BOOK REVIEWS
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ABORIGINAL AWARENESS WEEK
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TRIBE TALENT
NEW TRIBE magazine THE FUTURE JACIE ALOOK
MELISSA VICTOR JESSIE GOUCHEY ANGEL J. SANDERSON JIMMY WEASEL CHILD TESSA BAILEY
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* * OIL DISASTER BP * CARDINAL CORY COOL JOBS
JULIE YOUNG
Free Vol. 9 Issue 2 June 2010 Now Available online www.newtribemagazine.ca
NEW TRIBE
NOTEBOOK from*the*editor Hello New Tribe Readers, June is here and we call all look forward to warmer weather, barbecues, and the great cultural events that always hit our city with the coming of summer. Our cover story for this issue takes a look at several individuals that are indicative of the growing base of youth that strive to achieve success in our city, in a varying array of fields and mediums. Our future is going to be in great hands.
Need updates on upcoming USAY and New Tribe Magazine events? Feel free to search us out on Facebook 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. A reminder that the cover image contest we had going last month has been extended. The new deadline is June 24th.
Calgary’s Aboriginal Youth Monthly editor@newtribemagazine.ca Managing Editor John Medeiros Graphic Design Aboriginal Design Group Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth 1511 10th St. SW Calgary, AB T2R 1E8 403.233.8225 Executive Director LeeAnne Sicker Program Manager Rachel Paris Executive Assistant(Intern) Jessica Hawryluk Board of Directors President Jesse Halton Vice-President Amanda Gonet Treasurer Sarena Provost Secretary Cheryl Hanley Directors Ryan Willert Cherokee Blood Brett Black Plume Casey Eaglespeaker
This month is also going to be great as Aboriginal Awareness Week kicks off on June 21st. Check out the calendar placed in this issue for a full listing of fun events for all age groups.
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.
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
As I mentioned last year this is a great time to share culture with anyone and everyone, as there is so much to be proud of in the Aboriginal community. Take the time to celebrate and enjoy all the activities planned.
Want to gain experience in Graphic Design? We are currently looking for freelance designers to work on everything from magazine layout, to creating posters and advertisements. (Experience required)
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.
This is also the month where we celebrate the sometimes forgotten heroes called Dads. Make sure you wish yours a Happy Fathers day.
Spread the word, and stay true to it. John Medeiros Managing Editor
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Special Thanks to our Community Partners & Funders
CONTENTS
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35
9 COVER STORY
12
4
NEWS BRIEFS
19 HEALTH
6
USAY WEBSITE
20 PROFILES
7 WHAT’S GOING ON?
26 CORY CARDINAL
10 BP OIL SPILL
29
GAME REVIEWS
12 FLAVOR
30
BEATS
13 COOL EATS
31
COMMUNITY
14 POETRY
34
BOOK REVIEWS
compiled by Melanie Parsons and John Medeiros
14 RETURN OF SUMMER
37 REVIEWS
cover photo: John Medeiros
18 COOL JOBS
40 YOUTH HOOPS
THE FUTURE
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NEWS*BRIEFS
Aboriginal Happenings From Across Canada MP lowers diabetes risk, out to inspire Aboriginals OTTAWA Ð Manitoba MP Rod Bruinooge was having a love affair with cake. Ò Cheesecake, chocolate cake, pies, thereÕ s no dessert I donÕ t like,Ó said Bruinooge Tuesday. Ò I mean I even eat Christmas cake. ItÕ s crazy.Ó But five months ago, the Conservative from Winnipeg South knew it was time for a change. With a brother with diabetes, an aboriginal heritage making him more genetically prone to it, and being overweight, Bruinooge, 37, was facing a triple-threat of risk factors for diabetes. Health experts he ran into in his role as an MP warned him of the dangers of his current diet. So out went the pastries. Ò I decided to leave that all behind,Ó he said. Instead of the processed-sugar-filled meals that are par for the North American course, Bruinooge, who is MŽ tis,
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researched and returned to an aboriginal diet rich with fish and bison. He cut out processed sugars entirely but rounded out the proteins with whole grains and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. SOURCE - WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Child-on-child assault cases come to light in residential school hearings OTTAWA Ð As many as 20 per cent of the physical and sexual abuse claims flooding in from Indian residential school students seeking additional compensation involve child-on-child assault, says CanadaÕ s chief adjudicator of a special process set up for students who faced the worst abuses. Though the schools closed decades ago and thousands of former students are no longer living, Dan IshÕ s adjudication secretariat Ð created as part of a multibillion-dollar out-of-court settlement in 2006 between churches, schools and Ottawa Ð has already received about 15,000 applications.
Roughly a third of the applicants have had hearings so far through what is called the Independent Assessment Process, resulting in $500-million in compensation. Those hearings offer the first sense of the scope of child-on-child abuse at the schools. Ò I wouldnÕ t be surprised if it comes in at around 20 per cent,Ó Mr. Ish said in an interview with The Globe and Mail. There have been many stories over the years about priests and dormitory employees abusing the children who were forced to leave their homes as part of a federal government policy to assimilate Aboriginals. What is rarely discussed is that many aboriginal children were also assaulted by their schoolmates. The 20-per-cent estimate shows that there is still much to be learned about this part of Canadian history as a special Truth and Reconciliation Commission prepares its first national gathering, after years of false starts since it was first announced in the 2006 settlement. SOURCE - GLOBE AND MAIL
Tribe*Mail MAY Issue 2010 The May issue of NEW TRIBE magazine brought in enough email to bring back this section and itÕ s a great thing to see. Good or bad itÕ s essential to have feedback that can help bring a posiitive direction for the magazine to steer towards. The May issue tackled everything from emerging fashion talent, young womenÕ s empowerment, and a real life, and poignant account of a community leaders trials and triuphs of growing up in urban Calgary. Here are a few of the emails we recieved regarding this issue of the magazine.
TO THE POINT How do I get my art into the mag? Jimmy H Ed. Note: Send your submission to usayeditor@gmail.com If it needs to be scanned call to make an appointment to stop by the offices at USAY.
LITTLE BIT COUNTRY Just wanted to send a quick email to see if you can do a story on emerging country music singers in Calgary? I can send you some names of some great contacts! Geoff Spring Ed. Note: Sure, send over some names and we can work on this for a future issue.
PART OF THE GROUP IÕ m a subsciber to your magazine and after reading a few issues wanted to see if you take submissions from other provinces as I would love to be a part of your group of writers. Annete Shield Ed. Note: If the topics you wish to write about deal with Aboriginal youth we would love to hear from you.
FROM THE HEART IÕ m sending you this email to tell the staff at the magazine that what you do makes a difference in peoples lives. My daughter is 12 years old and although I have to help her with some of the words, she loves going through the magazine and reading the stories, and looking at the pictures. ItÕ s so very important to have a source of information that deals with Native issues and events. So, from the heart, thanks and keep up the great work. Tracy and Susan Palmer
AGE GROUP Oki, first I want to say I enjoy the magazine and try and pick it up each month it comes out. My question is in regards to the age group that the magazine is for. I sometimes find that it can vary from month to month in terms of age content. Do you have a specific age group that you cater to? Melanie Baker Ed. Note: Thanks for your email. The general age of our readership is 15-24 so that can cover a lot of community issues. We try and balance the stories, articles, and art to give the widest range possible for everyones enjoyment. If you have a story you wish to see in the future let us know and we can work on it for you.
WELCOME BACK Hi to the staff at New Tribe. I just moved back to Calgary a few months ago and was surprised to see a copy of the magazine at my corner store with rapper Joey Stylez on the cover. When I saw the name of the
magazine I actually thought it must be a different organization that took over the name because the look of the magazine is so different from when I used to read it years ago Anywho, itÕ s good to be back and see the magazine is still put out by USAY. Good job with the changes and I hope to see it continue to grow and evolve. I donÕ t have to tell you how important it is for our culture to have their own voice in the city to express the views and news of the people. My only concern/comment is to keep the focus on local people and events. We have so much talent in the city you will never run out of stories! Christine Bird
Have a comment about the latest issue of NEW TRIBE magazine? Emails can be sent to editor@newtribemagazine.ca or via mail NEW TRIBE MAGAZINE 1511 - 10th Street SW Calgary, Alberta Canada T2R 1E8 Name can be withheld at request NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010 5
July 31st we blow up the old site and launch a new and improved version Check us out and enter to win a new iPod touch plus other great prizes 6
NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
What’s Going On? JUNE,2010 June 2 - 5 Visions & Dreams, Dreamspeakers Film Festival Edmonton, AB www.dreamspeakers.org June 4 Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Annual Golf Tournament The Ranch Golf and Country Club Spruce Grove, AB www.treaty8.org June 4 - 6 10th Annual Painted Hand Casino Powwow Gallagher Centre, Yorkton, SK Call: 306-786-6777 June 5 – 6 Barrie Friendship Centre Powwow Wolf ’s Den Sporting Supplies Barrie, ON June 12 & 13 15th Annual Aboriginal Gathering and 7th Annual Powwow, Twelve Foot Davis Ball Diamond, Peace River, AB
June 12 The University of Calgary The Native Centre’s Annual Aboriginal Graduation Banquet & Traditional Powwow The Red & White Club, north end McMahon Stadium June 16 First Annual 2010 Graduation Powwow University of Saskatchewan Griffiths Stadium, Regina, SK June 16, 2010 at noon National Aboriginal Day Edmonton City Centre Mall (West) Lower Level 10025-102 A Avenue Edmonton, Alberta June 18 – 20 Sakimay First Nation Competition Powwow Grenfell, SK June 20 Father’s Day World Wide
June 21 - 27 Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary For a complete listing of events please visit pages 16/17 June 21 Dance, Drum & Discover Celebrate Aboriginal Awareness Day at Heritage Park Historical Village, Calgary, AB Discover how to make bannock, historical storytelling, learn to play time-honoured games and much more! First 500 guests who pay regular admission between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. will enjoy complimentary pancake breakfast.
