside, have a quick dart, cough out a pile of phlegm, then go back to putting in an extra effort he doesn/t want to. He still does it everyday, and he gives it his best. Still when he goes in the boss has that stern look on his face “Andy!” “Uh… yeah Harvey” Ò I need my shift covered on Wednesday.” “Yeah for sure. I could use the cash.” Harvey changes the schedule, then glares at Andy. Ò I thought your break was in an hour, dammit!”
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NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
Ò Yeah I just had a cigarette. Not much to do at the minute and-” “I don/t care GET T’WORK!” So Andy just zipped right back to the sales floor. (“That was nice. As soon as I help the old man out, he turns on me.”) Time for him to just wander around the sales floor, looking for anything to do. Sure enough, here comes some guy he doesn/t want to talk to. Ò WHAT THÕ HELL/S AMATTA WITH YOU GUYS?” “Sorry?” Ò AW HELL THESE ROLLS! They were 60 cents last week, now they/re 95!” So the guy just howls more & more at him. Andy just stands there as he usually does. Explains he isn/t the one who made prices, but it doesn/t help at all. Guy has to give in his mind, then he storms off and buys it anyways. ThErE iT iS aGaIn, ThAt WaVe Of FaTiGuE & dRoWsInEsS. hE/s NoT bLiNdEd, BuT hIs ViSiOn/S bLuRrEd OuT. hE cAn/T tAlK, cAn/T tHiNk, HaRdLy CaN bElIeVe He/S sTaNdInG uP, bUt It SeEmS hE/s EvEn WaLkInG. iNsIdE hIs SkUlL hIs bRaIn FeElS lIkE iT/s ElEcTrOcUtInG iTsElF. tHiS mOstLy SeEmS tO HaPpEn At WoRk. Then he just snaps out of it again. Back to work, Andy has another hour before his next break. 8 YEARS EARLIER: “Andy! Stay awake in my class!” He opened his eyes, blinked twice. The class laughed at him, he knew he deserved it. The teacher went on with his lesson, and Andy knew to stay up this time. It was just so tough because of those late nights.
By Joe E. Ironstand
He was washing dishes until 1:30am, then he fell asleep at 4am, now he was in class, he/d be back at work for 6 that night. He didn/t want to be working full-time like this, he was only 16 and nobody else his age worked this much. But still Andy felt good to help Mom get those bills paid, he felt like man of the house feeding his brothers & sisters. (Ò Wow. Going to class isn/t easy these days. I haven/t even been here all week, and there/s only one other class I haven/t been kicked outta yet.”) Andy was going home to sleep before his shift after this class. No sense in waiting until the last class of the day, just to crash out there too. Time went on until it was finally 11am. But as he was leaving, the teacher pulled Andy aside. “Can I talk to you, Andy?” Ò Yeah Mr. Grant. Look, I know I shouldn/t/ve been crashing out on the desk like that.” Ò We/ll worry about that later. Here/s your assignments from... a while ago!” Andy looked through his work, Ò Nice they/re all 80 & 90 percents. That/ll help out my grades.” Ò But you missed the test for the algebra unit, now you missed mosta the unit we/re working on now. That/s why you/re failing. You don/t hafta get bad grades, I/ve known you since you were 12.” Ò I know it/s just... just not so easy these days.” Ò I should dismiss you from this course with your attendance record. I think you can do it so I/ll make you a deal: come in tomorrow, you can write the test, keep coming in and you can stay
FICTION in this course. Otherwise, I have to send you off.” After thinking about it Andy looked at Mr. Grant and shook hands with the man, Ò It/s a deal, thanks for the last chance Mr. Grant” It was a deal, because Andy knew that it was his last time coming to this class. He had his priorities, and sacrifices had to be made. Now he wanted to go home & sleep. aS hE lEfT iT hApPeNeD fOr ThE fIrSt TiMe ThAt DaY... TODAY, AFTER WORK: Finally home. There/s those thugs hanginÕ out in front of my building again. Oh well, they know who I am, don/t gimme trouble, and I/m used to them. “How was work man?” “Same old, not great, not horrible.” Ò Come work for me! You/ll make 400 bucks a day!” “Haha!” Well I still got something to say for myself. Never took the easy way, been working like a man since I was a kid. Soon enough those guys will get
busted or shot, like their friends who aren/t withem anymore. Aw man, this hallway stinks again, someone pissed in here. Right next door there/s another drunken fight, gonna be screaminÕ all night again. Well, at least it/s not in the halls this time. Oh, that/s nice. A buncha collection notices under my door again. Let/s see here, 250 plus late fees, 80 bucks, well this weeks cheque looks spoken for. There goes my stomach noises again, got nothing much here. Better call Kayla, she/ll swipe me some food from Mom/s. Ò Hey sis, uh doya think you can bring me like somethin’ to eat?” “Aw, you got no food again?”... Good ole Kayla, I teller I/m hungry and she/s here in 20 minutes, Ò Thanks sis.” Ò Mom said you can come over for dinner, or get nothing.” Ò Aw hell, what does she want from me? She threw me outta the house when I was a year younger than you. Can barely afford this.” Ò She lets me stay cuz I/m in college.
You didn/t even finish Grade 10.” Ò You made it, cuz I busted my ass off to take care of you guys!” She knows that, I wish Mom did too. Who needs this after today, Ò How/s the office job?” Ò Great, gettinÕ myself up there y’know.” Well that makes me smile a bit, she don/t need to work like a dog just tÕ get hollered at and be all poor. “Here Andy, take 40 bucks.” This is embarrassing, I/ll take it but she brings me food and cash like this all the time. Gotta go to the bathroom. oH nO! sToOd Up WaY tOo FaSt. NoW iT fEeLs WoRsE tHaN iT eVeR dId. ThAt BrIgHt LiGhT iN tHe cAn SuRe DoN/t HeLp. WeLl, ThIs TiMe I/m GoNnA dRoP dOwN & cOlLaPsE. bEeN wAiTiNg FoR, yEaRs AnD i KnEw It/D cOmE tO tHiS... ...So Andy opens the bathroom door by leaning into it, and falling down. He twitches a bit, and his head smacks the floor a couple of times as Kayla shouts, “Are you okay?”
NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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FLAVOR
On the Table Elodie Caron Roast Chicken and Gravy Unlike turkeys, which are usually so huge and dense that they need to be in the oven all day, chickens can be cooked in a couple of hours, making them easy enough for a middle of the week dinner. If you’re cooking a 2 - 3 pound bird, for example, itÕ s going to take between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. For 5 - 6 pounds, youÕ re looking at about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. ThatÕ s if you donÕ t stuff them. If you stuff them, or they’re pre-stuffed, add at least an extra 20 minutes roasting time, to ensure that the stuffing is cooked all the way through. Being inside a raw chicken, the stuffing is exposed to the uncooked meat, and needs to be thoroughly heated. Before you stuff the chicken or put it in the oven, you need to check the inside of the bird to make sure there are no organs inside. Butchers usually package these in small paper bags, for people who want to use them in stuffing. If you’re not using them, toss them. Now that that’s out of the way, it’s time for seasoning. You can put the bird in the oven as is, but you gain a lot of flavor if you take a few minutes to rub some herbs and spices over the outside of the chicken. Rosemary and sage (the eating kind, not the burning kind) are especially good with chicken, and a squeeze of lemon juice helps the flavors absorb. If you want a juicy bird, carefully pull up the skin of the breast and rub some butter directly on the meat. This will baste as itÕ s roasting, giving you a dark, crispy skin and tender meat. And yes, I do know how that sounded, letÕ s just pretend weÕ re grown-ups about this, shall we? Anyway, about the gravy: To make a good gravy, you need pan juices and a thickening agent. When youÕ re roasting the chicken, add about 2 - 3 cups of water (or more as needed, some will evaporate in the oven) and scrape the pan to make sure you get all of the good stuff thatÕ s stuck to the bottom.The water will also be useful for basting, which is just pouring liquid over the top of the bird every 20 minutes or so as itÕ s roasting. About half an hour before the chicken is done, separate about 3/4 of the liquid and set in a pot on the counter, to cool off. When you’re ready to make the gravy, measure about 2 - 3 tablespoons of flour into a jar or airtight container. Season the flour, this is very important, because you want your gravy to actually taste like something. A little pepper, maybe another pinch of rosemary, even some oregano or parsley. Add a small amount of salt, maybe an 1/8 teaspoon, not a lot, you can always add more if you need it but you canÕ t take any out if itÕ s too much. Into the flour, pour about a 1/2 cup of hot water. Put the lid on, make sure it’s tight, and shake it until the flour is blended into the water, with no lumps. You can do this is an open bowl with a whisk, but itÕ s more fun to shake. Put the pot of pan drippings onto the stove on medium-low heat, and add about half the flour mixture. Stir it continuously, until the flour is incorporated and the gravy is starting to thicken. If it’s not thick enough, add more flour, and taste it to see if you need more salt. If it starts to boil, turn down the heat and keep stirring. Once itÕ s at the right consistency and taste, you can turn the heat to a low setting and let it sit until itÕ s time to eat. Make sure to stir it every once in a while, to avoid a skin forming on top. And thatÕ s about it.You know how chickenÕ s served, with some mashed potatoes and veggies, a little bread and butter on the side, whatever. Just do it like you do and enjoy.
