December 2013/January 2014
Editorial
by: Armand LaPlante
When I was 10 years old I asked an adult who the most famous person in the world was. In my young mind I thought he was going to say Elvis or some Hollywood actor, but the adult replied “Nelson Mandela.” I said “who!?” At that time I made a bit of an effort to educate myself on Mandela and although I didn’t understand much of the political criteria and terms, I knew he had done great things to be considered
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with such a high regard in our world. Now that I’m older and understand better; I can say the world will miss Nelson Mandela and what he represented. I pray that his actions, relentlessness and heroism inspire future leaders to work toward the betterment and have the positive impact Nelson Mandela had on our world. What an interesting year for Saskatchewan, what comes to mind when I think of our ongoing treaty relationship is that the lines are drawn and then redrawn. Just when you think this is the way it is, you have people step out and point out that First Nations people need to be considered if there is to be meaningful ongoing prosperity for our province and elsewhere in our country. Individuals like Jim Prentice, John Manley, Bob Rae, and commentators like Murray Mandryk, all have more-or-less
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stated that First Nations have to be partners in the resource development in Canada. I believe the general public, to some degree, is willing to accommodate the First Nations, true to what was envisioned by our forefathers. Stress and working too hard over the holiday season can dim that holiday spirit that brings joy to our hearts. Many people get a set amount of holidays at Christmas time with no work responsibilities. But many entrepreneurs, business owners, and other workaholics know that sometimes the work doesn’t stop at 5pm; it doesn’t stop on Friday; and sometimes, it doesn’t stop for Christmas. It should therefore be the entrepreneur’s goal to make sure that he or she has some days with no responsibilities and to only focus on family, peace, and finding that true holiday spirit. At Christmas season people say where they plan to be for Christmas day, a lot say “back
home”. In my family’s case, home would be Gordon’s, Moosomin FN, English River, Star Blanket, Sweetgrass and others. Although we won’t be there on Christmas, we will meet in the hall because our family is too big to gather in a house. For Christmas then, home, invariably, is the family. You are home when you are with your family. I, on behalf of my family and Indigenous Times, wish everyone a Merry Christmas and no matter where you are, I hope you will be happy. Ekosi, Armand LaPlante editor@indigenoustimes.ca ADVERTISE WITH INDIGENOUS TIMES First Nations people serving the Aboriginal community of Saskatchewan since 1993. Phone: 306-955-0109 Email: sales@indigenoustimes.ca
CREE FILM PROJECT AWARDED $400,000 IN FUNDING The Canadian Media Fund recently announced $1.3 million in funding to three Aboriginal film and television projects. One of the projects funded was for ‘Sweet Cherry Wine’ written by Cree writer Floyd Favel of Poundmaker, and produced by Kunuk Cohn Productions of Montreal. Kunuk Cohn’s film Atanarajuat/Fast Runner won for best film at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2003. Mr. Favel’s own company Miyawata Films is a co-producer of this film. ‘Sweet Cherry Wine’ is a story of love, heartbreak and racist violence set in the 1940s and 50s and is primarily shot in the Cree language. The project will hire local Saskatchewan based actors giving them a major career opportunity as this film, once released, will have national and global distribution and be seen worldwide by audiences. “This is a great opportunity Publisher/Editor: Armand LaPlante editor@indigenoustimes.ca Associate Editor: Jordan LaPlante jordan@indigenoustimes.ca Advertising Sales: Armand LaPlante sales@indigenoustimes.ca phone: 306-955-0109
for First Nations, as it will provide employment and bring up to $1 million in contracts, salaries, and direct economic spin offs to First Nations and surrounding communities. The film will also bring positive publicity to First Nations and show case our people, landscape and our talent to the country and to the world” says co-producer Mr. Favel. Mr. Favel has a long history in the arts. He studied theatre in Denmark and Italy and his work has been shown at the National Museum of the American Indian, Denver Art Museum, Santa Fe Institute of American Indian Arts, the National Arts Centre, Ondinnok Theatre, The Canada Dance Festival, New Dance Horizons, the Globe Theatre, Citadel Theatre, and he has taught or given seminars at The National Theatre School of Canada, University of Victoria-Australia, Moscow School of Dramatic Arts, UBC-
Kelowna, and is currently writing a drama for Concordia University in Montreal. The film will hire actors, extras, caterers, horse wranglers, horses, carpenters, costume coordinators, and will be shot on location in various First Nations in the
province, as well as a few scenes to be shot in a local small town. Miyawata Films will be looking for actors in the coming few months, and is currently discussing partnerships with some First Nations who would like to have the film shot in their community. •
Floyd P. Favel - Submitted photo
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