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 JULY issue: JUNE 24
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THE PRESSURE
OF YOUTH
I‛m tired of doing drugs..I want out, I want to be with my friends again.
You mean nothing to me but I want your money. I won‛t stop selling you my stuff!
FREE AT LAST 8
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Mitchell Poundmaker
TRIBE*art
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COMMUNITY
BP OIL SPILL TRAGEDY WHEN WILL WE LEARN An offshore oil drilling platform, the Deepwater Horizon, belonging to BP, or British Petroleum, in the Gulf of Mexico off the U.S. coast exploded and sunk resulting in fire and three oil leaks on April 20th. Eleven rig workers were killed due to the disaster and their lawyers have filed lawsuits against BP and other-related parties. BP did not take total blame for the catastrophe because the rig was under the management of its lessee, Trans ocean. Also, the oil company is blaming Halliburton, the supplier of the cement to stabilize the rig. Additionally, BP lost value in the stock market as a result of the oil rig disaster. Due to corporate responsibility and U.S. government pressure, BP is assisting with the containment of oil. Since the oil may potentially affect four states: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, BP has provided a grant of $25 million to each state. However, the U.S. government does not want BPÕ s assistance if it fails to contain the leaks. Currently, BP has managed to seal off one of the leaks. In 2005 and 2007, BP faced legal damages from workers and authorities
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due to a refinery explosion and toxic leak, respectively, in Texas. The 2005 explosion led to two fines of $87 million and $50 million. This disaster will cost BP millions, if not, billions of dollars in
fees and fines. The U.S. Obama administration reacted by establishing a committee to study the current tragedy and prevent future offshore oil leaks. The U.S. government is blaming BP for the disaster, which resulted in the halt of future drilling permits. Additionally, the government closed beaches under threat of oncoming oil. However, the White House is not fully banning offshore oil drilling as a measure to decrease AmericaÕ s dependence on foreign energy. At the current rate of BPÕ s current clean-up efforts, new piping or blowout preventers, a valve system responsible for controlling oil flow, will not be
effective according to experts and BP. The last measure, which is the construction of relief wells of which one has been completed, may be the best option to decrease the oil leak. However, the completed construction of relief wells could take months, which is not enough time according to some academic experts of environmental studies. This incident was enough to convince California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to withdraw support from a recent plan to extend oil drilling. Other states already had no offshore drilling laws in place before the Deepwater Horizon crisis. The Deepwater Horizon was part of a project to drill oil in new, deeper deposits in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the project was an alternative to depleting oil in the Middle East and meet AmericaÕ s energy needs. Pipes are built to withstand pressure for drilling oil; however, on April 20, that system failed when the rig exploded and sunk. A deepwater rig comes with the standard blowout preventer, which was activated towards the last minute by rig workers and failed to function, to cutoff oil in case of blowouts.
COMMUNITY The explosion of Deepwater Horizon is not the first tragedy of deepwater oil drilling history. According to The Economist, the blowout of Ixtoc-I well, a Mexican rig, in 1979 led to the leakage of about 3.3 million barrels of oil. If current measures to decrease the leakage fail, there is possibility that the number can reach or exceed Ixtoc-IÕ s record within months. Even though current official estimates say tens of thousands of barrels have been leaked, it is difficult to determine and calculate the amount as the source is deep under the Gulf of MexicoÕ s surface. The local economies of the four states have already been affected. Fishing businesses are beginning to lose millions of dollars due to the disaster. Seafood restaurants will lose customers and revenue. Tourism is starting to decline due to washed-up oil on beaches.
activities. The flow of oil washed ashore the remains of sea turtles and birds. Fish and shellfish are at high risk, which has led to the halt of fishing operations. Several species are already endangered due to overfishing and hunting, which means that the oil leak may lead to possible extinction. However, conservation efforts for many species are already in place to circumvent extinction. In contrast, not all species have the luxury of conservation, which means potential listing as endangered or, possibly, extinct. LouisianaÕ s marshes are highly vulnerable because the oil is toxic to the native vegetation that make up the habitat. Oil has reached the marshes and will be dangerous if it ever reaches the Florida Keys, which faces a similar fate.
As the Exxon Valdez incident showed, there is no larger victim in an oil spill than the environment.
Oil has washed up on the beaches of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Thus, tourism along the beaches of the three states are at risk and another, Florida, will be too if the oil flow is not stopped in time.
The current oil leakage has affected wildlife and thus, related economic
The sea will be vulnerable to toxicity, which will kill fish and shellfish, as a result
of the oil leakage. Additionally, coral reefs will die. It would take decades for the Gulf of Mexico to restore wildlife in the sea. Offshore oil drilling requires further oversight and safety precautions. The oil industry is planning on committees to enhance safer drilling. The U.S. is planning on having two committees, one for permits and another for oversight, because the current agency, the Minerals Management Service, is responsible for both. Oil companies will have to research and develop smarter strategies to drill at extreme depths than what is presently being used. Additionally, offshore oil drilling cannot provide accurate leakage data compared to a ship, such as the Exxon Valdez, containing a limited supply of oil. History has proven that oil is toxic to the environment regardless of how a disaster occurs whether a tanker leakage or rig explosion. HumanityÕ s resource exploits result in environmental havoc that takes generations to recover habitats and species.
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FLAVOR
On the Table Mexican Casserole Ingredients: oil for frying 3/4 pound cubed skinless, boneless chicken breast meat 1/2 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (8.75 ounce) can sweet corn, drained 1/4 cup salsa water as needed 1 cup shredded Mexican-style cheese 1 1/2 cups crushed plain tortilla chips Directions: In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute chicken in oil until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Add taco seasoning, beans, corn, salsa and a little water to prevent drying out. Cover skillet and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Transfer chicken mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 cup of the cheese and crushed tortilla chips. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.
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FLAVOR
COOL EATS COOL PRICE Garlic Spaghetti by Elodie Caron This is one of the regular dinners that got me through college, when meat was out of my price range and even a bottle of tomato sauce cost more quarters than I had in my pockets. Pasta is so cheap that you can get it in bulk and live off of it for a week or more at a time, and garlic and lemon can always be had for a couple of dollars at most. Serves 2 1 handful spaghetti (measure it by making a circle with your thumb and forefinger and grabbing enough spaghetti to fit through) 1/2 lemon 1 - 2 cloves garlic (totally depending on how much you like garlic.You can put 30 in there if you want. Although that could make you sick, so maybe just stick with a couple) 2 tablespoons butter or margarine Put on a pot of water to boil for the spaghetti. Make sure you add enough salt to the water to flavour the pasta, about 1 teaspoon full. Once the waterÕ s boiled, put the spaghetti in and stir it around to keep it from sticking. While the pasta is cooking, chop the garlic. Keep in mind that youÕ re going to be eating it semi-raw, so chop it fairly small. Once the pastaÕ s cooked, drain it and return it to the pot, but donÕ t put it back on the heat. Add in the butter or margarine and the garlic and toss it around to combine. The garlic will cook a little bit from the heat of the spaghetti, and youÕ ll start to smell it wafting up out of the pot. Squeeze in the lemon juice, toss it around a bit more and, if you want to get fancy, grate a little lemon peel in (the lemon oil in the peel adds even more flavour). Scoop some spaghetti out onto a plate and enjoy the garlicky, lemony goodness. If you have some parmesan, a good sprinkle of that over top makes it even better.