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NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
FLAVOR
On the Table
NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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COMMUNITY
Calgary Stampede’s 2011 Indian Princess Meet newly-crowned jingle dress dancer, Eva Meguinis
story and photo by Andrea Tombrowski Congratulations to Eva Meguinis, a member of the Tsuu TÕ ina tribe, who was crowned Calgary StampedeÕ s 2011 Indian Princess on September 26th at the Carriage House Inn in Calgary. As Indian Princess, it will be EvaÕ s responsibility to act as a positive youth model for the Tribes of Treaty 7 of southern Alberta, and for native women and culture throughout the next year. Just as importantly, this young woman will also act as a goodwill ambassador for the Calgary Stampede and serve as its official representative of Indian Village. Indian Village has been an integral part of the Calgary Stampede since 1912. Throughout the ten days of Stampede, the village, which is located at the south end of Stampede Park, allows visitors from around the world to experience First Nations culture and traditions firsthand - through pow wows, native dancing, meat-cutting demonstrations, and dozens of tipis in which native life, as it once was, is re-enacted. Appropriately enough, MeguinisÕ family has been involved with Indian Village for over twenty-five years. Jackie Meguinis, EvaÕ s mother, spoke with New Tribe after her daughter was crowned. Ò ItÕ s a great honour for our family,” she says. Jackie is excited to tell her father-in-law about EvaÕ s achievement, adding, Ò my late mother-in-law would be so proud of her.” There is a judicious process each candidate must go through before a new princess is crowned. It begins with an application submitted to the Calgary Stampede Indian Princess sub-committee. This yearÕ s seven-member, allfemale sub-committee included past alumni of Stampede royalty, an elder advisor, and members of StampedeÕ s Indian Events committee. The application form for the Indian Princess program includes an essay question, and the names of three references must be provided. Basic criteria must also be met. The youth woman must be a member of one of the tribes of Treaty 7 (Siksika, Tsuu TÕ ina, Nakoda, Piikani and Kainai Nations); be between 18-24 years old; be single, never married; have no children; and hold a Grade 12 diploma, or be working towards one. Successful candidates then attend a one-day orientation. Any candidate who is unable to attend the orientation is disqualified. During orientation, candidates are informed of the royalty process, participate in a public speaking workshop, and partake in a team-building exercise with sub-committee members. Two weeks later, the candidates participate in a pageant weekend which culminates with the crowning on Sunday.
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COMMUNITY This yearÕ s pageant weekend took place on September 25 and 26 at the Carriage House Inn. On Saturday morning, the four candidates were judged on their horsemanship skills (marking the first time this aspect has been a part of the competition). The event took place at the Harry Dodginghorse Memorial Agri-plex on Tsuu TÕ ina Nation, southwest of Calgary. After the three-hour assessment, the young women attended a luncheon with subcommittee members. After a busy afternoon, the ladies took part in a mix-and-mingle event in the evening which included sponsors of the Indian Princess program, along with several silent judges who scored the ladies on their social skills. Each candidate introduced themselves to the gathering and presented an impromptu speech at one point during the evening. The four candidates stayed in the hotel overnight, along with a chaperone that was provided for their safety. Ò We donÕ t want anything to happen (to the young women), no matter where they are,” said Gaylene Weasle Child, chair of the Calgary Stampede Indian Princess sub-committee. Ò Because in First Nations cultures, our youths are our future. And we take great pride in them.” After breakfast the next morning, each candidate took part in a personal interview with the pageantÕ s panel of judges. The nine-member panel included representation from each tribe of Treaty 7, along with reps from the Calgary Stampede and the Indian Events and Stampede Royalty committees. After the interviews, the women had lunch with the judges, followed by a special two-hour pageant. During the pageant, each candidate presented a five-minute prepared speech (on
a topic which was given during orientation), made a short impromptu speech, and demonstrated her dancing skills through two songs. Singing and drumming were provided for the dancing presentations, and throughout the entire pageant, by the Broken Knife Singers, a four-member musical group from Tsuu TÕ ina Nation. It is interesting to note that all four candidates of the 2011 Indian Princess competition were from the Tsuu TÕ ina tribe. In fact, it is quite atypical to have all the candidates from the same tribe. The 2011 Indian Princess candidates were: Eva Meguinis (2011 Indian Princess and winner of Miss Congeniality), Amber Big Plume (2011 Indian Princess runner-up), Nidaan Crowchild, and Alanna Onespot. The crowning of Eva marked the end of the reign of the 2010 Indian Princess, Sahvanne Weasel Traveller, member of the Piikani First Nation near Pincher Creek. Before handing over the title, Sahvanne shared her experience as Indian Princess to the capacity crowd Ð which comprised of family, friends, Stampede royalty, Stampede representatives, and numerous other spectators. In July, shortly after this yearÕ s Stampede & Exhibition, Sahvanne wrote in her Stampede blog: Ò Calgary Stampede 2010 was the most exciting time I have experienced. Nothing could have prepared me for the ten days of celebration. I met hundreds of people at the many events I attendedÉ The most exciting event was the celebration of dances, ceremonies and tea gathering at the Indian Village. I was so proud to represent the First Nations people as I was at these Indian Village events.” In a later blog entry, on September 14th, Sahvanne reflected on her year as Indian Princess: Ò My reign as 2010 Calgary Stampede Indian Princess has
been an unforgettable experience filled with adventure and excitement. The year has definitely had a positive impact on my personal growth and maturity. I am very happy with my contribution towards the Calgary Stampede and the Indian Village.” She continues: Ò Twelve months ago, I was unsure what I was stepping into as Indian Princess but now that the year is over, I have gained a new understanding of my world. The royalty program prepared me with great leadership and public speaking training – I feel confident stepping into the world as a mature young lady. It was such a wonderful and humbling experience to represent the Indian Village and the First Nation people of the Treaty 7 area.” By the way Ð on a slightly different note – have you noticed the official poster of the 2011 Calgary Stampede yet? It is a vibrant depiction of a Native dancer in costume. Michael Casey, vice-chairman of the StampedeÕ s board of directors, was inspired by the 2010 Indian Princess pageant, which lead to a Native dancer being featured on next year’s official poster. The poster was painted by Calgary sculptor and painter, Vilem Zach, also in attendance at SundayÕ s event. This is the first time a female is the central (and, in this case, only) figure on a Stampede poster. There is little doubt that the experience of being the Calgary StampedeÕ s Indian Princess is an immensely rewarding experience. Eva tells New Tribe that she is looking forward to being the best leader she can be Ò for myself, the Calgary Stampede, and my community.” Good luck to Miss Meguinis throughout this next year and congratulations to all four candidates who represented themselves and their tribe so well in this yearÕ s competition. NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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FICTION
THE SCAVENGER HUNT HALLOWEEN FICTION The eighth grade students of Grissom Middle School were excited about the upcoming Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Twenty-five students would dress in a distinctive Halloween costume. The guideline for costumes was that it had to coordinate with their townÕ s most illustrious historical figures. The students spent a lot of time in the museum on class trips and were familiar with most of the exhibits. Everyone knew the museum curator, Annabelle Morton. She had been curator of the Henry L. Talbot museum nearly from the day she finished college. Now in her seventies, she knew the museum like the back of her hand. She knew town history and the museumÕ s namesake, Henry L. Talbot, a graduate of the class of 1848. Twenty-five students were placed in groups of 5 students. They were charged with the duties of finding 10 items on the list provided by their
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NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
teacher, Mrs. Minson. They were to find all 10 items inside the museum and they had just two hours to do it. Mrs. Minson watched students studying their lists. Annabelle Morton handed each group a map of the museum plotted out by various areas of the room. The students knew Henry L. Talbot was a very important, wealthy copper magnate who went mysteriously missing two months after the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929. The museum was TalbotÕ s gift to the town in 1899. A huge portrait of Talbot looked down from the center wall like a night watchman. His only stipulation was that all of the museum displays and contents must be related to the town he established in 1854 which he named Talberta, a name that combined the familyÕ s last name and his only daughter, Alberta’s, first name.
