NEWS
Solidarity at last
UMSU sides with transit union in labour conflict PAGE 3
ARTS
COMMENT
Afraid to speak up
How to make it in lit
Personal philosophy should trump party loyalty
Local author releasing last of high fantasy trilogy
PAGE 8
PAGE 10
SPORTS
Getting a leg up Speed a boon for women’s soccer PAGE 8
VO L 1 0 6 · N O 6 · S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 · W W W.T H E M A N I TO B A N .CO M
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Index
VOL. 106 NO. 6 September 18, 2019
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Malak Abas
editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293
BUSINESS MANAGER Alice Teufack
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EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Doering
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NEWS EDITOR Garett Williams
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NEWS EDITOR Ty Brass
ty@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
COMMENT EDITOR Kenny Ingram
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ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Emelia Fournier
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SPORTS EDITOR Jason Pchajek
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COPY EDITOR Matthew Doering
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ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR Megan Pietrus
megan@themanitoban.com
ARTS AND CULTURE
Head, heart, hands and health Helping and leading through the 4-H club PAGE 13
DESIGN
DESIGN EDITOR Kellie Huynh
design@themanitoban.com
GRAPHICS EDITOR Evan Tremblay
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VISUAL CONTENT EDITOR Quincy Houdayer
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EDITORIAL
Batter down
The perspective of injuries in professional sports PAGE 7
Design Design Editor: Kellie Huynh Contact: design@themanitoban.com Graphics Editor: Evan Tremblay Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com Visual Content Editor: Quincy Houdayer Contact: visual@themanitoban.com
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News
News Editor: Garett Williams and Ty Brass Contact: garett@themanitoban.com ty @themanitoban.com / 474.6770
UMSU votes to support ATU in transit strife
Vote followed presentation from ATU, Winnipeg Transit declined invitation TY BRASS, STAFF
D
espite voting to remain neutral city without a further offer. ATU in transit negotiations only director of communications Zach two weeks ago, the UMSU board of Fleisher gave a presentation to the directors voted Sept. 12 overwhelm- board, urging it to support the union. ingly in support of the Amalgamated “We want to see reliable schedulTransit Union (ATU) in the stand- ing,” said Fleisher. “That’s the number off between transit drivers and one thing.” Winnipeg Transit. Asked by Arts Student Body The motion, drafted at UMSU’s Council representative Zac Wronski regular board meeting following a how the ATU’s asks compare with presentation from the ATU, moves to other Canadian transit policies, “work with the ATU and student and Fleisher noted that while other citcommunity organizations to press for ies may not have guaranteed recovery improved transit service, and UMSU times, the ATU is asking for it out representation on the internal sched- of need. uling review committee.” “Winnipeg Transit, a few years ago, Winnipeg Transit declined an won two straight awards for being the invitation to send a representative to most cost-effective agency in Canada,” the meeting. noted Fleisher. The motion also calls for the rein“We’re running a pretty tight ship statement of provincial 50-50 transit and so we want the five-minute recovfunding — wherein Manitoba’s gov- ery time.” ernment shouldered half the burden Fleisher said the ATU is calling of operational transit funding with for citizen representation on the tranmunicipalities. sit scheduling committee and that That model ended in 2017 after the an UMSU representative would be provincial Progressive Conservative a welcome addition. government froze Winnipeg’s fund“We would love to see someone ing at 2016 levels. from UMSU on that because you Negotiations between the city and are literally the biggest client base the ATU have been ongoing since the that transit has, we’re moving 10,000 previous contract expired in January. students a day.” The most recent proposal was preUMSU president Jakob Sanderson sented by the ATU to the city Aug. 16. said a statement was forwarded from It included a wage increase lower than Winnipeg Transit manager of finance the city’s previous offer, five-minute and administration Laurie Fisher, recovery times for drivers at the end who said the city will honour the of routes and scheduling overhauls. terms of the U-Pass agreement and The proposal was rejected by the provide refunds to students in the
event of a strike or lockout. She added that if students have any questions they may contact her. St. Paul’s College Students’ Association representative Cory Frederickson, who at the board’s Aug. 27 meeting forwarded the successful motion to remain neutral, maintained