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TRIBE * POETRY My Thoughts... I like to think I am an open minded human being, But like my ancestors, I was brain washed into believing in a false future of security. Back when my people, of Creator Sun, walked, hunted and lived on Mother Earth, The land, the animals and their Spirits were free. Fear, jealousy and hate blind our visions of what Creator wanted for us, Which is kindness, Empathy and Happiness. The White Buffalo came to give us hope, She wants us to stay strong and believe, Believe in our communities, our families and one another. Through all the empty promises, false hopes, taking of cultures and languages, My people have endured and survived all obstacles, And now I tell my children, “Iikaakiimaat Niskaanii,” Try hard little one, “Live free and be strong in your beliefs.” by Jaida Small Legs
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COMMUNITY
THE RETURN OF SUMMER
Corey Little Light Is it just me or does it feel like the new 2010 summer season has arrived much sooner than usual, like it almost catches you off guard, but not quite. I mean, itÕ s as if I just closed my eyes to blink and spring has already come and gone. Never the less, I think most of us are more than excited about the return of the new hot season, I know I am. I also know that I am very much looking forward to all of the cool stuff thatÕ s going to be happening this season as well. And whether we like it or not, we should at least try and be ready for the new season. ItÕ s time to emerge from those hibernation caves for all of us urban natives living in the city. ItÕ s time for us to get our shine on, because streets of Calgary have come alive once again! Yes my friends, summer 2010 has finally arrived and you can just feel the excitement in the air already. The streets of Calgary are alive because the Stampede is just around the corner. I can hardly wait. Also, this year promises to
be one of the biggest powwow seasons to date. I canÕ t wait to see all of my family and friends at this yearÕ s powwows, and I canÕ t wait to hear that powerful drumbeat and see all of this yearÕ s beautiful dancers of all different sizes and ages in all of their new and old outfits. It should be quite an amazing sight wouldnÕ t you think? But besides all of these way too cool events, I myself along with many others am just content on spending most of my summer right here in the city, just working Ð making money and doing some much needed relaxing, just me and my girl. And speaking of some much needed relaxation, that is exactly what hundreds of native high school and college students have been looking forward to for months. And you know what? They deserve it too! On a more serious note though, one thing IÕ d just like to add is that we all need to stay safe this summer, especially for the ones living in the city because itÕ s dangerous out there. Each and every one of us need to make sure that we are
living healthy lifestyles and making smart choices this season, and why not? I mean how else are we going to move forward as a people. Right? You see for me, the way I see it, summer is about a whole lot of things. ItÕ s about the Calgary Stampede! ItÕ s about the powwow trail! ItÕ s about spending time with family and friends but itÕ s also a time of celebration. A celebration of life and how far weÕ ve come as a people and also as individuals. Summer is a time of new beginnings and direction for a lot of us. ItÕ s about learning from my controversial past and learning from my mistakes which every one of us needs to do in order to move forward in life. You see, for me, summer holds a much deeper meaning, but never the less, IÕ m glad that the new hot season is finally here. I’m very much excited about the return of summer!
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COOL JOBS PROFILE Mario Bruised Head Lethbridge City Police (Summer Student)
By Katty Jo Rabbit
Mario Bruised Head is a hunter/gatherer from the Blood tribe, though he wears many hats, one hat soon to be his, is the one of an officer. Like a true warrior from the past, he is ready, willing and able to give his time, his word and his life for his tribe. With only a bow of experience, a quiver filled with arrows that represent, education, commitment, and cultural respect, a desire to make a name for himself and his family, he knows who he is and he knows where he is going. The proud son of Clark and Annette Bruised Head, and brother to Kenny and DJ, Mario, whose Indian name is translated Ò Sleeps-on-topÓ , is a good role model to his peers as he was one of few to graduate from the Lethbridge Community College Criminal Justice program. When asked why he was the only one to graduate, besides another First Nation individual who was Cree, he replied; Ò Personally I think the rest lost interest, when I first entered the program, I was thinking high speed car chases, shoot outs and gun fights, but in all actuality that is ten percent of the job, ninety percent of being a police officer is communication and dealing with the communities crisis issues.Ó
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Currently Mario is working with the Lethbridge City Police Force, as a summer student, every year the Lethbridge City Police offer an Aboriginal Step program for interested First Nation students, with an educational back ground in criminal justice.
success.Ó
This position explores the processes within the force; to expose them to the inner workings of the station, and all that is involved with it. Every year, this position goes unfulfilled as little to no applicants submit their applications. Mario being the lucky candidate this year has a lot of potential to become the poster boy for more First Nation involvement in the criminal justice world where there is little to no representation.
Ò I know that when I started, a lot of the other natives stuck to themselves; what I did was I got involved, I made friends, and in two years, I made a family, these are long life friendships and relationships that I will use to bridge the gap.Ó
“Of a hundred and sixty police officers employed with the City of Lethbridge, only three are of First Nation ancestry. Being neighbors to the two largest reserves in Canada, what does that say? I am only one person; we need more to get involved. It doesnÕ t matter what kind of family you come from, or the path you have traveled, if you have determination, and you learn from the mistakes youÕ ve made, you have that chance to turn it all around, make it better, and that is real
Ò To be honest, I really didnÕ t know what I wanted to pursue, as a childhood dream I had wanted to be a police office, after 25 years I wanted to show I still care, itÕ s not for the paycheck, not for the status of the uniform, people ask why not social work? Well, when someone is in crisis, who do they call first? They don’t call their social worker, they call the police. I want to protect people who are legitimately suffering; I want to protect my peopleÓ .
Because life happens as it will to all students, Mr. Bruised Head graduated late. The result, he decided not to attend convocation, as he would not cross the podium with the group he started with.
Mario got his college diploma in the mail, this did not stop him and currently he has made an application to the RCMP, and to the University of Lethbridge.
HEALTH
Alcohol and Your Health Jolene Frayne-Callihoo Alcohol is both a food and a drug and can either have positive or negative effects on oneÕ s health. Alcohol is considered a food because it is made primarily from carbohydrates which the body uses as a source of energy. Alcohol is also considered a drug because it can alter and modify various body functions. Brews made from grains, wines made from grapes and other alcohol containing beverages are a traditional part of many cultural groups which are contained in their food supply. Alcohol, in high doses however, is harmful to the body and can cause a large variety of social, nutritional, and physical health problems. The maximum intake of alcoholic beverages per day varies between men and women. For women the safest consumption is 1 standard sized drink per day and for men, 2 standard sized drinks per day. The positive side of Alcohol Alcohol can have both positive and negative effects on health but it solely depends on how much is consumed. The consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol on healthy adults appears to cause no harm and can even be beneficial to one’s health. Moderate alcohol consumption is proven to be associated with a significant level of protection against heart disease. These beneficial effects are due to the alcohol increasing the bodyÕ s production of Ô goodÕ cholesterol which helps to eliminate the Ô badÕ cholesterol and reduces plaque build-up in the arteries. Although all types of alcoholic beverages can reduce the risk of heart disease, there is something special about red wines that help reduce the risk more so than
other alcoholic beverages. The pigments found in red wine, which make up its color (reds/blues/purples), act as antioxidants and may decrease the tendency of blood to clot and decreases the ability of Ô badÕ cholesterol to stick to plaque in the arteries. For people who do not drink alcohol, they can simply drink grape juice which contains antioxidants as well.
Drowning Manslaughter Assaults Rapes Spouse Abuse Traffic Fatalities Homicides Child Abuse Suicides
The negative side of Alcohol Heavy drinking is often defined as consumption of more than 5 drinks per day and is harmful to the health of individual drinkers and often those around them. Although health can be damaged by regular high amounts of alcohol, the ill effects of alcohol are mostly found in people with alcoholism. High blood pressure, stroke, and cirrhosis of the liver are all risk factors found in people with habitually high alcohol consumption and alcoholism. Other frightening risk factors include: throat, stomach, and bladder cancer; central nervous system disorders; and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Most often seen in college students across Canada is alcohol poisoning due to binge drinking. Alcohol poisoning is caused from excess alcohol consumption in a short period of time and can cause death. It is life threatening and requires immediate emergency medical help. Alcohol abuse is associated with a high proportion of deaths each year such as homicide, drowning, fires, traffic accidents etc., see table below*.
TIPS: How to drink safely and responsibly
*Percentage of cases on violence and injuries associated with alcohol
70% 69% 62% 54% 50% 50% 50% 40% 31%
DonÕ t drink if you are pregnant or if you think you are pregnant DonÕ t drink on an empty stomach (be sure to eat before and/or during alcohol consumption) Drink slowly (sip rather than gulping drinks) Limit alcohol to an amount that doesnÕ t make you lose control over your mind and body Never operate a boat, vehicle, or heavy equipment while under the influence Drink 1 cup of water after each drink to slow the effects and increase output of toxins Media References: Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa.org National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
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COVER FEATURE
JACIE ALOOK compiled by Melissa Victor
taking life so seriously; knowing I canÕ t control everything. I find time for myself after bedtime for my girls and in between classes I also visit the gym. Those are the time slots I work with. I was once told to make my life mine, not only about my kids. ItÕ s important to take time and care for yourself, along with others. It didnÕ t make sense at first but now it does. It also helps to have a good support system in place when itÕ s needed. What do you hope to achieve? I hope to gain knowledge in science so I have more insight to the land. Using that knowledge I can focus on the oil exploration in my community and make sure people are protected. Why did you choose Calgary to go to school?
University of Calgary student, Jacie Alook is a single parent of two girls. She manages being a full time mother and a full time student with big dreams as she majors in Geography with a future goal to go into Environmental science. When she finishes she wants to give back to her community, partly in thanks to their support, but also to take a stand against environmental issue that concern the Aboriginal population. She is leading the way like many Native women in Calgary to be a mentor and role model while pursuing school. What drove you to go back to school? My daughters most of all and to give back to my people. How do you manage school and parenting? I take each day as it comes, following a schedule, and not
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I had been living in Edmonton on and off for the last 8 years. I felt that I needed a change and since my dad got his bachelors degree of education in Calgary I wanted to check it out and follow suit. How do your daughters view you being in school? They go with it although recently my oldest asked me what do I do for recess. As they get a little older they will understand why I went to school and the reasons behind it but for now they are just kids whoÕ s Mom goes to school. I have been able to bring my oldest to a couple classes, and she loved it. She was so amazed with a recent project of mine, in my photography class, and itÕ s great to be able to share my progress with them. What advice could you give otherÕ s looking to go back to school? My advice would be not to be afraid to put yourself out there, and make as many connections as possible, aspire to reach for the starts because you never know what youÕ re capable of.