Alberta TalbotÕ s debutante ball gown was donated by her to the museum before she died. She had three brothers, Hugh, James and Bernard all of whom inherited the business along with the family fortune. Alberta, as town rumors told, died of “heartbreak” when her Civil War soldier lover jilted her and she flung herself from a widowÕ s walk at the Talbot Mansion. Many visitors to the museum often told of odd feelings of being watched whenever they passed AlbertaÕ s gown. Others were certain old TalbotÕ s eyes followed them from the portrait hung over the museumÕ s entry door. Others thought they saw things moving about or lights coming from the museum windows long after it was closed and shuttered for the night. Annabelle Morton always attributed it to “vivid imagination”. Until the
FICTION
“Go check again,” she said impatiently. night twenty-five students dressed in various costumes depicting Alberta, her father, Civil War lover, her brothers and other prominent figures of the town’s earlier history. There was the mayor in 1930 who went fishing from the nearby walking bridge and drowned. The copper mill workers who died in the Talbot copper mill fire in 1947 and the ethereal wife of Henry L. Talbot, Hermione, who never mingled with townspeople and was rarely seen.
wasnÕ t so sure it would be all that easy.
The students began to hunt for the items on their lists. Mrs. Minson wisely categorized the items so the first three were relatively easy to find, the next five more difficult and the last two the most difficult. Annabelle Morton was uneasy about teenagers roaming freely about the museum. The map she provided divided the museum into four sectors with the north sector containing display cases, the east sector, artifacts, the south sector, Talberta historical documents and the west sector, a historical library. That should keep these children fairly well contained and easier to observe, she thought.
Ò Brendan, go ask Mrs. Morton if itÕ s been removed from the cabinet before we decide itÕ s as missing as old Talbot himself,” Lexy Watkins said. Lexy was designated captain of Group 5 as Mrs. Minson instructed the groups to do.
Mrs. Minson had several rewards prepared for the winning team. A scavenger hunt in the museum would help them learn more about Talberta as well as team work. Ò It appears your students are not having much trouble finding their way around. My map is a big help,” Annabelle said, rather pleased with her accomplishment. Mrs. Minson
Team #1 and 3 found all but their last two items. Team #2 and 4 were still searching for four of theirs. Only team #5 seemed to be in a dither and unable to find the very last item on their list: The newspaper account of Henry L. TalbotÕ s disappearance. They gathered around the archive files which should have included an aged brown newspaper specially preserved in an air tight cabinet.
Brendan walked toward Annabelle MortonÕ s desk. Ò Mrs. Morton, the last item on our list is the newspaper account of Henry TalbotÕ s disappearance. It isnÕ t in the cabinet,” he said. “Well, it must be there,” she responded. Ò Oh no. We checked at the front and back of the cabinet in case it slipped somehow. It isn’t there,” he answered. Impudent boy, Annabelle Morton thought. Not too bright either. It has to be in that cabinet. No one removed it or signed it out for review recently. Ò Go check again,” she said impatiently. Ò Mrs. Morton said we have to check again,” Brendan reported. They opened the cabinet. Then, Lexy noticed a false bottom. “Hey
look at this! It’s false bottom,” she said. Several of the others in the group gathered around her. Ò Well? ArenÕ t you going to open it? The newspaper might have fallen in there somehow,” Brendan said. Lexy carefully lifted the edge. All of the students in Group 5 gasped in horror. A skeleton! In a suit and cravat! Hearing the commotion, Annabelle Morton sighed heavily, rising from her desk. The other four groups and Mrs. Minson hurried to see what happened. Annabelle Morton peered into the cabinet. Then, she turned ghostly pale. There in the false bottom of the cabinet was old Henry Talbot with the newspaper resting in his hands. Mrs. Minson gathered the group of costumed students together and herded them to the front area of the museum. Ò Now students, we must board the bus back to school grounds and your parents,” she said, calmly directing them to the museum’s exit. Ò Mrs. Morton, you should call the police. This is quite an eventful Halloween,” Mrs. Minson advised. Annabelle Morton was in a state of shock. All this time Henry L. Talbot has been right here in the museum, she thought. She dialed the number for the Talberta police as if in a dream. She watched the bus load of children leave the parking lot. Ò Mrs. Minson? Does this mean Group 5 is the winner?”, Brendan asked.
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COOL JOBS PROFILE
Ritchie Sr. ChiefCalf GAPS Analysis Coordinator: For the Blood Tribe Department of Health Words from Ritchie : If we learn to use our obstacles to an advantage and not let these worries become more worries, it would seem we would all be at a level of balance in our lives. It Came to pass as all descendants of Alcoholics we cannot control our spirit of social interludes. As my father could not and his father also, I am not supposed to faltered in controlling the consumption of good times ale. I almost lost everything, my wife and children; I did lose my job before I realized I would never win unless I realized running from problems was only keeping me down. According to our creator, I had to put to rest Blaming Others and circumstances to why I overdid substance abuse. Learn from your mistakes and behave like man and do what is right. I asked my children what you expect of me, the rest I should already know, and then I asked my wife for forgiveness and stated I would be there for her and the kids. Funny how other obstacles suddenly appear after you by pass the easy ones. I was diagnosed with bone cancer; this was rough on the spouse and the kids. Finally they have a responsible husband and loving father, and now he may die. I had to fight, I could not afford to lay down and give-up, I took the treatments and went into remission. For 15 years. During that time I decided to get educated. UI enrolled into college and received my diploma, then my degree, later my Masters and now my Doctorate. I work modestly and effectively towards goals, and dreams are my catalyst. We Dream for a better life, dream for happiness, and dream till we have the inner strength to obtain our dreams. Obstacle after obstacle towards my dreams, like I had to pay for my own education and
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fully payback the government for all the loans I made. I had to overcome racism, buy ignoring it. I had to learn to live with a bad heart obtained by chemo and diabetes. Then I lost My Right leg to cancer in 2007. Learning to walk all over again. My wife and kids crying after seeing me learn to walk again, with a prosthetic limb. Its funny finding joy in the midst of dilemma. Now I plan to write more books and pass this story of mine so that in hoping it may help other to find Joy and Hope during times when our lives are in dismay. Could you believe it , that if I had not received Cancer, I may have died from Drunk Driving 27 years ago.