constraints, saying, “Transit isn’t here ATU passed with three abstentions. because transit doesn’t care.” Following the meeting, Sanderson Trevor Smith, LGBTTQ* com- said he was extremely proud of the munity representative, also argued board’s stand. against neutrality. “Our goals and the ATU's goals “I have been taking Winnipeg are very much mutually beneficial,” Transit since the seventh grade,” he he said. said. “And I could also write a Lord “We all want to have a transit sysof the Rings trilogy on how shitty tem that is running more efficiently, the service is.” that is running more often, in order Smith went on to say that any to promote accessible education for “Our goals and the argument for neutrality was too based those from disadvantaged groups ATU's goals are very on hypotheticals such as what might and that face financial hardship and happen with U-Pass negotiations where the bus is a primary means of much mutually and what if Winnipeg Transit had transportation for them to be able to beneficial” — presented. get an education. “None of that is really tangible, but “I think that we did the right thing Jakob Sanderson, what we do know is that transit is today as a board in affirming that UMSU president lacking as a service and is failing the stance and affirming our solidarity members that we represent.” with the ATU on those goals, and I’m ASBC rep Wronski pointed out really excited to see how this moves his conviction that UMSU not yet statements within UMSU policy that forward.” take a stance on the issue. advocate for more accessible transIn an email, Fleisher echoed He was skeptical about whether portation to the university, member- Sanderson’s belief that the ATU and Winnipeg Transit was given enough ship involvement in campaigns for UMSU have similar goals. notice to realistically prepare a pres- improving transit, and oppositions to “ATU and UMSU have a shared entation for the board. policies which discourage sustainable interest in improving transit service “This three-day email and not transportation behaviour. for students and workers,” he wrote. knowing the other party was going “I think most of [the ATU’s] “We’re pleased that UMSU has to be here sounds slightly lopsided demands are quite reasonable and joined dozens of other unions and to me, and I think that we would be contribute to a sustainable and acces- associations, representing over misjudged in making a motion right sible future for transit in Winnipeg 100,000 individuals in Winnipeg who now,” he said. which it seems like the city doesn’t are calling for fair working conditions Frederickson’s argument was necessarily have in mind,” he said. and improved public transit service.” met with several dissenting voices. After discussions lasting well “We look forward to continuing to Sharlene MacCoy, mature and part- over an hour, a motion to maintain build capacity with UMSU and other time students’ representative, strongly neutrality failed with just four votes groups to expand public transit in voiced her belief that the absence of in favour and two abstentions. The the fight against climate change and Winnipeg Transit was not due to time subsequent motion to support the improving our communities.”
Wall is full of love QUINCY HOUDAYER, STAFF
Artist Queen Andrea works on her “Love” mural on the front of the Garrick Theater. This piece is part of the Wall to Wall Art and Culture Festival, which continues through the month of September. Additional murals are being started this week in various locations in Winnipeg's downtown.
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News
News Editor: Garett Williams and Ty Brass Contact: garett@themanitoban.com /ty @themanitoban.com / 474.6770
Students meet admin over Thirty Meter Telescope U of M among Canadian universities involved in controversial construction project MALAK ABAS, STAFF
PHOTO BY STEVE HALAMA
U
of M students who recently met bers of faculty and staff Sept. 6. tive outcome.” with administration officials to Some of the students involved in In July, the University of Toronto discuss their concerns with the uni- discussions reported that the meeting — also a member of ACURA — versity’s involvement in the controver- did not fully answer the questions released a statement supporting sial Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) they brought to the administration. the telescope’s construction but project have called the conversation There was a request made that condemning the use of police force the university release a statement on against demonstrators in Mauna Kea. “kind of useless.” The TMT is being constructed its involvement in the TMT project, in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and has something the UMISA co-president “[It was] pretty much activated protesters worldwide who Alicia Kubrakovich said was not say it is being built on land sacred to taken seriously. a meeting to have “I know I asked the question, Indigenous people in the area. more meetings in The U of M is one of 20 mem- ‘When’s the university administration bers of the Association of Canadian going to release their statement?’ and general” — Alannah Universities for Research in he kind of brushed it off,” she said. Mckay, executiveAstronomy (ACURA), a research “He didn’t have the answer for that.” Kubrakovich said the university organization actively involved with at-large, Canadian the project. In 2015, the Canadian did not agree to issue a statement. Federation of government committed more than U of M spokesperson John $240 million to the US$1.4 billion Danakas said in a statement sent to Students project, giving Canadian research- the Manitoban that a statement would ers 15 per cent of viewing time once be coming from VP research “in due the telescope is complete. course.” Some students at the U of M have “The university takes this matter criticized the university’s involvement and the concerns raised by students The UMISA and the Indigenous in the project, saying it conflicts and others very seriously,” he said. womxn’s council released a statement, with the university’s commitment “As the [U of M]’s involvement in July, condemning the TMT’s conto reconciliation. is not direct but rather as part of a struction and called on the university Members of several groups on research association and the project is to divest its support in the project. campus, including University of taking place in an environment with Executive-at-large for the Manitoba Indigenous Students’ which the [U of M] has only limited Canadian Federation of Students Association (UMISA) and the familiarity, the focus now is on ensur- Alannah Mckay said the recent disCanadian Federation of Students, ing the full context of the situation cussion amounted to “pretty much a met with VP research and interna- is understood and on encouraging meeting to have more meetings in tional Digvir Jayas and several mem- respectful dialogue to lead to a posi- general.”