COVER FEATURE
Jimmy Weasel Child compiled by John Medeiros
NTM - Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? My name is Jimmy Weasel Child and IÕ m a member of the Blackfoot tribe. IÕ m 22 years old and grew up my reserve Siksika Nation. I graduated from Strathmore High School in 2006 and currently attending Mount Royal University. I have just finished two and a half years at MRU and in the History degree program. During the school year I live in Calgary while I try to finish off my degree and move back home during the summers. My main goal at the end of my education is to become a lawyer. IÕ ve always been interested in law and think it would be a great career path to consider. As of now, I am currently the Youth Chief of Siksika, and it is my second year in this position. ItÕ s a very important position and representing the Siksika youth is an honour that I hold in very high regard. Also, this past school year, I was the Native student club president. IÕ m a very outgoing person, like to meet new people, and travel to new places. And some of my interests include sports, music, singing, and recently showing some interest in acting. I have three sisters, Carly, Charity, and Valene. Plus, a niece and two nephews. NTM - Are you active in the Aboriginal community and if so why do you think itÕ s important to do so? Yes, I am very active in the Aboriginal community. Coming from a very traditional family, I was taught to take pride in our culture, and to always give back. With the role as Youth Chief, I always try to take part in any events that will help other native youth in need. IÕ ve had a summer job as coordinator taking youth from my community on trips they would enjoy during the summer. Also, volunteering at various events in Siksika and at school. It is very important for other native youth to be active in the Aboriginal community and helps them grow into stronger native leaders. They can gain skills that can become essential to them later in life and may find their career path while doing so. It shows the older generation that the younger ones are strong and can carry on our traditions. NTM - What/who inspires you? My parents Eldon and Alvina Weasel Child inspire me to be the best that I can be. They are always behind me every step of the way in my life and I see how hard they work. My dad was a part of Siksika Chief and Council for 16 years and never lost a negotiation. He is an accomplished pow wow and country singer. My mom is a teacher and has been teaching for 24 years, from elementary to high school, and continues to inspire her students to get an education and push themselves to become the best they can be. Also, my grandmothers Alice Weasel Child and the late Doris Calf inspire me to never give up when life gets hard. Both of them were widows and had to take care of many children and had done a great job. Life had been tough for them and they were able to continue giving their children what they needed and support them in every way they can. And even taking in people in need to help them in rough times when they did not have much to give. NTM - Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I would like to be living a happy
and
healthy life, and to be in law school trying to finish up my law degree. Possibly living somewhere nice and hot, so I can get a break from all the snow. NTM - Would you consider yourself a role model? I would like to consider myself a role model to younger Aboriginal youth. I live a drug and alcohol free life and always try staying active. I am always trying to give back to my community and try helping out others in need. When life gets tough, I donÕ t give up and I keep trying to move forward in life. When I was younger, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy on the right side of my body and doctors told my parents I would not be able to walk. My parents did not give up on me and found a doctor who could help me with my problem and I overcame it with surgeries and lots of hard work. I proved the doctors wrong by being able to walk now and played any sports that I have wanted like basketball, volleyball, hockey, and rugby. Sure it would have been easier to give up but proving them wrong and taking charge in overcoming my problem was worth it in the end. That experience has taught me to never give up when life gets tough and to keep pushing hard to accomplish my goals. NTM - What advice would you give to any youth looking to get into higher education or involvement in the community? I would tell them to take advantage of all the opportunities you can in life and keep working hard. That education is very important for our people and it is their duty to try their best in following their dreams and career goals. And for them to always stay connected to their community, culture, and give back to others that need it. Also, when life gets tough, donÕ t give up, it may seem hard now but it will get better and you will become stronger by overcoming your challenges. NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
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COVER FEATURE
ANGEL J. SANDERSON compiled by John Medeiros
filmmaking? AJS - Well to begin with I was actually interested in fashion design. I was surrounded by all these talented individuals and nobody really has a platform to launch their careers in music and theatre, fashion, fashion design and I just felt like with my skills and my creative eye as a filmmaker I could collaborate with these individuals and give them the recognition they deserve and a the same time showcase my own talent. NTM - Have you collaborated with many artists in Calgary? AJS - Over the past few years I have aquired my knowledge base in animation, film & video through various mentors. IÕ ve been blessed to have many wonderful mentors who have kindly shown me the ropes and steered me in the right direction. It is by their expertise that I have be able to write, direct, produce, and edit 4 shorts films/animations to date.
Angel J. Sanderson was born in Saskatchewan but now considers Calgary to be her permanent home since 2003. She is a Cree MŽ tis artist that has worked in various genres but filmmaking is definitely her medium of choice, specifically Super 8 film. Recently as part of our “Future of Calgary” series of profiles, Angel stopped by the New Tribe office to answer some questions for our readers. NTM - You mentioned that when you work in film you prefer using the Super 8 method. Why is that? AJS - I like the process of Super 8 in 16 because I enjoy the entire process from loading up the camera, developing the film by hand, and the extra effort to plan and block your shots. NTM - What made you decide to get into
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NTM - Does your Aboriginal identity play a factor when you think about the films or is it more abstract? AJS - The work that IÕ ve done so far is more abstract but in the future IÕ d like to do a pow-wow documentary. I feel that the look I can portray of the pow-wow trail would be a real insider look of what truly happens. NTM - What advice can you give other youth on pursuing their goals? AJS - The Creator has blessed all of us with gifts and talents. It is up to us to nurture the skills necessary to utualize these gifts, so when a window of opportunity opens be brave, and see the potential within. It is never to late, or to early to begin to realize your dreams.
COVER*FEATURE
MELISSA VICTOR compiled by John Medeiros
Melissa Victor is a University of Calgary Student taking open studies with a future goal of pursuing a double major in English and Indigenous studies. Along with her writing endeavors she remains active in the Aboriginal community while taking care of her adorable little boy. Shy and reserved, until you get to know her, Melissa is planning her future to ensure being a positive role model to others. NTM - Looking at your goals in seems like you will be in school for a very long time. MV- IÕ m extremely ambitious. NTM - I know from your history that you did a lot of writing, for various writing groups and for our magazine. Do you still write? MV -It can get very hectic to be able to manage and find the time but I still write, itÕ s still my passion. I hope to have a couple of books published in the future but as you know writing takes a lot of planning and effort. NTM - What is your opinion, being at the U of C, of the Aboriginal presence at the school?
NTM - Do you find it harder for Aboriginal students to not only concentrate on their studies, but to engage in events that focus on heritage and identity?
MV - I’m still trying to figure that out myself. I have been finding that when I meet people who identify themselves we become a big group and each day I meet somebody new and I feel like weÕ re growing and becoming a stronger nation one person at a time.
MV - I think that with aboriginal students like myself there is a hurdle to overcome and to constantly prove yourself. IÕ m actually trying to prove to my son that I can do this and I can be a parent and have an academic career and work and strive towards a career, while maintaining my identity so that he also learns anything is possible.
NTM - What resources are available at the school for any youth wanting to be involved?
NTM - What advice can you give other youth on pursuing their goals?
MV - Along with Thomas Snow IÕ m the co-chief of the First Nations Students Association, which is a great resource for students in general, but also for those making a transition to a higher learning facility. The FNSA also helps to educate students on their rights.
MV - My ultimate advice is to see start by seeing what all your options are. If you donÕ t want to stay in the same spot you can travel and just see Canada. I have done it and it helped me get more focus. Now I have a family and IÕ m going to school. It may seem a little backwards but IÕ m achieving my dream. Take a step forward and work at achieving yours.
NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
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COVER FEATURE
TESSA BAILEY compiled by Melissa Victor
it. So in the end it was just finding the classes I liked most, in the end it was my math classes. In the beginning I was in limbo because of personal things happening, and it was hard to keep going, not a barrier because I get past it, just an obstacle, those are the most trying. Just being able to work for N.A.P.I, be a student and have a home life. That must be extremely hard?