What is your job title ? (Where do you work?) GAPS Analysis Coordinator: For the Blood Tribe Department of Health I also am a Professor for the Lethbridge Community College and Program coordinator for the University of Lethbridge What does your job consist of? Research towards service delivery and expectations of the Blood Tribe Palliative Care Center: I teach Blackfoot Linguistics, and promote and recruit students for the University of Lethbridge. What sort of education do you need to get into this type of work? I hold a Diploma in Administrative Management, and a degree in Administrative Mgt, and a Masters in Adult education, and a Doctorate in HR Mgt. And also a vast Knowledge to the Blackfoot way of life and history in the Plains IndianÕ s of the Canada and the US.
How long have you been doing this job? I started Teaching in 2003 but I have been doing research for the past ten years. Why did you get into this type of work? I love reading and I love to find things out, I am good at finding information. What is your favorite thing about your job? I get to do what I love doing. What advice do you have for any other youth interested in this position? Get involved with what interests you or you may never find happiness in any job you find. How important do you think aboriginal youth need role models like yourself in today’s world? Very important, our young and restless need to know that people have successfully molded their way of life to where they want to be. Do you have any favourite saying or wise sayings, or words of wisdom you have for your readers? Pay before you play. Life makes it what we will it to be, if you Do Alcohol and drugs do not expect a health lifestyle and rosy mornings every day. If you work hard and make a lot of money and make no time for friends and family then you should expect to be alone all the time. But if you love yourself, and plan your life towards training for the career you love and open your spare time to love ones you then can expect rosy mornings surrounded by loved ones.
HEALTH
Raw Foods: Can They Benefit Us? Jolene Frayne-Callihoo Many of you have heard or recently switched to the raw foods diet. For those of you who who donÕ t yet have a clear understanding of what a Ò raw food” diet is, I will explain the basics. So, what is the raw food diet all about? A raw foods diet consists of unprocessed raw vegan foods that have not been heated above 46 degrees Celsius. Nutritionists and Dieticians believe that foods cooked above this temperature lose their enzymes, a significant amount of nutritional value, and are not beneficial to the body, whereas uncooked foods provide living enzymes and proper nutrition. There are many benefits to eating raw foods including: weight loss, increased energy, clear skin, improved digestion and improved overall health. The raw diet has seen an increase in popularity in recent years with raw food restaurants opening in several major cities such as Raw Bar located at Hotel Arts here in Calgary. They also include cooked foods as well. Raw foods can substantially increase the benefit of one’s health. It has been known for many years that raw foods contain essential enzymes and carry a higher nutritional value than cooked foods which can help to prolong life. What do raw ‘foodists’ eat? A raw food diet includes: all raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, sprouts, roots, root vegetables and squashes, fresh herbs and raw spices, and seaweeds. The raw foods diet includes foods in their
unprocessed and uncooked state and omits most other foods. Raw Ô foodistsÕ also drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices and most people include a limited amount of foods that have undergone some processing, as long as the processing involves does not involve heating the food over 46 degrees Celsius. Some of these processed raw foods include: cold pressed oils, raw nut butters, Raw nut “milks”, pure maple syrup, dried fruits and vegetables, vinegars and foods cured in vinegar, etc..
lose excess fat is to eat lower calorie foods that are high in nutrients. Half the struggle to losing weight are cravings for bad foods as well as the sense of constant hunger and feeling deprived. When foods high in nutrients are absorbed into the body, the body starts to transform into a more Ô pureÕ state and hunger tends to decrease as well as cravings for bad foods such as junk, processed, fast, and overcooked foods
There is some debate as to whether certain items are in fact, truly raw and thus suitable for a raw foods diet, and many people prefer to exclude some processed foods from their diet, even though they may be raw. If you are preparing food for others, its best to err on the side of caution, and prepare a dish that you know is 100% raw, such as a salad or fruit dish.
Myth: You need to eat 100% raw foods and nothing else in order to get the benefits of the raw food diet.
Raw foods for weight loss Eating a raw diet does many positive things for your body. One of the main things that people consider when the hear about the raw food diet is weight loss. So, is it true? Can we lose weight by sticking to the consumption of a raw food diet? The answer is yes and no. The reason for this is because the person consuming the diet needs to control calories and portion size along with a raw food diet to obtain optimal weight loss results. After this, they will be on the right path to a visible change in how they look and feel. The easiest way to
Common Myths:
You can still eat other foods but in order to obtain all the benefits of a raw food diet, about 90% should contain raw foods. Myth: Everything you eat on the raw foods diet will be cold. No way!!! Just as long as the food does not go over 46 degrees Celsius, you can still have warm raw foods. Myth: The raw food diet is more expensive than other diets. Just as long as you know how to bargain and find deals properly, this should be just like any other diet. It also depends on your tastes of foods, attainability, if it is locally grown and organic. Prices differ everywhere so just do the research! NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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COVER FEATURE
LoonKwe: Statistic to Success Statistics show; in 2006 33% (one third) of Aboriginal people aged 25-54 had less than a high school education, 70% of the Aboriginal population did not finish post secondary and 24% of reported Aboriginal woman were teenage mothers. Are you one of these? I am. Cassandra Loon, commonly known as LoonKwe. I am a 21 year old proud Ojibway woman from the bush of Northwestern, Ontario that grew up to walk city streets in the hottest high heels. My story isnÕ t that of super heroes, it wonÕ t be on the national news, and it definitely isnÕ t one of a kind but, it does give hope that there is a better life past being a degrading statistic. My father is your typical conservative Caucasian police office while my mother is the definition of “Proud Aboriginal Woman” straight off the trap line. You can only begin to imagine what my childhood was like. I not only had to be “whiter” than my school peers but I had to be “browner” than my cousins. This was a difficult task to accomplish at the tender age of eight. Finally, my parents decided that enough was enough once I reached the most critical years of my life; being a teenager, and shipped me off to live in the big city. There was no dominating race, no right or wrong way, multiculturalism was a relief at
last. For the first time I was able to have Asian, Polish and Spanish friends, unlimited extra curricular activities and I was exposed to art. Growing up seemed like everything Disney made it out to be until I landed on “rez-life”. Its challenge living on reserve, let alone a reserve thatÕ s not your own. It was like being fresh meat thrown into a jungle filled with wild animals. Of course, I found my clique that helped me through the process but they also gave me first hand experience on being a true “Rezbian”. I made all the typical choices that comes with living on reserve and it only took a year before I got myself into a destructive relationship, wound up pregnant at sixteen, and dropped out of high school. This came as a shock to everyone because I was the girl with all the potential the world had to offer, my parents on the other hand, tried their hardest to prevent the inevitable. I remember talking to my mother about my new circumstances and I could sense the disappointment she had as she informed me that I was now a statistic and was another example of common aboriginal stereotypes. Nature took its course and I became a mother to my beautiful daughter before my own body was even done developing. Further more, the destructive relationship
turned abusive. It took having a baby for me to realize that I as an Aboriginal woman I am stronger than what I had become. It was time to step up my game, I could not have my baby going down the same road in due time. I left the relationship, I went back to school and I moved forward. I soon found myself obsessed with overcoming lifeÕ s challenges and succeeding. After I graduated high school, and immediately went onto post secondary. The fact of the matter is, the older I was getting the older my daughter was getting; I had limited time to be a positive role model for her. With the amazing support of my family and friends I have now graduated from college and work for one of CanadaÕ s leading corporations. But, do you think IÕ m about to stop now? My journey has only begun! “Crabs in a buckets” is a common term I use to refer to Aboriginal people. Whenever they see there own kind escaping from the reserve or succeeding, jealousy occurs and they try to bring them back down. I’ve explored many different reserves, and made different native friends only to come to the conclusion that itÕ s the same across the board. Personally, the people that tried bringing my down the most, telling me I wouldnÕ t succeed was my very own family and community members. It wasnÕ t NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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COMMUNITY until my boyfriend explained the concept of “Crabs in a bucket” that I finally got it through my head and I stopped letting their own misery effect me. Unless we learn to encourage and support each other we cannot rise together. Aside from our great traditions, the second best asset First Nations people possess is a status card that gives us unlimited opportunities for educational funding. It is virtually impossible to be successful this day and age without an educational background. People need to be aware that getting your diploma or degree isnÕ t as hard as the movies make it seem, especially when itÕ s free! In the spring, I attended a conference called “InclusionWorks’10” hosted by the Aboriginal Human Resource Council. This conference was for post secondary graduates seeking employment. I have never been so
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confident in my people before and I realized that there were others that strived for success as well as realized the opportunities for Aboriginal People in the workforce. Keeping the youth motivated to continue in school is key to their achieving. However, this isnÕ t a one-way road. Getting an education is the first step, bringing it back to the community is the next. It becomes a continuous cycle that in return betters the community as a whole. My passion is instilling confidence in our youth. Many youth donÕ t strive to achieve because of the destructive network theyÕ re subjected to on a regular basis. Canadian Aboriginal youth suicide rate is three times greater than that of the general population and that caused from a lack in self-esteem. The most inspirational organization I have ever had the pleasure to work with is Turtle
Concepts. Their team travels across Canada to different communities doing confidence building workshops with the youth. They make sure everyone understands being brown is beautiful, if only everyone shared these beliefs. My advice to the youth for obtaining self confidence is finding that one thing that makes them stand out from the rest. I gain confidence from modeling; some choose being the ultimate hunter, the graceful fancy dancer or the champion athlete. Either way it makes you feel good about yourself. A Native American proverb says Ò Everyone who is successful must have dreamed of something”. Even if youÕ ve hit rock bottom thereÕ s nowhere but up from there. DonÕ t allow yourself to self destruct, rise above and challenge all those that said you couldnÕ t do it. You already possess everything to become great.