“We’ve had meetings with admin multiple times and then they’ve said that, but [Jayas] was not direct, and it was just kind of very broad,” Mckay said. According to several students in attendance, much of the discussion centred around reiterating that the Hawaiian government and Indigenous communities are currently engaging in discussion. When students criticized this position, saying there had been reported cases of Indigenous Elders being arrested, Jayas said he was not aware of this. In July, it was reported that more than 30 Elders had been arrested after blocking a road at the base of Mauna Kea. A point of concern for faculty of education council senator and Miskofest co-ordinator Kristin Flattery, who was in attendance, was the promise of further discussion, something she said was not fully possible under the circumstances. “We can’t have discussions when there’s a power dynamic issue here,” she said. “And like so many of us say — the community doesn’t want it. I don’t know how to make it any more clear that they don’t want it there, I don’t know why it’s not blatantly obvious to [Jayas] that the community does
not want the telescope.” Mckay said the U of M administration should follow the U of T’s approach and condemn the use of police force in Mauna Kea. “If they wrote a statement saying they respected Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty and that Indigenous people shouldn’t be being arrested,” Mckay said. “That they don’t condone that kind of behaviour toward Indigenous people over there.” Qudus Abusaleh, the racialized commissioner for the Canadian Federation of Students and former reporter at the Manitoban, said he will push the federation to continue pressing administration on the issue and hopes to plan a follow-up meeting. “When all of this is happening, and then we learn of the university’s involvement in this project, the troubling deduction here is that the principles of reconciliation are being manipulated,” he said. Flattery said students will be waiting to see how — and if — the university decides to respond before taking further action. “Are we going to have a rally? Are we going to make some art about this? It’ll be based off of whatever happens, their decision.”
VOL. 106 NO. 6 September 18, 2019
News
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Talking with Tanj Past UMSU president Tanjit Nagra finishes second in provincial elections MALAK ABAS, STAFF
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t just 23, Tanjit Nagra has become a career politician. Before Nagra took second place as the Manitoba Liberal Party candidate for MLA of the Fort Richmond riding in last week’s provincial election, she held a different title — UMSU president. The 2016 UMSU election was one of the tightest in the union’s history, and Nagra took the title by just 39 votes and held a mixed-slate executive for her first term. Her second year as president was more of a sweep, with the incumbent’s slate taking all five executive positions. She stepped into provincial politics while still a student of the Asper School of Business at the U of M — she would have been the youngest MLA to ever hold the position — and her first thoughts of running came from her concern about how the Pallister government was approaching education cuts. “I didn’t like where we were headed as a province, in terms of the changes to education,” she said.
She said she was approached by While she was considering runmembers of both the Liberal and ning, she was concerned about being NDP parties who were interested in “branded as a Liberal,” but said she having her on as a candidate. doesn’t see herself straying too far “I wasn’t a fan of our current gov- from the red path in the future. ernment — and I still am not — and While Nagra has been involved some of their changes to education, with the Liberal party since 2015, to healthcare, I think Manitobans when she took part in Winnipeg deserve a government that takes cli- South MP Terry Duguid’s federal mate change seriously, that allows campaign, she emphasized she had local representatives to have a say in always “kept [her] non-partisanship” their community,” she said. when it came to her run as UMSU Her time work ing with president. Progressive Conservative MLAs “Federally, I’ve been involved with made it apparent to her the party the Liberals, but I was always very was using a “top-down” approach to cautious of my involvement during governance that she said she felt is the my term at UMSU, because I wanted wrong fit for the province. to ensure that we were able to work “Often they are great individuals with any party and any politician to and I have no issues with them per- achieve our goals.” sonally, but I don’t necessarily agree While Nagra said the future is with their leaders’ politics,” she said. not concrete, she has plans to go Dougald Lamont, a former staff back to work as a youth engagement researcher for UMSU who ran as the activator at non-profit youth service leader of the Liberal party person- network TakingITGlobal, start takally requested Nagra put her name ing MBA classes again, and to take forward, and at that point, she said time to recuperate. She said she has it was “hard to say no.” already been approached by several
PHOTO PROVIDED BY TANJIT NAGRA
party members about running in the next election, but has not yet made a decision to run again. “A year ago, I didn’t know I’d be running for MLA in Fort Richmond,” she said. Nagra also plans to work with Duguid again on his federal campaign.
While the provincial results were not in the Liberals’ favour, Nagra said Manitobans had sent a message. “Obviously the election result is unfortunate, and I think it’s clear that Manitobans wanted change, especially in Fort Richmond, but they weren’t necessarily decided on what change was.”