University student, N.A.P.I Ambassador, as well a new emerging artist, Tessa plans on making headway with her degree in Math and aspirations in Architecture. She works artistically with painting You coming to the University of Calgary, your original choice for school was to get a Engineering degree, how did that change to math? I had found engineering to competitive, they had told us on the first day of class, look to your right and look to your left and told us only one of us will make it. Engineering was so competitive and so hard. Later on I found a different spin on it, for one project in a class they had asked me to transportation, I did it but drew a old school art car with a old lady smoking a in the back, thatÕ s how my dream in Architecture began. Yea it was really cool. So then you decided to switch. How has it been since the switch? It was really hard choosing because in order to get into architecture you do need a under grad and to get into the program you need good grades, and when I was in the engineering program I didnÕ t have that, my G.P.A was pretty low. I was told to check out Anthropology, I did and I hated
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It is but I donÕ t get a lot of time to do the things that I like to do like painting. I wish I am able to do more. I now use it as my down time, or if I am feeling stressed out. I throw my homework aside and I grab my canvas or project I am doing for a couple hours and then come back to my homework. I get all these ideas that pop up. So you are using your art as an outlet? How did that start? It was actually my mom, when I first moved here; I use to go out all the time and drink. My mom told me to find a hobby. I knew that I liked to be artistic, so I did more of that. Finding an ulterior thing, I did lose a lot of friends because I stopped drinking. What are your goals after you finish school at the University of Calgary? IÕ m really hoping that I can still get into Architecture school; I still need to decide if I want to do interior or exterior. My goal is still keep the communal, my student advisor told me whatever I do I will still come back to the Aboriginal community. I learned more about Douglas Cardinal when he makes a design; he goes back to the community and talks to elders. I think itÕ s important to not just do things for myself but to keep my community involved. Take inspiration from traditional art and use them in my architecture. I think it would be really cool.
JESSE GOUCHEY
COVER*FEATURE
compiled by John Medeiros
Jesse Gouchey is setting a new standard for young artists in Calgary. Ambitious, creative, with just the right amount of edginess, he is rapidly becoming inundated with request for his work. A true talent that continues to grow and impress.
I had a really great High School art teacher but other than that IÕ m pretty much self taught. NTM - Do you have a specific medium you prefer to work in?
NTM - What is your background? I was raised in Red Deer Alberta, and my background is a mix with 1/4 Cree.
I know a lot of artists like to be specific to one thing but I like to try new stuff and expand as much as possible. To me being an artist means adapting and being versatile.
NTM - What made you decide to move to Calgary?
NTM - Are you a role model?
Partly to escape some negativity happening in my town but also because my girlfriend was here.
I feel that the more work I get, the more my name becomes known, there becomes an obligation to maintain myself and portray a professional image. It becomes important when you realize younger kids will be looking at you as a blueprint to the future.
NTM - What was the catalyst that made you get into art? IÕ ve been into art since I was a little kid. I started drawing really young along with my brother and sister and we always competed with each other on who could be the most creative. NTM - Have you had any formal training?
NTM - What is next for you? Through the summer IÕ m pretty much booked up with other festivals and IÕ ve got a project going at the stampede and IÕ m looking to add another level and grow as an artist. NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
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Tribe*PROFI LE
CORY CARDINAL cont. story and photos by Jonathan Stewart unconscious and kicked around the floor of the ring. As he is booted repeatedly by Hurricane, CardinalÕ s ribs on his left side are cracked and the skin is torn off his flesh. In what seems like hours, the vicious assault is over and rodeo cowboys are able to get to Cardinal and put Hurricane back in his pen. The only problem is the medical crew that were assigned to work at the rodeo event have just taken the last injured rider to the hospital and there is no other ambulance crew present to attend to him.
Cardinal was still riding in the summers and now had sponsors and was riding bulls semi-pro. It was the summer of 1991, at the IRCA rodeo in High Level, Alberta, when Cardinal faced Hurricane. Ò When I went over to his pen, he was off by himself,Ó remembers Cardinal, Ò he kept killing other bulls.Ó At first glance the bull seemed calm, but by now Cardinal was one of the top ranked riders at the competition; so if anyone could handle Hurricane, it was him. After the announcer calls CardinalÕ s name, he jumps into the pen and mounts the bull. The pen doors swing open and the bell rings, propelling Cardinal and Hurricane both out into the ring. “At first, the ride was smooth and I was able to stay on top,Ó says Cardinal, Ò but I got too cocky and I was spurring too much, and lost control.Ó As the beast jumps and kicks his back legs into the air, Cardinal got thrown off the brute and unto the floor of the stadium and beneath HurricaneÕ s sharp hooves. He is now at the mercy of a nearly 1,000- pound animal that seems hell-bent on extracting revenge on Cardinal. He gets trampled by the bullÕ s heavy feet as he is knocked
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Ò There was a lady that was a trained nurse there and she came to check me out,Ó Cardinal remembers of the violent event. Ò She laid me out and kept poking my ribs, and each time she touched one I would pass out.Ó When Cardinal got to the nearest hospital all they could do was stitch up his open wounds and give him an assortment of painkillers. His father put him in the back of his truck and him drove the six hours south back to Calgary. Cardinal didnÕ t like the idea of being given highly addictive pain killers so he bought a quart of whiskey to ease his suffering. Lying on his back on a makeshift bed and covered in blankets in the back of the truck, he would drink until he passed out, and when he would regain consciousness he would drink himself back to unconsciousness again. He made it back to Tsuu Tina that night and recovered after weeks at his motherÕ s horse ranch. Cardinal didnÕ t take long to get back to the ring; even if he wasnÕ t fully recovered he wouldnÕ t let his injuries stop him from doing what he loved. Once he even painted an arm cast the color of his skin and hid it under his shirt to enable him to enter a bull-riding completion. But after Hurricane, everything changed. When he went to events he started to suffer from extreme bouts of anxiety before his rides and could not longer stay on the bull. He couldn’t fight the urge to
jump off and couldnÕ t stay on to compete with other riders. After losing the support of his sponsors, Cardinal could no longer afford to compete in province and nationwide competitions. For a long time, even watching bull-riding events would provoke a panic-attack from Cardinal. Ò I knew it was my time to retire,Ó says Cardinal. Ò It tells you by how it treats you and my body was busted up, I couldnÕ t stay on and make money and thatÕ s when you know.Ó It was a huge loss for Cardinal who had put so much time and effort into his career as a bull-rider. He had to turn his back on bull-riding and affected everything around him. He continued living in Tsuu Tina at his motherÕ s ranch breaking horses, and still rode but his focus was no longer on bull-riding. He had completed two years at Mount Royal College and was applying to further his study at University of Alberta when things started to fall apart. Ò The big change in my life came after a few years in college when I was disillusioned with academia and the future as an Aboriginal man,Ó recalls Cardinal. Ò I wanted to be a bureaucrat but I didnÕ t see it going anywhere, the whole (idea of) buying into the system. So I never really finished my degree.” He quickly gave up his plans to study at U of A, and got a job in construction. It was around this time that Cardinal met Michelle Thrush. Ò When I was 25, thatÕ s when I realized school was going to shit and my applications to U of A got all messed up, after I toured the U of A campus and thought about moving up there and even looked at places and then I met Michelle at an Indian night at a bar named The Highlander in northwest Calgary. I should have been starting school around then but I ended up living with her.Ó Ò I knew Cory for awhile before we got together but not well,Ó remembers Thrush. Ò I knew his sisters and would see him around. We actually got to know each other when we starting dating in 98. He brought me out to meet his horses and I