COMMUNITY
STAYING WARM IN THE WINTER MONTHS Lets face it winter time is on its way once again and keeping warm isnÕ t always easy, especially when youÕ re running from class to class. Sometimes classes are at night which is even colder. Believe it or not the cold weather can be very dangerous if youÕ re not prepared. Every year around 650 people die from exposure to the cold. So, here are some tips on how high school and university students, can stay warm in the upcoming colder months and be prepared for the temperature change. Let start out with some facts and dangers to watch out for. Hypothermia Ð Happens when a persons body temperature drops below a certain degree. Signs of hypothermia are uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness, confusion and slurred speech. If you recognize the signs of hypothermia seek medical treatment as soon as possible and give warm liquids to drink until you reach medical attention. Frost-bite Ð Is when a persons skin literally freezes. The skin will become hard and white. The best way to thaw out a persons skin is to run warm water over it. Never rub it or try to use a heating pad to re-warm the skin. Heart attack Ð Some studies have show that being out in the cold weather for long periods of time can increase the chances of a heart attack. Jogging in the cold weather can lead to hypothermia because as you run you have the false notion that you are warm.
Having this said, there are some ways to protect yourself from the weather and to keep warm regardless of the temperature outside. Wear a hat or toboggan always. Dress in layers, as many as possible.
over your windows from the inside. This will create an air pocket between the window and the air in the room. Keep a rolled up towel over the crack at the bottom of the door.
Wear thermal underwear and wool socks.
Iron your clothing yourself instead of taking them to the cleaners. The heat from the iron will heat your room right up.
Drink warm liquids while youÕ re out in the weather. It will help keep your body temperature closer to normal from the inside.
Try to limit the space that you need to heat to as few rooms as possible. ItÕ s a lot easier to heat one or two rooms than to heat a whole house or apartment.
Keep moving, but not to the point where you begin to sweat. Sweating will cause your body and clothing to become dampened, which in turn will make you colder than before.
Keep your windows open as long as the sun is shinning in, keep the closed up tight at night.
DonÕ t drink alcoholic beverages when you are going to be out in the weather. When people drink they tend to feel warmer than they really are. Keep yourself dry. Even if it means carrying an extra set of cloths everywhere you go.
Use throw rugs everywhere even if you have carpet. They serve as insulation between your feet and the cold ground. Look for and seal off any drafts that you may have doggy doors are great for the warmer months but, thatÕ s all. Keep you furnace filters clean. You can buy re-usable filters that you can wash and put right back.
Burn candles as many and as often as you like. Candles put off a small amount of heat, so several candles would put off more heat.
Keep cabinet and closet doors closed. Remember when they are left open that is just more space for you to heat.
Make sure that you windows are sealed off very good. A cheap tube of caulking will do the trick.
You can come up with your own keep warm ideas too and share them with your friends and family.
Put a good thick clear or white plastic NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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COMMUNITY
OUR STORY by Melanie Parsons I am not sure what bothers me more? Is it the lasting memory I have of that dark night I laid underneath those tall dark trees helplessly captured? Or perhaps its having knowing that there is an innocent family out there struggling because they do not have you in their daily lives? My heart continues to ache from that night our paths crossed. Every so often I think about that night and the sound of your threatening voice and the way your hands wrapped so tightly around my neck. Kicking and screaming, I begged you to let me go but you only squeezed harder taking life from me. But, instead of becoming the product of your hate and anger, I fought back in my own way escaping with my life and yours in tow. At times of celebration in life, I think about you locked away in jail from your family. This thought, although passing, saddens me because it makes me second guess the power I had in putting you there. I took part in sentencing you to 10 years imprisonment, therefore taking life away from you and yours as you did mine that night you violated me. I think about your wife and child. I wonder how they are managing without you in their lives. I wonder whether or not she will one day tell your son what you did and why you are not home at night to tuck him in to bed. As I think about these things I begin to cry and
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feel trapped for all of us. I am very sorry for all that has happened and the many ways that our lives have been effected by our encounter that summer. Every time I think about you I have to remind myself that I did what had to be done. I couldnÕ t risk you hurting anyone in the way that you have hurt me again. My name is Melanie Parsons and this is OUR story. After three years I am finally ready to share it with you - free from the fear and shame that is sometimes felt when telling this particular story with others. Unfortunately, I know that this won’t be the first or last time you will hear about something like this. What I hope to do by sharing my personal experience with you is to prevent it from happening again and to empower those who have gone through something similar. I have been meaning to share my story with New Tribe readers for quite some time but never felt ready until now. I feel that I am in a place of celebration in my life. But three years ago, even two years ago, I was not. I knew that in my heart it wasnÕ t fair to share my story with you yet because it didnÕ t seem to have a happy ending back then. I needed to give myself time to
heal before I opened myself to you about what happened that night. I was afraid that you would judge me, blame me or even worse, not believe me. I am no longer afraid of those things and know that it is more important that I get my story out there and create awareness within our community. Awareness is so much more than just knowing about something as it is about making changes. ItÕ s about making that change and coming full circle within it. I donÕ t want to waste the experience I had and live with resentment in my heart for the rest of my life. I want to use it to educate others and empower those that feel they do not have the voice of courage that I have. I was in Seattle hanging out with my best friend for the last few days of summer. We had a great time enjoying the sights, shopping at all the outlets and watching her brother play hockey. We decided for our last night in town to get a hotel room, as we were staying at a friendÕ s house 45 minutes out from the downtown core. We wanted to enjoy a day of shopping in PikeÕ s Market, eat a fancy seafood dinner along the waterÕ s edge and go dancing. It was a night that we were looking forward to the whole trip. That night, as we were
COMMUNITY was a night that we were looking forward to the whole trip. That night, as we were getting ready to go out, we shared some laughs and had some drinks. We decided that we would check out a place called War Room. It was suppose to be one of the nicest clubs in Seattle and spinning some of the best music on a Saturday night. When we got to the club, it was exactly as we envisioned it to be – full of beautiful people, a great DJ and a full dance floor. As the night progressed we went our separate ways but always made sure we let each other know where we were. I spent most of the night on the dance floor while she spent her night meeting people on the sidelines. I was dancing with a group of people when a guy approached me asking if he could join. I was open to having a good time and saw no problem in saying yes. I was involved with someone at that time so it was not an invitation for anything else but dancing. After the song was over I said good bye and went my way. After the club shut down me and my friend went outside where we were talking with some friends that she had made earlier. I remember at that point feeling pretty intoxicated. I wasn’t sure as to why I felt the way I did as I consumed the same amount of drinks I normally would. Thinking back, I remember that the drinks were free poured and not measured to the exact ounce. I should have been a little more cautious with the amount of drinks I was having because of this. After shrugging off the dizziness I continued to make plans to eat at a restaurant with our new friends. I noticed the guy that I had danced with earlier in the night was standing beside me quietly, as if waiting for an invitation to come. I didnÕ t see any harm in inviting him since he appeared to by a nice guy. After I decided that I did not feel threatened by this person, I agreed to escort him to his car and drive over to the parking lot where everyone was meeting up. What I did was not necessarily wrong but was a little out of character for me. While in his car I asked what his name was because I couldnÕ t remember it from earlier. I also asked to see some I.D. to prove what he was saying for my own protection but also just to tease him. He did so and then proceeded to drive to the parking lot