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Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Malak Abas Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770
Injuries in professional sports give perspective Time apart from favourite players causes greater appreciation for amazing moments JOE GONZALES, STAFF
GRAPHIC BY EVAN TREMBLAY
I
t’s Sept. 10, 2019, and the 2009. The Brewers, meanwhile, were in Milwaukee Brewers are visiting the Miami Marlins to play their second the middle of a tight race both in their game in a four-game series. division and for the wild card spot to Brewers outfielder Christian punch their ticket back to the MLB Yelich is at the plate in the bottom post-season. of the first inning with two outs, With a little over two weeks nobody on and a 1-1 count. As the of regular season baseball to play, 80-mile-per-hour slider from Marlins Brewers and baseball fans alike had starting pitcher Elieser Hernández comes toward the plate and begins Injuries in sports to break inside, Yelich offers a swing at it. He fouls it off, but the ball rico- are a kill switch chets toward the top of his right knee, exposed as he finishes the extension for athletes with on his swing. a giant amount Yelich buckles and is soon seen sitting at home plate with his head of momentum down. After a couple minutes, behind them he’s escorted off the field. It’s later revealed that he suffered a fracture in his kneecap and is required to miss something to watch day in and day the rest of the season. out, wondering how the superstar Prior to his injury, the reigning would finish his season. National League (NL) MVP was in Yelich joined the Brewers for the the midst of stringing together yet 2018 season through a trade with the another MVP-calibre season. If he Marlins. were to win the 2019 NL MVP, he His impact was felt immediwould be the first to go back-to-back ately. Milwaukee was in the middle since Albert Pujols did it in 2008 and of a playoff drought, with their last
appearance being in 2011 where they season now? If they do make it, what bowed out to the Cardinals in the are their chances of even winning a National League Championship World Series? Series (NLCS) in six games. Injuries in sports are a kill switch By the end of the 2018 regular sea- for athletes with a giant amount of son the Brewers, for the first time momentum behind them. When it in seven years, finished first in their comes to someone like Yelich, it is division and found themselves back inevitable to start asking questions in the post-season. They reached the in the realm of “what if?” But to put NLCS once again, ultimately meet- a magnifying glass on a portion of ing their end in seven games, losing a superstar’s career that hasn’t even to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Losing happened is to overlook the moments sucks, but for the city of Milwaukee that led fans to become enamoured this Brewers squad gave them opti- with the athlete in the first place. mism for future MLB seasons to Take the Sept. 7 game against the come, and Yelich played a big part Chicago Cubs for example. Brewers in that. outfielder Christian Yelich stands at After his injury, the headlines the plate in the bottom of the ninth and questions started to pour in, all inning with two outs, one on and a regarding what was next for Yelich 2-2 count. and the Brewers. It was determined The game is currently tied. Cubs that he would not require surgery relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler sends and his timeline for recovery would a 94-mile-per-hour fastball that just be relatively short, but how do you touches outside the plate, and Yelich replace someone as integral to the offers a swing at it. He pokes it into team as Yelich? left field past Cubs outfielder Kyle Given the numbers he put up Schwarber, and walks off the Cubs this season, will he still have a shot with a double. at the NL MVP title? What are the The win moves the Brewers closer Brewers’ chances of making the post- to overtaking the Cubs for the sec-
ond wild card spot. “Christian Yelich delivers again!” the play-by-play broadcaster exclaims. Yelich finishes the night by reaching base safely five times, stealing three bases and becoming the 10th player in history to put up 40 home runs and swipe 30 bags in a season. Unfortunate injuries that put a stop to an athlete’s otherwise amazing season can cause us to take these moments for granted. I t feels as if the party won’t stop, but when it does, we tend to focus more on what it would be like if the party had kept going, rather than appreciating how much of a wonderful time we all had. Speculation and hypothetical scenarios will always be a staple in sports discussion, but those moments — the ones where the TV broadcasters can hardly contain their excitement, the ones where sports writers try to find the right analogy to ground their hyperbolic reaction, the ones where kids do their best impression of their new favourite athlete — maybe those ones are worth more than we’re willing to realize at the time.
Comment Comment Editor: Kenny Ingram Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
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The danger of hyper-partisanship Philosophical principles deserve more importance than party loyalty KENNY INGRAM, STAFF
GRAPHIC BY ERNEST ZARZUELA
G
reen Party of Canada (GPC) leader Elizabeth May has found herself embroiled in controversy surrounding candidates the party has nominated for the upcoming federal election. Ousted New Democratic Party (NDP) MP Pierre Nantel, who had previously criticized NDP leader Jagmeet Singh for “ostentatious religious symbols,” is now running on the GPC ticket in Quebec. GPC deputy leader Daniel Green has said that he is completely fine with “dissension” from GPC members like Nantel on the issue of Quebec’s Bill 21, the bill that bans public employees from wearing religious symbols. The controversy unraveled further when May stated that members of her party would not be prevented from attempting to reopen the abortion debate. Though the leniency of May to allow for those with authoritarian and bigoted views in her party is greatly disturbing, her core value of not getting involved in the views or votes of
members is significant, given how hyper-partisan the Canadian political system is. This dynamic is evident in every area of Canada’s parliament. Party
When low-level politicians are not complicit in this structure, their political aspirations can be crushed with the snap of a finger
members vote with the party leader, always. Virtually every bill voted on in the House of Commons will have the same result: the Liberal party voting one way, Conservatives voting another and the NDP similarly all voting together. With recent votes pertaining to