brought me out to meet his horses and I just never really left. When we first started hanging out it was his humour that I fell in love with.Ó The two hit it off immediately and had two girls together; Imajyn who is now 10, and Indica who is 7. Ò He is one of the funniest guys I have ever met,Ó claims Thrush. Ò We went through a lot together and did a lot of growing up with each other. Both our girls simply adore him. He is a loving funny and playful daddy. There is no other man I would want to have children with.Ó After CardinalÕ s second child with Thrush, he decided to go back to school, so he enrolled in an administration program at SAIT. He was still working construction full-time to support his family, but knew he wanted more for his and his familyÕ s future. Ò My views on life and all my relations is to want a better future for them so they donÕ t have to suffer as so many generations have under colonialism,Ó states Cardinal (now 37). Ò I want the best chances for my children and where I work allows me to help the future leaders, academics, care givers and people in general that will make things good for my children and their children. Now I believe my health is the most important thing for me. I want to be around for my children and I canÕ t help anyone if I am weak.Ó Cardinal and Thrush are no longer together but they still maintain a close relationship. Thrush lives in Vancouver and with her busy acting career she travels quite a bit so Imajyn and Indica are able to see their father quite regularly. Ò Both our girls simply adore him,Ó chuckles Thrush. Ò He is a loving, funny and playful daddy. They are little images of him and we often joke that maybe I am not their mother and I should do a maternity test. They really look just like him and his family.Ó Around the age of 23, Cardinal found out that he was the father of a young girl that he had six years earlier named Cheyyene. Ò I wasnÕ t really shocked, but I wanted to get to know her better because she was already six,Ó says Cardinal. Ò My girlfriend at the time had to get used to the idea that I already had a kid.Ó Cheyyen is now 19 and living on Tsuu Tina Reserve, and has plans to attend university
in the fall. After he graduated from the program at SAIT, Cardinal got a job as program coordinator of the Native Centre at StudentÕ s Association of Mount Royal University (then still a college). It is a program he helped to set up almost 10 years earlier when attending the college as a student. In his role at the SAMRU, he is able to really make an impact to those young people in the community that need his guidance and experience to help them on their own path. He holds many events such as film festivals, author meetings, art shows, concerts, fashion shows, and even a sweat lodge in Tsuu Tina which always boasts a high turnout of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants. Ò IÕ ve seen students from the street and IÕ ve seen students from the country go on from here and we can relate on certain subjects and they can understand that you could go one way or another or you could change paths half way through,Ó says Cardinal. Mount Royal has approximately 500 selfidentified Aboriginal students. That means they check a box when they register at the school, however many do not self-identify so an exact number is unclear. Ò I like to come here to do some work compared to the library, that place gets pretty congested,Ó says Shay Yellowbird, a second-year marketing student at MRU. Ò When I come here I always meet somebody else thatÕ s Native that I know, or if I donÕ t know them, IÕ ll meet them. CoryÕ s a pretty good guy, good guy to get along with.Ó Since he has been employed at SAMRC (now Mount Royal University) Cardinal has been involved with many separate Aboriginal organizations that combat issues such as employment, housing, postsecondary, tax rights, politics, lands claims just to name a few. Currently he is involved in three associations outside of his duties at MRU; Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative Educational Domain and the First Nations, Inuit, MŽ tis Alumni Chapter; both of which he is the acting Chair Person as well as sitting on the Iniskim Centre Advisory Board of Mount Royal University. Ò We have an advisory board (which Cory sits on) that is quite extensive, our board includes community members from the neighbouring reserves in the treaty seven area and from different agencies in the city and of course the Iniskim Centre,Ó
says Valerie Sipos. Ò So Cory comes and represents from the Student Centre of Mount Royal.Ó Sipos and Cardinal actually started working at MRU within a couple of months of each other and both quite regularly collaborate on events at the University. For example with the month of March being Native Awareness month, the Iniskim Centre annually hosts a speaker series of lecturers, authors and elders from different groups. Ò I think Cory sort of busts the stereotype of Ô us against themÕ ,Ó states Sipos. Ò When I was a young street punk, I realized that wasnÕ t going anywhere, what I really wanted to do with that was join an army or create a resistance or be involved with something that wasnÕ t so accepting,Ó recalls Cardinal. Ò But these guys werenÕ t really changing much. It came down to creating an organization called the Calgary Aboriginal Alliance; a youth activist organization that focused on treaty rights, and educational rights, and that became a social club, just kids hanging out not doing much more than sitting around bitching about the government. So I looked at education. If you look at social movements around the world, thatÕ s where they always happen, on post-secondary campuses. Then I came to school specifically for that, and took a few courses because I wanted to see what they were about.Ó Ò Cory is devoted to his family, to his students, and to his community,Ó says EagleSpeaker. Ò He is a true soul and loyal to those he loves. I most admire his humour and ability to support others through whatever they are going through.Ó Whether he was wrestling killer bulls at packed rodeos, breaking wild horses in the wilderness of Tsuu Tina, or hanging with fellow Scalps in downtown Calgary, the one thing that never changed was CoryÕ s love and respect for his community. After youÕ ve met Cory for the first time, it would be hard to imagine that he had even one enemy. He is a personable and friendly guy that could make anyone feel right at home, as soon as you stepped into his office at Mount Royal UniversityÕ s Student Association. Ò In my position, I have met thousands of students who have their minds open to learn new things,Ó states Cory. Ò And itÕ s this that allows them the chance to supplement their education with more than just books.Ó NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
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Music*Charts
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Catch the Beat - Charts – House & Techno by Caylem Simeon
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HOUSE MUSIC
Artist Ð Track Ð Label Jon Delerious & Neighbor – The Calgary Connection E.P. – Nordic Trax DJ Sneak Ð ThereÕ s Something About Chicago E.P. Ð Magnetic Recordings Fries & Bridges – Forever This (Original Mix) – Minority Music Wally Callerio – Memories ft. Waldeck (Wally Callerio’s In My Mind Mix) – Dufflebag Recordings NÕ Dambi Ð CanÕ t Hardly Wait (BHQ Re-Rub Mix) Ð Pink Elephant MeÕ Shell Ndegcello Ð If ThatÕ s Your Boyfriend (BHQ Re-Edit) Ð CDR Black Coffee Ð Superman ft Bucie (Club Mix) Ð Jellybean Soul Jay West & The Candy Dealers – Soon To Shine E.P. – Open Bar Miguel Garcia Ð Speak My Mind (Johnny FiascoÕ s Moody Groove Mix) Ð Klassik Fiasco Nikola Gala Ð The Pump E.P. Ð Rekkids
TECHNO MUSIC
Artist Ð Track Ð Label LaPietra & Norman – Maasai Kaliba (Original Mix) – CDR Carl Craig Ð At Les (Christian SmithÕ s Tronic Treatment Mix) Ð Tronic Deetron Ð Collide (Original Mix) Ð Green Trancesetters Ð Secrets of Meditation (Chi-Take Mix) Ð First Impression Rich Jones Ð Chorozon (Harvey McKay Remix) Ð 8 Sided Dice Secret Cinema Ð Glad Chord (Psycatron Remix) Ð Gem Records Steve Parker Ð Fenix The Rat (Original Mix) Ð 1605 Plastikman Ð Helicopter Ð Plus 8 Records Kaiserdisco & Flavio Diaz – Jauna (Original Mix) – Drumcode Danilo Vigorito Ð I Saw The Light (Original Mix) Ð Plus 8 Records
All tracks are available on-line through the following sites: www.beatport.com www.stompy.com www.traxsource.com If you have any ideas for tracks/labels/mixes that could be reviewed or you want to submit your own for review, send them in and we’ll make you famous! If you have any questions, comments, or whatever, then hit me up at caylem_1@hotmail.com. Enjoy the music…
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GAME*ON
Game Reviews
By Jonas Soosay
SSF IV
# OF PLAYERS: 2 RESOULUTION: 720 PUBLISHERS: CAPCOM CATEGORY: FIGHTING
Super Street Fighter 4 is back and with new characters and added content, IÕ ll bring you into whatÕ s new. We have the basic street fighter family from the old Street fighter 4, with 10 new characters. Now you can practice the new characters’ moves and ultras to learn their fighting styles and tweaks. We have fighters from the old Street Fighter 3 and the Street Fighter Alpha series as well as the Super Street Fighter Super Turbo. To name a few (Dudley, T.Hawk, Adon, and Deejay,), and 2 new fresh characters added to the series. Capcom has added the old school bonus stages from the ol’ street fighter 2 days; there’s the bonus stage where you destroy the car completely and the falling barrel stage. Capcom has also refreshed the online mode slightly, creating a personal lobby mode and spector mode. With the personal lobby mode, you can pretty much create a lobby just for you and your friends so you don’t have to fight constant strangers any more (which can be cumbersome to some players). If you like to watch the street fighter expert players’ perform at their best from around the world, then the spectator mode is just for you. You can go to spectator mode and watch other fighters play, learning other players styles of play and individuality. Then there’s the added ultra selection which you can choose after you picked your fighter; you have the option of two ultra’s but you can only pick one. Each character has the choice to pick one of the two ultra’s before the fight which can turn the tide of any battle at any given moment. Super Street Fighter 4 has been upgraded, with brand new characters and old school music, which we can remember from the old arcade days as kids or teenagers. I recommend Super Street fighter 4 essential for all players who like their fighting games and those who like the classic fighting genre.