where my friend was waiting for me with the rest of the group. Everything was going okay. We were all new friends and were sharing some laughter while getting to know each other. I remember starting to feel even dizzier and a little sick to the stomach. I knew then that my night was over and I was not going to make it anywhere but the hotel room. I excused myself once I felt the sickness getting stronger. I felt dizzier with each passing minute. I told my girlfriend to hold onto my purse while I went to get sick. I was totally embarrassed and asked that no one follow me. The next thing I remember is someone rubbing my back. It was the shy guy I had invited to come along with us. I told him to please leave me alone and that I was sick and embarrassed and didnÕ t want anyone seeing me like that. He continued to rub my back and tell me it was okay. Then I heard my friendÕ s voice. They were discussing what was going on and I asked both of them to go away and that I would be right out. But then I felt him rubbing my back once more. I asked him where my friend had gone and he told me that she and the other people left to go to the restaurant. He also told me that it was decided between him and my friend that he would take me there after I was done. At first I didn’t believe him, but eventually I was convinced to go with him. I was so sick and didnÕ t know where I was and did not have my phone on me because I had given my friend my purse to hold. I couldnÕ t see much passed three feet and therefore felt I had to go with him. I thought to myself that he had been a really nice guy up till then anyway. I was very sick and didnÕ t know why I felt so ill. I was a little nervous because I felt so helpless and didnÕ t have my purse or my phone. After we continued on driving for a while I became curious as to why it was taking us so long to get to the restaurant. I began blaming him for my dizziness and asking where he was taking me. I looked out the window and noticed that we were no longer downtown. I became enraged accusing him of drugging me. All he could say was that I was okay as we continued to drive down a road I did not recognize. I noticed on the right hand side of the
road what looked like a park. I told him to pull over or else I was going to get sick in his car. He did so and I flung open the door and stepped out of the vehicle. I made my way behind some building that was just in front of where we parked and continued getting sick. Again, I felt him rubbing my back telling me I was okay. I told him to leave me alone and demanded that he tell me where I was. Everything in my heart at that point told me that he was not right in the mind. All he kept saying is, “You’ll be okay.” What he did next was far from okay. I was on my hands and Knees getting sick when he forced me to turn onto my back and proceeded to violate me. I thought that I still had control of the situation. I told him to get off of me and that I was not interested but he continued to force himself upon me. I fought back the best I could in that position but proved to be too weak to defend myself physically. I begged him to stop was he was doing. He then began to threaten me, calling me names and telling me that I was going to die and that he was going to kill me. I begged him to stop before he did anything more he couldnÕ t take back. I only had my voice at that point as he had me pinned down to the ground. I was trying anything to get him to stop. I told him that I had a boyfriend I was in love with and when that didnÕ t work I told him that I had AIDS. I was trying to do anything to stop him. ThatÕ s when he took what I had left away from me squeezing my throat so hard that I could no longer speak or breathe. I died. I remember everything went quiet and I no longer felt afraid. I opened my eyes and found myself hovering above the trees looking down on my lifeless body. I felt sad for myself. Then I heard what sounded like a familiar voice of a deceased relative. They told me that I still had a chance and that it was not my turn yet. I was told that I had the choice between my death as it appeared below or returning to the situation at hand and surviving at any cost. I looked down on my lifeless body Ð my makeup was smeared, my shirt torn, and my bottoms missing showing my exposed body. My eyes were closed and my lungs breathless. The voice told me that this
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COMMUNITY was not the way that I would want my family and friends remembering my life and that I would have to give up my pride in order to make it through this. I was told that I would make it through this ordeal and one day regain the power he took from me. I chose to live. I opened my eyes and much to my dismay he was still an intruder in my world. He must have loosened his grip after he felt my body go lifeless the first time. I struggled to get free, taking him by surprise, but once again he choked me hard and I blacked out. I came to once again after only a short time and realized again that he had loosened his grip. At that point I was tired of him hurting me and I didnÕ t care what happened next, even if it meant death. I had enough of this man taking control away from me and violating my body. At that exact moment, once I made that decision, I found this great strength and from my back I was able to punch him hard enough that he flew off of me. I knew that was my only chance to escape. I jumped up and began to run. I twisted my ankle as my sandals fell off my feet but since they were tied around my ankles they dragged behind me as I ran screaming for my life. I kept looking behind me and for a while he chased me. I was horrified. He became my worst nightmare, the childhood monster I was so scared of. I finally reached a road and felt the cold pavement on my bare feet. I knew that I had no bottoms on and my shirt was half torn off. I was crying hysterically praying for someone to help me. Through my tears and prayers I could see headlights. I waved the car down and a woman opened the door. As soon as she touched me I fainted and fell to the ground. I felt as if she was my guardian angel and I was finally going to be safe. She covered me up with her jacked and called the police and an ambulance. It was a long night from that point on. While the paramedics were caring for me in the ambulance, a police officer asked if I could identify the man that attacked me. I said yes. For whatever reason, I remembered his name from when I checked his ID, the make and colour of his car, the clothing he wore, his height and race. The next thing they said was that they pulled someone over
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not too far up the road that matched the description I gave them. It was like something out of the movies. There I was sitting on a stretcher inside of an ambulance when the doors flung open and before my very eyes was my boogey man with a police officer on either side of him. I started to cry hysterically again and yelled that he was the man that raped me. Soon after we arrived at the hospital I saw my friend waiting for me, she looked at me with disbelief and sadness in her eyes. I knew that she too was hurting by what had happened. She began crying and told me that she was sorry. My blood alcohol level was high and combined with the ordeal I had just gone through they let me sleep for a couple of hours before questioning me and performing a number of tests. I was later released into the care of my friend after a very traumatizing night. I was heartbroken but for my friendÕ s sake I tried to be strong. Because the hospital was unable to get a hold of my family that night it was up to me to call everyone that morning and deliver the news of what had just happened. It pained me to tell my mother that I had been a victim of a sexual assault – something she had successfully protected me from all these years. The next few months were exhausting. I had to tell my story a hundred times to family and friends as well as investigators and prosecutors in Seattle. It was also my last year of studies at Mount Royal University. After something like that happens in your life everything else seems surreal. Was I really at home in the safety of my home? Was I really at school taking notes? Was I really on the phone with officials from Seattle preparing for court? I became severely depressed in the months that followed the rape. The worst part of it all was that I had somehow come to think that what happened was my fault. There were people in my life that questioned my behavior that night in Seattle and made me feel that I should not have had so much to drink or hung out with strangers. I also had many conversations with investigators from Seattle that were trying to make me look as if I was lying about what really happened and trying to get me to change my story. Eventually I started to question what did
really happen that night and wonder if I had made a mistake. I eventually became more depressed and confused about everything in my life. If it wasnÕ t for the love of my family and true friends, I am not sure where I would be today. Instead of allowing me to give up on myself and the life that I had going for myself before the event in Seattle, they pushed me to get through it. It had come down to me sitting in an office at school holding a pen getting ready to withdraw from my last year of school to realize I needed help. I felt that no one knew how I was feeling. I would walk down the hallway at school and feel alone amongst hundreds of students. I stopped communicating with everyone. I thought that I was okay and I didnÕ t need extra help. I ignored the fact that I had taken to excessive drinking and partying to deal with what had happened. I had even gone so far as trying to hurt myself one night as I needed to release the pain that I felt within. I needed to manage that pain I was feeling and frustration but didnÕ t know how to do it myself. Finally I asked my friends and family to help me through it and they did. It wasnÕ t easy for anyone to watch me throw myself away like that. I looked in the mirror one day and as I wiped the tears away from my face I said to myself that it was enough now and I needed to be strong for myself and others. I sought the help of a counselor, spoke to my teachers and classmates about what had happened and began rebuilding my life. They all told me the same thing: I was not to blame myself for what happened because no matter how intoxicated I was or what my intentions seemed to be in that manÕ s eyes, he was not allowed to ignore my pleas and violate me for any reason at all. Months went by and after grueling phone calls with various officials dealing with my case, it was announced that he plead guilty. I was also provided with the opportunity to attend his sentencing and deliver a victim impact statement. My family was concerned after I decided that I would attend court and deliver my statement in person. They were fearful that it would bring me back down to rock bottom or possibly end in me getting hurt by someone related to him. But, I knew in my heart it was what I needed to do to heal myself. I needed that opportunity