everything from pardoning those from the party entirely. convicted of simple marijuana possesIn 2017, Assiniboia MLA Steven sion to physician-assisted suicide, one Fletcher was booted from Manitoba’s cannot simply make a partisan call Progressive Conservative (PC) party on whether or not to support them. after having a disagreement over the But the leaders of Canada’s most Efficiency Manitoba Act. The PC prominent parties do anyway. If a caucus stated that Fletcher had viomajority government wants a bill lated party principles such as “suppassed, it gets passed. porting the party platform.” This exact same dynamic is evident When a politician is kicked out of in provincial legislatures. Elected a party not only do they lose all of the representatives similarly vote with funding it provides during elections, the party and leader they represent, but a great deal of volunteers who which inevitably leads to laws passed canvas and contribute greatly to them which fit that party’s agenda rather being elected. than the interest of voters or the Simply put, you’re expelled from population at large. your party and have no backup plan. When low-level politicians are Your career as you know it is gone not complicit in this structure, their forever. political aspirations can be crushed It is not hard to understand why with the snap of a finger. MPs and provincial representatives This can include things like being hesitate before speaking or voting in a demoted within the party by being way that contradicts the party leader. removed from a cabinet position like The broader solution to this issue Liberal MP MaryAnn Mihychuk, is to reconstruct political parties who was removed from her position that understand the importance of of minister of employment, workforce personal philosophy over a specific development and labour in 2017. platform and create philosophical It can also include being ousted principles that candidates must abide
by to qualify. Parties must pay close attention to how potential candidates feel about social and economic issues before they’re hired in the first place. Most importantly, parties like this must underline a policy of fireable offences. This would ideally include any sentiment of racism or bigotry like that of Nantel. May is absolutely right when she says, “Democracy will be healthier when constituents know that their MP works for them and not their party leader.” But her internal party lawlessness is short-sighted and could contribute to the normalization of authoritarian positions. While the Greens represent one extreme where minorities are ignored, the status quo represents another. One where hyper-partisanship rules and leaders always achieve their own agenda.
Mahder Teffera
Okechukwu Efobi
Cody Ross
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HSGSA President
VP Services & Support
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Roxie Koohgoli
Carl Neumann
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Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Emelia Fournier Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
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Local author mythologizes Winnipeg in fantasy series S. M. Beiko wraps up trilogy with ‘The Brilliant Dark’ ZACHARY SIGURDSON
her a 30-day deadline for the second book to keep momentum for the triology’s release. She then wrote the sequel, Children of the Bloodlands, in a month — a task that was only possible through her rigorous outlining and non-linear writing. Writing the second part in a trilogy is the easiest of the three, according to Beiko. “You can just go to town on building on the things you set up and introducing crazier action and new characters based on [the world] you’ve already built, but you can finish it and leave a ton of questions still unanswered […] then you get to book three and you’re like, why did I fucking do this?”
“I also really wanted to destroy my home town, it’s just very fun” — S. M. Beiko A lifetime of words
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locally-made epic trilogy will come to an end this month. The Brilliant Dark, S. M. Beiko’s final instalment of The Realms of Ancient trilogy, launches Sept. 25. Beiko is a Winnipeg fantasy author, comic creator, editor, artist, graphic designer and consultant. The Realms of Ancient trilogy is a young adult (YA) fantasy series set in Winnipeg, described as “American Gods meets Princess Mononoke” by ECW Press. The opening novel of the trilogy debuted in 2017 and follows Roan Harken who has been marked for death due to her mysterious heritage. The sequel followed in 2018 with an expanded plot and cast of characters. There is a self-awareness to the story — when Harken becomes the centre of a magical quest involving tribes of animal spirits and an ancient demon locked within the Assiniboine
River, she complains she has school but is largely unsurprised a magic fox arrived with a literal call to action. The character is aware of the tired tropes that she experiences because the character has read all the same books we have. “I love YA, but it is really tropey, and it has a ton of very common threads that are really tired,” said Beiko. The “chosen one” trope is common in YA fantasy, but the tagline for The Brilliant Dark is “There are no chosen ones, only the choices we make.” Beiko was protective of her work being set in Winnipeg even though publishers often recommended it be given an American setting. “Winnipeg is really tied up in this story because the main conflict is that there is this demon that’s been laying in the bed of the Assiniboine River [...] and there’s a secret society in the Manitoba legislative building, and
Like many aspiring fantasy authors, Beiko began by writing enormous epic fantasy tomes that will probably never see the light of day. “I wrote at a really young age because I was super into anime and fantasy books and movies, and I really wanted to do it myself [...] I really went like full bore novel-length at age 15 because I just had really immense delusions of grandeur,” said Beiko. Beiko managed to shorten her work and published her first novel, The Lake and the Library, which was nominated for the Manitoba Book Award for Best First Book and 2014 Aurora Award. In addition to her original works, Beiko has also co-edited the Gothic PHOTO PROVIDED BY S.M. BEIKO Tales of Haunted Love anthology with there’s just kind of this secret world Hope Nicholson. The anthology is one of Kirkus taking place amongst the ordinary,” Reviews Best Books of 2018. she said. Recently, Beiko has been workPotential spoiler alert — things go awry. ing on the sequel anthology with a “I also really wanted to destroy my science-fiction twist. She also writes and draws a webhome town, it’s just very fun,” said comic called Krampus is my Boyfriend, Beiko. which follows the delightfully zany How to get a threeadventures of a young woman caught book deal up with a preening teenaged version The series was not intended to be of Krampus. Beiko is an incredibly busy creator. a trilogy. In her 2019 PechaKucha talk Liar, Liar, Author on Fire, Beiko She will be touring the convention describes how sometimes sheer gall circuit while working on a future YA fantasy series steeped in Slavic can get you a three-book deal. After submitting Scion of the Fox to mythology. her publisher, Beiko was asked if this book was the first of a trilogy. “‘Sure,’ I lied, and I got a three The Brilliant Dark launches Sept. 25 at McNally Robinson. S. M. Beiko’s book deal out of that,” she said. Her publisher then asked her for other works can be found on Amazon the titles, so she made them up on and through her website, smbeiko.com. Issues of Krampus Is My Boyfriend are the spot. Beiko said the publisher then gave at krampusismyboyfriend.com.