LOST PLANET 2
Lost planet 2 is back from is critically acclaimed original Lost Planet game. This time, the game evolves to 10 years after the first series and the planet has significantly thawed itself out. The story takes place on the planet E.D.N. 3, which is being colonized. There are different kinds of threats or monsters that exist on this planet called Akrid, which can range from human size to the size of buildings. The significance of these Akrid is they produce thermal energy which generate optimal energy for heat and other sources of energy, but in time, the colonists fight the Akrid for control of the thermal energy and split into their own separate communities. These colonists came to be known as snow pirates. Lost planet 2 has introduced a new 4 player campaign mode which means you and your buddies can play through together online at the same time.You can also join in someone elseÕ s campaign, or maybe you, your buddy and a anonymous player can play online. If you choose to play solo, then the computer will play the extra three characters for you so no worries except you will be doing mostly all of the work through the game play.The music has been nice and properly orchestrated during slow, and pressure, moments of the game.The controller has been tweaked slightly so you can now convert energy to health faster. Also, you can give energy to help team mates who are low in thermal energy and use emotes (taunting and gestures) which is good for online play. The online mode has been upgraded to get with the times, there are more characters and options to suit your playing styles. The story mode has finally made more sense as per the last game, and there will be moments where you will take the role of other characters while you play. There are new V.S. Battle suits and Akrid call Category G which are really hard to eliminate. One exception is that while # OF PLAYERS:1-16 RESOULUTION:720 you play a campaign you cannot press start which can be stressful if you are playing solo or with friends. Lost planet 2 is good for players who like the run and gun type but with the classic lost planet feeling
PUBLISHERS:CAPCOM CATEGORY:SHOOTER
NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
29
BEATS
Turn up the Volume By Katty Jo Rabbit
Hawksley Workman Meat “Baby mosquito, the firefly nights and the bats without sight will believe/and malarial nightmares that keep you from sleep next to meÓ With lyrics like these you have to know that Hawksley is Canadian, maybe even one of the greatest Canadian music producers, and singer song writers that we have to offer, ask Tegan and Sara about that; and because of this he has become a main stay. If you get a chance check him out at the folk fest, due to hit your town sooner or later. Because not only is he original in his writing, he is also universal, because who has not been though heartache, who amongst us, has not wanted the attention of a French girl in L.A This is the tenth album or so from Workman, and he has managed to stay true to his sound and style but he has also kept it all relevant, which is nice to hear. Since most artists tend to fall into the world of self aware sense of cool, you can rest assure that Hawksley will not be one of these androids. At least we know that it does not happen here. He still remains the unpolished, grungy, glorified, and gritty singer we will always know. The only thing that does not ring true is the lack of zest needed to attract new fans. Sometimes, keeping it in the mainstay is not the way to be, there was even a time when it almost seemed bored. Then the piano playing commenced, to remind all of us, that no matter what, there will always be a sweaty, handsome man in a toque singing his heart out for the enjoyment of the masses. Some of the stellar standouts were the songs, Depress my hangover Sunday, and WeÕ ll make time (even if there ainÕ t no time)
Kate Nash My Best Friend is You Not the best second album that has ever been developed but certainly the most different; here we see our ever loving brit star try to step out of her scene. Maybe it is the dreaded second album curses where, no matter how hard you try you never get to recreate the buzz of the first album, or maybe Nash had decided to make music for her and not for the scenesters. Either way it was a little disappointing, boring and really quite strange. Like meeting a weird cousin for the first time, who never grew up around the family and smells like mouldy towels that have not been fully dried. Then your forced to hang out with this cousin and then hug it, when you leave. But the love is still there, because you see the potential and know, as soon as this cousin gets some social awareness they will come around. The only catch here is the cousin is Kate Nash and you most likely will never get to give her a hug. Hopefully the third coming, visit, album, whatever have you will be a more pleasant listening experience. Needless to say there are some places that Nash takes us, where as a listener you wish she would have stayed longer and explored. The song, I just love you more is completely different then ever heard, the guitar riffs are teasingly good, her lyrics and screaming are like a vocal strip tease. Even if they are just repeated over and over, it is enough to sustain the song. This is where she should go, she should become this hellion singer, who does not want Foundations but rather a soapbox. There is only one song like this then we go back to her sing song cutesiness that is really unmemorable. Is it too much to want more, is it too much to ask for a little more grit, its getting boring this nice girl anthem stuff, we need another Courtney Love, minus the prescription drug addictions, and coat-tail riding, and Nash
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BEATS
Music You Can Feel In Your Toes New Young Pony Club The Optimist Never has there been an album whose singer is more honest and exposed while keeping the beats. This second self produced album has what you would call spunk. Not the gross substance that is left over when heated romance has occurred, but the new wave disco punk that is sweet, sultry and vulnerable. The vocals, are dark, looming, the synthesisers are entrancing, the lyrics pages from her own journal, the chords, danceable young and sexy. Unlike their first album this band is no longer going to sit on the sidelines and watch the hits go by, they are going to step on the dance floor and take their audience with them on a new wave journey that is going to explode into a cacophony of glitter and lights. All while still being too cool to really try, they give off this vibe, or being too young to bother, but the efforts do not go unnoticed. This is definitely a band that yours truly is going to need to see live to make sure, that all the sound are real. You never really know who the band is also, if you do not see them live, five things must be taken into consideration when hearing a band. Their originality, the lyricism, the originality, the transitions of the music on the album, and the concepts conveyed. With that this album is a keeper, something to listen to through and not be bored by the second track. Though some songs run five minutes long, the bass lines are enough to keep you interested. So check out the song We want to, and Lost a girl. If youÕ re a Ladytron fan then you might like this.
Library Voices Denim on Denim Who would have thought that ten musically inclined friends from Regina could make such great indie pop music. It was believed that only rappers and moose meat came from Regina, but it has been proven wrong. Gives one a sense of false belief that if youÕ re bored enough you could make great music of your own, and put your lazy hometown on the indie map just like Denim on Denim has. Though that is the case it is not for everyone, because you have to have the right formula for that, and if there is an indie rock god, and yours truly gets to interview these locals then you know for sure that yours truly will get that formula and exploit for myself. No, all joking aside, it would be made public so that any other bored prairie runners could make music and expose the true balladry that is southern Alberta. Anyway, this album is nice, formal, polite, and respectful. It will ask your dad if he can take you out, and bring your mom flowers. It will open the door to new perspectives and keep you interested, you will date for a long time before you are groped and then you will find out that It has kids and you won’t care, because by that time you will have had the best musical experience you thought you could ever have, and then you will say “I love you” first and the rest will be history. At least that is how it should be, never allow anyone to group you on the first date.Paul Gutheil, Eoin Hickey-Cameron, Mike Dawson, Carl Johnson, Karla Miller, Brennan Ross, Amanda Scandrett and Michael Thievin have all put in their two bits on this album, and it is not as arcade fire as you may think, because here there is accordion, horns and strings, involved not to mention a cool studio that they recorded in, check out the myspace page and watch for these voices to hit your city, because any band that can quote Kurt Vonnegut in a song is worth a listen too. Not only are they talented they are intellectual. NEW TRIBE JUNE 2010
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COMMU NITY
JONATHAN’S STORY by Julie Young I was a greener-than-green recent university graduate the first time I was head-butted in the chest by an angry six-year-old and had all my high-handed delusions about the way that counselling was supposed to work shattered into a million crystal shards of idealism. Or rather, not shattered, but certainly bruised. My white light of hope became tainted with an ugly purplish-yellow, perfectly matching the mark on my ribs. That was the day I met Jonathan. I graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Psychology in the beginning of May and two weeks later I was gainfully employed. One word had stood out in the job offer over any other: counsellor. Not youth worker or aide or assistant, but youth counsellor. That title meant a great deal to me; in my mind I saw myself sitting behind a large desk while rapt-eyed children listened to what I had to say about the social stigmas that they were going to overcome. Clearly it had been a long time since the babysitting days of my teenage years. Jonathan quickly taught me with one fierce blow to the chest exactly what youth counselling was going to be all about. Being a member of the MŽ tis Nation of Alberta, I was assigned to a group home that was specifically for Aboriginal youth so we could teach and promote traditional values. There were four full time workers and four children living in the house. Jonathan was assigned to me.
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The head counsellor of the house (a title I still found myself envying, even as my ribs ached in protest) told me that she thought Jonathan might like me Ð he normally ignored the new workers. One look into Jonathan’s defiant stare told me that he definitely didn’t like me; in fact, would be more than willing to hit me again if I gave him the chance. His black eyes glittered and I felt suddenly overwhelmed. I was completely responsible for the well-being of one very angry young boy. The head counsellor also told me that Jonathan had been taken away from his grandmother because of alcoholism and had never met either of his biological parents. I realized I felt...sorry for him. It was the first of many mistakes I would make with Jonathan. No one, especially not an angry and scared child, wants to be pitied. He yelled at me when I went to visit him in his room and told me that next time heÕ d hit me so hard that IÕ d end up in the hospital. Over the next few weeks, I observed different things about Jonathan. Like most six-year-olds, he hated vegetables, loved French fries and riding his bike. He participated in smudging grudgingly because his grandmother had taught him a different way than was practised at the group home and would belligerently shout out across the table, Ô Bless the FOOD, EYES and SPIRIT!!!Õ as loud as he could if anyone said the words out of order. He refused to go to any of the planned activities on the weekends as he
was convinced that his grandma would be coming to take him away. I kept Jonathan company during some of those lonely weekends. He would let me colour with him and watch cartoons, but I was never allowed to touch his action figures and especially not the framed picture of his grandmother that he kept on his night table, not even to clean. I was also not allowed to touch Jonathan, not even by accident. He hated being touched. Jonathan was angry a lot of the time. During his psychological evaluation every week he would either keep entirely silent and glare at the doctor or yell racist profanities. In JonathanÕ s mind, the doctor, being white, couldnÕ t understand what he felt or what he was going through. I was starting to think that I couldnÕ t either. There was many a night I would leave the group home nearly in tears because of something Jonathan had said or done or threatened to do. He was particularly good at finding just the right words to hurt you with. One day Jonathan came home from school even angrier than usual. He punched one of the other boys in the stomach and ran to his room. I found him face down on his bed, sobbing. Ô I hate it here,Õ he said quietly after a few moments. I kept silent. Ô IÕ m not even in a normal school! My class is full of stupid ****!’ he said more loudly. It was true. Jonathan was in a behavioural
COMMU NITY modification class and a year behind – kindergarten instead of grade one Ð but incidences of disruptive behavior had been almost nonexistent over the past few weeks. Ô Well,Õ I said, breaking the long silence, Ô thatÕ s something we can work on. If you want to go to a normal classroom, then...Õ Ô All the other kids get to go home sometimes!Õ he shouted. I nodded sympathetically. JonathanÕ s grandmother had been going through rehabilitation for her alcohol problems and therapy with one of the counsellors from the agency. She would soon be able to take Jonathan for supervised visits, but not yet. Ô If you want to go somewhere on the weekends, there are a lot of foster families who have volunteered to take you - Õ Ô I donÕ t want a foster family! If I go with them, IÕ ll never see my grandma again!Õ He screeched and threw his bedside clock at the wall and then rolled over and sobbed into his pillow again. Ô TheyÕ ll take me away from her!Õ
Ô Is that what youÕ re worried about?Õ I said in surprise. Ô No, no, Jonathan, your grandma didnÕ t sign over legal guardianship; she still wants to take you home with her someday. The foster family would just be a place for you to go on the weekend. TheyÕ d take you to the zoo or the movies, stuff like that.Õ He didnÕ t say anything, but he eventually stopped crying and sat up, wiping his eyes. He sat there and stared at the wall. He didnÕ t throw anything at me and I took that as a good sign. I reached out and patted his shoulder once. He didnÕ t flinch or pull away. In the weeks that followed, I was able to transfer Jonathan into a modified grade one class with his own teacherÕ s assistant to help him catch up to the other students. He also agreed to visits on every other weekend with a foster family that lived nearby. He was still prone to fits and fights with his peers at the house, but for the most part he was a lot calmer, especially once he was able to start weekend visits with his grandma. He even took the lead for some of the
smudging ceremonies at meal time. Jonathan moved out of the group home soon after. I never saw him again, and I suppose thatÕ s a good thing. It means that his grandma stayed clean and sober and their relationship is stable. I stopped envying the lead counsellor her position. I guess I realized that it didnÕ t matter if I was some authority figure sitting behind a desk, what I was doing with these kids had real meaning. They might not always look up to me the way I once imagined that the people I was helping would, but that wasnÕ t important to me anymore. Jonathan sent me a card once, a few months after leaving the group home. It was only a drawing of him and his grandma and a dog outside a house, but in the picture they all had bright red crayon smiles and I knew that somehow IÕ d gotten through to him. Jonathan taught me that my hope wasnÕ t shattered, it was only bruised. And, just like the one on my chest, it faded with time.