COMMUNITY to tell him what his actions that night resulted in. I felt he needed to recognize not only how his own life was affected by those actions but also how mine had changed. The time soon came and I was off to see my attacker for the first time since that night. My sister escorted me to Seattle and provided me with the extra support I needed. I was nervous but also felt relieved that I was doing it. I felt that once I delivered my statement I would somehow be on the road to true recovery. I was anxious to see what this man looked like. I guess I sort of wanted to see if he was as I remembered him from 8 months earlier. The judge called my name and I read my statement. I had to read it slowly as Spanish was his first language and everything I said had to be translated. I spent a lot of time carefully preparing that statement making sure I included every way he changed my life. I wanted to make sure he got the maximum penalty for his crime. After I was finished reading my statement I was congratulated for my courage by a number of people who attended court that day. It felt really good to hear their encouragement. I knew that my strength and courage to speak out against what had happened to me could be something that I use to my advantage in the future. It felt like my entire world got brighter after that day passed. I returned home with hope in my heart. Although, I had yet not come to terms with how the rape was really affecting me in my life at that point. I graduated that year from Mount Royal University and celebrated my accomplishments with my family and loved ones. I thought that I would never travel again after what I had experienced in Seattle, but I remembered that day I looked at myself in the mirror and reminded myself that he couldnÕ t take my love for travel and my independence away too. I left for Australia that Fall and spent a year travelling and working abroad on my own. I am proud of myself for being able to summon the confidence to do something like that on my own especially
after the year I had just had. IÕ ve been home from my adventures in Australia for several months now and feel like a brand new woman. I am much happier then I was prior to leaving Australia. I feel that my year in Australia was also a major breakthrough in my healing. It gave me time away from everything that had happened up until the day I left. I was able to analyze why I was doing some of the things I was doing. I realized while
I was overseas that the saying, Ò Misery loves company” is true. I was so unhappy with myself during that first year after the rape that I was hanging out with people and going to places that were not supportive of a healthy lifestyle. I didnÕ t realize or care that I was making all the choices of someone who was in self destruction mode. I forgive myself now for some of the things I did, including the night I tried hurting myself, and realize that I was just trying to manage the hurt and anger that was inside of me. Australia gave me the chance to meet
so many great positive people who in turn inspired me to start living healthily again. I felt happy and contentment in my heart. Since I have been home I have been careful about the choices I make and remind myself daily that I have work at my happiness. Each day is a new day and I always have a choice. What I do in my life is a result from the choices I make. I am making the choice to be open and honest with you in hopes that I can somehow empower you to speak up for yourself or someone else. We as a community must take care of each other. We must always be watching out for those things that are not right and do our best to help guide people in making the right choices. From this experience I will now take that much more notice of the people that are around me and my friends when we are out. I will make sure that I or my friends are always in the safety of otherÕ s we trust. I will not be afraid to speak up or out against sexual assault. It’s not just a woman’s job to look out for women. Men too must also take responsibility for the safety of the women around them Ð stranger or loved one. You have the power to make a change not only in your own life but someone elseÕ s life. If you see something that you know is not right, do something about it. Never be afraid to questions someoneÕ s intentions, because you never know, you might just save someoneÕ s life. I want to thank you for listening to my story and hearing the important lessons within it. For every time I tell this story, I feel lighter in my heart. I want to tell the people out there who have been affected by sexual assault and are making it through the pain, mistrust and confusion to stay strong. Do not be afraid to speak of your experiences as you are not alone. Each time you tell your story, youÕ re telling it for someone who never got a chance to tell theirs. I want to thank the Creator for my life and also my friends and family for being there for me in the darkest of times. And to those who have yet to tell their story or who have not lived to tell their story, I am here to listen to you, speak for you and believe in you. I lived to tell my story, our story. NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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GAME*ON
Game Review By Jonas Soosay & Jolene Frayne-Callihoo
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light In Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, you will see the leading lady from a whole new perspective. While the isometric camera angle shows off less of the iconic character than you may be used to, the game boasts the same engaging mix of exploration and combat that has long been the hallmark of the best games in the series. Punctuated by clever puzzles and lush visuals, each level begs to be replayed thanks to the varied and enticing challenges that promise substantial rewards. Guardian of Light is addictive and fun, and it gets even better when you enlist a friend for some cooperative play, as the puzzles change to suit your complementary abilities. Unfortunately, the game does not support online cooperative play at launch, and though the developer has promised a patch, itÕ s a disappointment to be even temporarily denied the opportunity to play this great co-op game online.Yet in spite of this shortfall, Guardian of Light is a rousing success that ranks as one of Lara CroftÕ s greatest adventures. Guardian of Light finds Lara deep in the Yucatan peninsula having just located yet another powerful MacGuffin. This particular item releases a nasty old demon, and soon Lara is off on his trail through the Mayan jungle. The levels are lush and moody, beckoning you onward with details.Though your primary objectives are always straight forward, the levels vary widely in terms of length and layout, mixing long, multistage puzzles with dramatic moments of desperate action. Guardian of Light is equal parts arcade action shooter, plat-former, and environment puzzle solver, with each as fulfilling as the next. With its first down-loadable offering, Crystal Dynamics has come out swinging, with easily one of the best titles this summer -- digital or otherwise. More to the point, I feel comfortable saying that Guardian of Light may be the most fun I’ve had with Miss Croft in 14 years; it’s that good. Guardian of Light covers a lot of bases -- solid action, clever puzzles, nail-biting platforming, and remarkable cooperative play; it’s not to be missed. ERSB Rating: T (13+) Review:8.5/10
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BEATS
Music You Can Feel In Your Toes By Katty Jo Rabbit
Katy Perry Teenage Dream Noted as one of MSN.ca top ten most controversial album covers, the album of Ms. Perry’s is definitely the most entertaining, as she fluctuates from floozy to feminine damsel in love, or lust, the fine line is easy to blur. Controversy is in the innuendo of the picture that depicts Ms. Perry lying on some clouds of cotton candy with the title teenage dream, you can rest assured she is going to definitely increase the sale of lotion. The cool part is that this is actually a painting created by one of KatyÕ s fans. But it is not what is on the cover it is what is in the music that is entertaining. The title track is now all over radio airwaves so do not be surprised if you suddenly start humming the tune of this song; it is catchy, simple, and extremely sexual. The first three songs on this album are quite suggestive and it gets to be almost embarrassing, because of the honesty in these songs, some of the lyrics include Ò ThereÕ s a stranger in my bed/ThereÕ s a pounding in my head..../This a hickey or a bruise” Oh the life of a party girl, not all glamour and glitz as one would assume. So after three songs about parties, drinking, not remembering who you slept with or kissed, and acting like a complete raw bimbo, there is the song Fire work. A song that reminds you to remember to feel good about yourself, that when youÕ re sober you have something to offer other than your body. So much for self respect boundaries, and proper values, it is all about self satisfaction. Which is a surprise seeing that Ms. Perry is a bride-to-be. Imagine how her next album might turn out of the marriage turns out to be a sham and she gets a divorce. Not all cupcakes and hearts anymore, maybe it is the cynical spinster, but it would probably be pretty good. Anyways some standout tracks on this one, are definitely the songs; E.T, Peacock, Not like the movies, and Hummingbird Heartbeat. These songs are not only entertaining to listen, they give a vocal sense of the musical range that Katy is capable of. So from a girl who was banned from making an appearance from Sesame Street for being too sexy always make sure your music has good lyrics, cause pretty faces and hair is just not enough these days, and sometimes pretty can get ugly fast.