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Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Editor: Emelia Fournier Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Pottery collection shows the artistry in craftsmanship School of Art brings together alumna and Zulu potters EMELIA FOURNIER, STAFF
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he latest exhibit at the U of M's tery, where she attended one of Kent School of Art Gallery's collec- Fowler’s classes. After finding out tions gallery is hundreds of years in he was a ceramics expert, Anderson the making. decided she wanted to collaborate Contemporary Traditions and with him. “I talked to [Fowler] for a little bit, Allusions: Anderson, Fowler and Ten Zulu Potters brings together pot- and made him be my friend, and he tery works by U of M alumna PJ invited me to come to South Africa Anderson and 10 Zulu women. to study there,” said Anderson. U of M anthropology profesShe accompanied Fowler on his sor Kent Fowler is co-curating the 2009 trip to the province of KwaZuluexhibit along with school of art pro- Natal in South Africa. The Zulu fessor Grace Nickel. women in the small South African “While I am influenced by their village she studied in were making work, I’m more alluding to their work pottery for extra money using techrather than trying to copy or make niques that had been passed down Zulu pottery,” said Anderson. for generations. Anderson is a pottery artist who “I was learning very specifihas explored different Indigenous cally about one culturally handed pottery techniques from across the down way of making pottery,” said world. Anderson. “We’re just sort of having a chance In 2012, Anderson returned to to make a comparison between my South Africa and was the resident work and their work, seeing as I spent artist at the University of Kwazulu a lot of time [in South Africa] and I Natal near the village she was worklearned a lot from them,” she said. ing with Fowler in 2009. When Anderson graduated with a The first time Fowler went to honours bachelor degree in fine arts South Africa was 1997. He originally from the U of M, in 2009, she did went to help out with a professor’s not originally set out to study South project to help with excavation as a African pottery. University of Alberta graduate stu“I was always interested in dent but ended up staying and beginIndigenous Canadian ceramics, but ning his own research. we didn’t have any teachers, and no Fowler said he had been wanting classes,” she said. to exhibit the work of Zulu potters Anderson attended some archaeol- he spent a substantial amount of time ogy classes to learn more about pot- with during fieldwork over the course
of about 15 years. “One of the things that we wanted to do was show that [pottery] work here, because a lot of [the Zulu potters] don’t show their work, a lot of them don’t produce work that they think is art, so they would never show it — these are things to be used,” said Fowler. The “Contemporary Traditions” in the exhibits title is used to emphasize that the pottery artists are using
“They’re useful things, but they’re things to be looked at and enjoyed, and there’s meaning behind all of it” — Kent Fowler, co-curator and anthropology professor traditional methods while adapting them to the present day. “These are all contemporary potters, I mean, these are all modern women, present-day women creating fantastic things.
“They’re useful things, but they’re things to be looked at and enjoyed, and there’s meaning behind all of it,” said Fowler. Fowler worked with them to not only learn about the technology behind their pottery but also the symbolic and cultural significance of these objects. “As an archaeologist, we try and reconstruct or recreate those invisible things from a finished product,” said Fowler. Fowler was studying the methods used, the ritual significance of certain pots and finding history and evolution within the regional differences of the pottery. “For a very long time it’s always been said that Indigenous women’s craft production in different parts of the world is always on a decline. “Well, I’ve read about this in articles dating back a hundred years ago [...] and a hundred years later we still have women doing this,” he said. There are regional differences but similar methods used within the exhibited Zulu works. “They’re related, but they have different histories [...] and that’s where the tradition part comes from,” said Fowler. “Some of the things that I learned over the course of this was this absolute blending of what we distinguish as art and science, the technical
know-how required to do this and then the innovativeness and industriousness,” said Fowler. Fowler said he has PhD students using scientific methods trying to map out the methods used in Zulu pottery, in order to translate the knowledge to other fields. “A lot of these women, they’ll give any geologist a run for their money about the properties of things [...] they just don’t talk about it in those terms,” said Fowler. Having Anderson around as a student for the Zulu potters to teach helped Fowler in his anthropological and archaeological research. In returning to basic teachings, Fowler said, “We eventually force ideas that are just so ingrained in what people do that they don’t think about it anymore, until you watch them start teaching it, and that was the great thing about having PJ come is we saw first-hand how you would teach this to someone else who you assume knows nothing.” Contemporary Traditions and Allusions: Anderson, Fowler and Ten Zulu Potters will be exhibited at the School of Art Gallery until Sept. 29. A reception will be held in conjunction with the 1000 Miles Apart Ceramic Conference on Sept. 26 beginning at 6 p.m.