Stories Unsung Aboriginal people working for community. It’s a calling. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people are called to promote, support and advance their own communities…and we answer that call with hard work and pride. We feel strongly about the importance of healing our Nations through service…no matter what that service may be…we are united in this respect. We jump through many hoops, and over time we find that we are able to integrate these hoops into a whole so that we may do our part to hold up our world. There is honour and love in this endeavour. We sacrifice for our families and community. The sad part is that we discover that we have somehow sacrificed the very connections that are the source of our motivation…as we have jumped through the hoops we have moved away from our families and communities that don’t relate to us the same way…we’ve been so busy working, attending classes, reading, writing, and studying, studying, studying!! The time that we have spent advancing ourselves to advance our communities takes us away…the discoveries, revelations, and transformations that have occurred within us gives us a new language that our friends and families don’t speak. We realize that suddenly, we are a bit removed and alone…and then we find ourselves in a workplace where we discover that we cannot relate to our colleagues. Added to our workload is the additional work to deconstruct negative stereotypes which involves over-performance to make up for the low expectations of us…in this environment we’re not about to share our personal lives which involves the various manifestations of the impact of Colonization which very few of us, if any, have escaped. So, we feel a little isolated. The stories of Aboriginal people working for their community are rarely heard, usually because they are giving voice to others, to a community that has been marginalized. Moments of isolation are experienced internally and go unnoticed, and we carry this extra burden because we have no safe space to share. Isolation is the invisible sacrifice. This particular story is unsung. Until now, that is…”Stories Unsung” has been an ongoing project led by Donald McKay of Ryerson University and Mariette Sluyter of the Foundation Lab. Their intention was to explore isolation of individuals and families. After working with a couple of diverse groups, Donald and Mariette approached the Adult Aboriginal Mental Health team of Alberta Health Services to partner in a project along with Aspen Family Services to produce an Aboriginal “Stories Unsung”…a musical forum theatre production. Since September this group has been exploring the theme of isolation in their own experience through theatre, poetry, and song and they are ready to share with the community. Come join us on June 18th at the Renfrew Boys & Girls Club in the hangar for an evening of song, and interactive theatre…we want to relate, not isolate (that’s my rhyme). SEE AD ON PAGE 39
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LITERA LLY
Book Reviews For the restless mind
Elodie Caron Going in Circles by Pamela Ribon Charlotte Goodman, separated from her husband after only a few months of marriage, is depressed. She barely knows the man she swore her life to, and in the process of trying to figure out her relationship with him, she’s lost a little bit of herself, as well. Her co-worker, Francesca, decides to help Charlotte fix herself, and introduces her to the mighty sport of roller derby. Charlotte’s reawakening as a tough, fight-like-hell kind of chick on the track leads her down the path to change and acceptance in her relationships with her friends and family and a reconciliation with her own true self. I liked this one, itÕ s an easy read, with likable characters and a relatable story. Charlotte sucks sometimes, but not any more than anyone else, which is pretty much how a normal human operates, and while thereÕ s not exactly a happy ending, itÕ s not tragic and heartbreaking, either. And it kind of makes you want to put on some skates and hip check someone right off their feet. Just a little bit.
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern Okay, this one is the textbook product of the internet age, for sure. Shit My Dad Says is HalpernÕ s Twitter account, started just to record the crazy hilarious stuff that comes out of the mouth of Sam Halpern, aka Dad. It became a phenomenon, picking up more than a million followers and leading to a TV deal (yes, itÕ s going to be sitcom, starring William Effing Shatner, this fall) and somehow, the kid turned those little bits of conversation into a book. ItÕ s not particularly plot heavy, just back stories based on some of the choicest quotes - for example: Ò TheyÕ ll gut you like a pig, piss on your corpse, and say Ô Welcome to Mexico!Õ Ó - that explain what the hell was going on when that happened. Despite his filthy vocabulary and his ability to make little kids cry, without fail, Dad has actually led a pretty interesting life, and this book does a good job of making him less of a cartoon character and more of a guy who just likes to swear a lot in between, I swear to god, trying to cure cancer and raising his kids right. Although IÕ d recommend it just on the strength of his Ô birds and beesÕ speech alone.
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LITERALLY
Book Reviews For the restless mind
Rachel Paris
Motorcycles & Sweetgrass By: Drew Hayden Taylor If youÕ re at all familiar with TaylorÕ s work, you know that humour is his specialty. Throughout his career Taylor has excelled in everything from playwriting to journalism. Much of TaylorÕ s works satirically tackles issues surrounding history and modernity, assimilation and tradition; Motorcycles & Sweetgrass is no exception. A mysterious and handsome white man has shown up on a 1953 Indian Motorcycle after an Elder made her last wish for a little magic to be brought back to Otter Lake. Catching the eyes of the women on the res, including Chief Maggie Second, Ô JohnÕ or Nanabush (depending on who you ask) brings more than magic back. Filled with mischievous intentions and a deep, passionate hatred for raccoons, Ô JohnÕ makes himself at home while livening up the sleepy reserve in Northern Ontario. MaggieÕ s son, Virgil, however has a bad feeling about this ‘John’ character, and makes it his business to find out who ‘John’ really is. Teaming up with his eccentric uncle and the local raccoons VirgilÕ s efforts to drive Ô JohnÕ and his motorcycle out of town causes a chain reaction of reader delight. In the words of Joseph Boyden, famous author of Three Day Road, Ò If the great Ojibway trickster wrote fiction, I imagine he’d write just like Drew Hayden TaylorÉ A wisdom exists in these pages that only comes from someone who writes from his heart.Ó Motorcycles & Sweetgrass will bring magic into your heart and a chuckle to your belly. Pick it up!
Other novels from Drew Hayden Taylor
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Meet You at the Small Screen
SMA LL*SCREEN
By Elodie Caron
Starring Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton Leslie Wright (Latifah) is the kind of girl that guys love to hang out with, but dating, not so much. A physical therapist and lifelong basketball fan, sheÕ s brought in to help her teamÕ s star player, Scott McKnight (Common) recover from a career-threatening injury before his season is up and his contract falls off. Of course, things are complicated by her pretty, ambitious godsister, Morgan (Patton), who inches her way in to ScottÕ s world at just the wrong time. The romantic comedy equation is followed pretty closely and Common isnÕ t quite as charismatic as a lead should be, but itÕ s still pretty entertaining, Queen Latifah is as likable as always and Common looks damn good in a suit. Worth a rental, or a cheap matinee screening.
Just Wright
starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Jason Patric It might be time to stop with the comic book movies. This one? Not so good. The usual formula for an action movie goes something like this: good guys+evil scientist/politician/global corporation boss/angry former nerd+fight to the death+hot girl+cool explosions and slow motion walking away = edge of your seat fun. But when the good guys are kind of a bunch of jerks (who randomly turn bad for no good reason, like, what the?) and the evil...spy(?) doesnÕ t even know who they are, and the hot girl is kind of an even bigger jerk, I mean, whereÕ s the fun, exactly? Nowhere, thatÕ s where. This movie doesn’t make any sense, the characters are flat and I didn’t even care who won. And I’d really like it if we could stop with the Ô ooh, this dude made a bunch of casually racist remarks and terrible jokes about brown people, heÕ s obviously the bad guyÕ lazy writer crap. And then they left it open for a sequel, for some reason. My official verdict: Bluh.
The Losers
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