Danger Mouse and Sparkle Horse Dark Night of the soul Here is another album with interesting album cover art, including the album name, you would think there would be some moody blues on this album, but there really isn’t; which is quite different, because it is mostly collaborations with other musicians that makes for a quite a treat. Original in the sounds that they produce, The flaming lips are part of the mix, and you know it will be good when Julian Casablanca, Black Francis, Susan Vega, and Vic Chesnutt jump on board. Vic is actually the cousin to Mark Chesnutt, a famous country music artist. Just kidding, there is actually no connection, but it would be cooler if there was. Any who, overall the music is pretty much what you would expect, soft compilations that bring forth imagery of girls in pretty dresses barbequing Barbie dolls and men in suits with hooves dancing erratically in the back ground. Tracks to check out would be the song Little Girl where the lead singer of the strokes, who is normally grungy, buzzed out garage band slur, is stylistic and polished. Something that has never been fully explored but is extremely intriguing, not much has been set up for this band, in terms of hype and other nonsense like that. Except that Danger Mouse is in the business of making great music with great artists, and for him to step out on his own, and well with the help of an endearing side kick, make some great music of his own, still with the use of others is still pretty amazing. Overall the album starts off pretty slow, it is not full electronica, and it is not indie rock it is mostly in a realm all of its own. It cannot be compared to other compilation due to the fact that there has never really been done like this before, though other critics may tell you differently, it is best to check it out for yourself. Only your personal history, experiences and influences can create your reaction to the music, so use this to your own advantage and do not always go with what someone tells you. Check them out on DNOT.com for interesting facts, and other such goodies. NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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History of Aboriginal Voting Rights in Canada It has been said that being born Indian is being born into politics. I believe this to be true; because being born a Mohawk of Kahnawake, I do not remember a time free from the impact of political conflict. (Alfred 1995, 1) It has been a long struggle for Aboriginal suffrage in Canada. In fact, until 1948, Aboriginal Peoples in Canada were not allowed to vote because of their race. After racial exclusions were lifted in 1948 by the Canadian Government, Aboriginal Peoples were entitled to vote only if they gave up their First Nation’s status under the Indian Act. During the civil rights movement, strong pressure from Aboriginal groups to move toward equality, forced the government to re-evaluate the discriminatory practices of the law. In 1960, the restriction was lifted giving all Aboriginal Peoples in Canada to vote (Inuit Peoples and Aboriginal veterans were already given the vote) Although many Aboriginal advocacy groups fought for this right, very few Aboriginal people chose to exercise it. Voter turnout for Aboriginal Peoples is the lowest in the country. 32
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COMMU NITY
LEGENDS When the World was Young something. Ò IÕ ve been thinking about how people will look. They will have eyes on one side of their face and their mouth on the other. Their mouths will go up and down. They will have ten fingers on each “That would be good,” said Old hand.” Woman Coyote. Ò How shall we Ò I too think that people should do it?” have their eyes and their mouth “It was my idea so I’ll have the first on their faces, but their eyes will be at the top of their face and their say” said Old Man Coyote. mouth at the bottom and they “That is fine ,” said Old Woman will be across from each other.” Coyote .”Just as long as I have the Said Old Woman Coyote Ò and I agree they should have fingers, last say.” but ten on each hand will be too So for a while they walked around awkward. They will have 5 fingers looking at things. Finally Old Man on each hand.” Coyote said something. Ò The men will be the hunters. Any time they “You have the last say,” said Old want to shoot an animal they will Man Coyote. call it and it will come.” They continued to walk and finally Ò I too think men should be they were by the river when Old the hunters,” said Old Woman Man Coyote spoke. Ò Let us decide Coyote. Ò But if the animals come about life and death. I will do it so easily then life will be too easy this way. I will throw this buffalo for the people. The animals shall chip into the river. If it floats then run away and hide. This will make when people die they will come it harder for the hunters but it will back to life after 4 days and live make them smarter and stronger.” forever.” When the world was young, Old Man and Old Woman Coyote were walking around. Ò Let us decide how things will be,” Old Man Coyote Said.
“You have the last say,” said Old Old Man Coyote threw the chip in and it floated. Man Coyote.
Ò But I we will use a stone instead of a buffalo chip. I will throw this stone in the river. If it floats then people will come back in 4 days and live forever. If it sinks then people will not come back to life after they die.” Old Woman Coyote threw the stone in the river and it sank. “That is the way it should be,” Old Woman Coyote said. Ò If people lived forever the Earth would get to crowded and there would not be enough food. This way people will learn compassion.” Old Man Coyote said nothing. Some time passed. Old Woman Coyote had a child. She and Old Man Coyote loved the child a lot and they were happy. One day, the child became ill and died. Then Old Woman Coyote went to Old Man Coyote. Ò Let us have our say again about death,” she said. But Old Man Coyote shook his head.” NO, you had the last say.”
They walked around some more Ò I too think we should decide this and again Old Man Coyote said way,” Old Woman Coyote said. NEW TRIBE OCTOBER 2010
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LITERA LLY
Book Reviews For the restless mind
Elodie Caron The Cold Kiss Fiction by John Rector This book is a horror movie. ThatÕ s all I could think as I was reading it. I donÕ t mean that itÕ s bad, I mean that itÕ s literally like curling up on the couch and watching a nice, innocent young couple be stalked by a lunatic with an axe. Except for how the couple isn’t necessarily so nice. Or innocent. Nate and his girlfriend Sara are on their way cross country to Reno, Nevada, where they plan to get married. TheyÕ re on the run from SaraÕ s deeply religious family and NateÕ s deeply troubled past, and all they want is a new start. Everything gets complicated, though, when they agree to give an injured man a ride out of the snowy landscape theyÕ ve found themselves trapped in. NateÕ s bad decision making skills and SaraÕ s naive sensitivity do nothing but get them in more and more trouble, until theyÕ re in so deep they may never be able to dig themselves out. ItÕ s a very tense story, told in careful narrative in a very minimal setting, driven by the characters and the blizzard around them. IÕ m not usually a fan of horror, but I could not stop reading. If youÕ re looking for a hit of blood and guts on a night with no good movies around, this would take care of it.
All GodÕ s Children Need Traveling Shoes Non-Fiction by Maya Angelou Maya Angelou is one of the most famous modern American poets, known for her deeply honest and affecting prose. She is also a woman who has lived a life worth writing about. All GodÕ s ChildrenÉ is a memoir of her time in the country of Ghana in the early 1960Õ s, a journey she made with her son Guy. Angelou hoped to connect with her African roots and immerse her son in a culture that would help him understand himself as well. What she found was a complex society that she wasn’t necessarily welcomed into with open arms, and the difficulties weighed heavily on her. All GodÕ s ChildrenÉ follows Angelou through her years in Ghana and abroad. ItÕ s an intense, sometimes disturbing, sometimes uplifting exploration of a life lived without hesitation. Highly recommended. Angelou wrote several volumes of her autobiography, beginning with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. ItÕ s fascinating, and worth a read through each one.
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U AROUND TOWN
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U AROUND TOWN
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