VOL. 106 NO. 6 September 18, 2019
Arts & Culture
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Agricultural club branches out, still running strong U of M’s 4-H club teaches important life skills to children and adults alike EMELIA FOURNIER, STAFF
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arm kids are not the only ones going to 4-H clubs anymore. The U of M Future Leaders 4-H Club is a group where students can learn practical skills including leadership, finance, public speaking and holding formal meetings. U of M’s 4-H club started in 2012, but these clubs have a much longer history. In Canada, 4-H clubs began over 100 years ago in Roland, Man., teaching rural children practical skills like sewing, woodworking and cooking. It has since expanded internationally, evolving to teach members practical skills for today. Brittany Pankiw is the director of communications external of the U of M’s 4-H Club. This marks Pankiw’s third year with the U of M’s 4-H club, but growing up she was also a member of her local chapter of 4-H in Morris, Man., for about seven years. “We’re learning to do by doing, that’s the 4-H motto,” said Pankiw. The club makes sure their members get opportunities to practice diverse skills, hosting workshops and participating in a public speaking competition. “What we do is find qualities of ourselves that we want to improve that would make us better leaders,” she said. Fifteen hours of participation qualifies students for a full year as a 4-H member along with participation in the club’s public speaking event. It is a good thing to have on your resumé, according to Pankiw.
“Especially within the agriculture industry, saying that you’ve been a part of 4-H is a huge thing just because 4-H is so deeply rooted in agriculture, but other faculties are starting to realize ‘Well this person has really good public speaking skills,
“We’re learning to do by doing, that’s the 4-H motto” — Brittany Pankiw, communications director, 4-H Club they know how to run a meeting,’ and stuff like that,” said Pankiw. The age range for 4-H clubs has recently expanded from ages 6 to 18 to 6 to 23. Once members “graduate” from their clubs, they often become leaders in their home clubs. The U of M’s 4-H club is open to students of all ages, but students over the age of 23 will typically be classified as a leader. “We’re one of the only adult clubs in all of Canada,” said Pankiw. The club hosted its first social, the which was split evenly between Clover Leaf Social, in March. Winnipeg Harvest and 4-H. “Our goal was to raise money The club also holds bake sales towards helping the 4-H endowment through the school year to raise funds. fund, which provides scholarships Pankiw said the club’s main goal for students in 4-H, and then also right now is to recruit new members. “We’ve all been in 4-H for a while, for Winnipeg Harvest,” said Pankiw. The social raised a total of $2,000, so we’re trying to get new ideas,”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE U OF M 4-H CLUB
said Pankiw. “We’re working also on getting funding from the faculty of agriculture to do more professional workshops, so really focusing on how to run a meeting and how to be that future leader that we want to be,” said Pankiw. The club will be holding an info
meeting for new students Sept. 25 in 130 Agriculture Building. To find out more about the U of M Future Leaders 4-H Club, visit their Facebook or Instagram page. For more on 4-H as an organization, visit 4-h-canada.ca.
Diversions 14 Graphics Editor: Evan Tremblay Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775
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Sports Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529
Running with the herd
Analysis: Bisons can use speed to generate offence in women’s soccer JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF
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here is an old saying that goes “the legs feed the wolf.” Maybe it is time for those legs to feed a herd of Bisons. Despite a strong third place in Canada West’s Prairie division in 2018, the U of M Bisons women’s soccer team struggled on the offensive side of the ball. The club finished 10th in goals scored in the conference last season with just 15 goals, four behind the University of Northern British Columbia — the team responsible
For any soccer club to have longterm success, the goalkeeper cannot be the lone determining factor for ending the herd’s playoff hopes. The club relied heavily on its goalkeeping, with a 1.07 team goals against average good for fifth in the conference and a strong showing in isolation. When placed next to an even goal differential, it is clear that former keeper Madison Wilford was a major factor in the club’s success. But for any soccer club to have long-term success, the goalkeeper cannot be the lone determining factor. Manitoba finished 12th for saves in Canada West with 53, showing that strong defensive play also had a big impact. But although the old adage says “defence wins championships,” the objective of the game is still to outscore your opponent.
Thankfully for the herd, it has just the pieces required to take the club to the next level.
Speed up front, versatility in the back
Watching Manitoba’s season opening game against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies made it clear that the Bisons have weapons all over the pitch. Perhaps the best they have are up front in Nicole Davis, Hailey Lavarias and Celeste Gallego. Of the three, only Gallego is a dedicated forward, with Davis and Lavarias playing midfield positions but joining in offensive pushes. Gallego has strong decision-making skills and receives crosses well — as was seen in Manitoba’s Sept. 7 game against the University of Regina Cougars. Gallego works well where Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas has placed her, but Davis and Lavarias could be used differently. Davis in particular has already shown flashes of brilliance in her second season with the herd. She has great offensive awareness and with her blistering speed she can give defenders fits while generating Bisons fans got to see this on Sept. Dalima Chhibber had committed to 7 as Young carried the ball from the the club. The move was a big win for offensive chances for the Bisons. Sliding Davis into an attack- Manitoba backfield through all of the herd, as the midfielder brought ing midfield position — between Regina’s defenders to score. a wealth of professional and interLavarias and Gallego up front and If Martinez Lagunas can put national experience to a young and the midfield line behind her — would Young in a position where she is con- relatively inexperienced Manitoba give Davis room to gather speed and fident in carrying the ball while not squad. The New Delhi-born player also get the ball deep into opposing ter- sacrificing her defensive abilities, the ritory. It would also help get her into Bisons will not only have a valuable represents perhaps the best new tool piece to move the ball away from its in Martinez Lagunas’s arsenal for the the crease to help generate shots. The other offensive weapon shown own goal, but also one able to gener- 2019 season. during Manitoba’s win over Regina ate even more offence. Chhibber’s ball control and awareis defender Stefanie Young. The ness is second to none and the veteran Kelowna-born rookie has the offen- The X-factor: Dalima presence she brings to the herd on sive awareness and foot work to help Chhibber game days will be a calming force On Aug. 14, the Bisons announced when the road gets rough. get her up the field to join the rush that Indian national team captain For now, she is getting acclimated and create offence.
PHOTO BY DAVE MAHUSSIER
to playing in a new system — as well as on a new continent — so she will only improve as the season goes on. To maximize her impact on the field, Martinez Lagunas has a few options at her disposal. Perhaps the most intriguing would be to place Chhibber as an attacking midfielder, either alongside Davis or on her own. A 3-4-1-2 formation — three defenders, four midfielders, one attacking midfielder and two forwards — would put both Davis and Chhibber in spots to succeed, but the veteran has the edge in her decisionmaking and defensive upside.
Women’s soccer back from B.C. empty handed Bisons lose pair of games on Pacific coast, drop to fourth in division JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF
After a split series to open the sea- Nicole Davis sent a pass to Tsai who — to make it 3-1 UFV at the half. the nation, and it was on full display son, the U of M Bisons women’s soc- put a shot hard toward the goal from Simi Lehal scored in the 62nd Saturday in a 5-0 drumming of the cer team headed to British Columbia 35 yards out. The ball arced out of minute to make it 4-1 Cascades before visiting Bisons. looking to pick up some valuable UFV keeper Joven Sandhu’s reach Young responded for the herd. Rachel Hutchinson led the way for points in the standings. Instead, after and in for the 1-0 Manitoba lead in Davis again picked up the assist, the victorious Spartans, picking up a a pair of losses, the herd came home the sixth minute. setting up Young for a goal in the hat trick in the win. empty handed. The Cascades She got down to replied late in business early with Friday the half to start a goal in the sixth Rachel Hutchinson led the way for the An early marker gave the Bisons a landslide. The minute to open the victorious Spartans, picking up hope, but four unanswered goals first UFV goal scoring and picked crushed those dreams Friday as c a m e from up her second in the a hat trick in the win Manitoba lost 4-2 to the University Bryana Buttar 32nd minute to give of the Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades taking advantage Trinity Western a in Abbotsford. of a bad rebound 2-0 lead at halftime. Rookie defender Stefanie Young in front of the Bisons net to tie the 90th minute, cutting the deficit to 4-2 Things went from bad to worse continued to impress for the herd, game 1-1 in the 29th minute. UFV before the final whistle. for Manitoba in the second half as picking up her second goal of the In the 41st minute a Brittney Gabi Short extended the Spartans season, while Jessica Tsai scored in Zacharuk cross was redirected in by Saturday lead to three with a goal in the 61st her second straight game. Katie Lampen to give the Cascades There is a reason the Trinity minute. Maddie Low scored in the It was Tsai who struck first early the lead, followed by a Tavia Jasper Western University Spartans wom- 81st minute for Trinity Western and in the opening half from long range. marker — again set up by Zacharuk en’s soccer team is ranked third in Hutchinson completed her hat trick
in the 90th minute to seal the 5-0 Spartans win. Trinity Western controlled the game from the first whistle to the last, outshooting the Bisons 25-5 throughout the match. Of Manitoba’s five shots, only three were on the mark, while 18 of Trinity Western’s shots made it on goal. With the losses on the weekend Manitoba dropped to 1-3 on the season and sit tied for fourth in Canada West’s prairie division. The Bisons return home next weekend for a pair of games. Game one of the weekend is Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. CDT against the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack. Game two is the following night at 7 p.m. CDT against the UBC Okanagan Heat.
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