Bell latest role model

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Indians have long been associated with a particular type of music, either country and western, traditional powwow music. But there is an Indian who is trying to change that stereotype.

John Kim Bell is a Mohawk Indian from the Caughnawaga reserve, east of Montreal. He is also an internationally known and respected symphony conductor, the president and founder of the Canadian Native Arts Foundation, and the newest figure on the National Native Role Model program.

But Bell is as modest and humble as he is talented and motivated. Bell was not aware of the significance of his achievements until a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) special on him promoted a surge of a few hundred phone calls to him from Natives interested in the arts and looking to him for some help.

"The only problem, says Bell, "is that most of the calls were for money."

The CBC special highlighted the fact that Bell is the first North American Indian conductor. That combined with the surge of phone calls from Natives looking for help in pursuing their artistic careers, piqued Bell's curiosity and prompted him to do some research into Native art programs.

"I discovered there were really no programs to help Native kids pursue their artistic talents," said Bell. "I wanted to do something that would make a real difference. What was really needed was an education program."

So, using his own money along with funds from various federal and provincial sources Bell set up the Canadian Native Arts Foundation (CNAF).

The purpose of the foundation is to assist talented young Native artists pursuing an art career by providing educational and promotional opportunities.

The non-profit organization holds it headquarters in Toronto, but has provincial branches across the country including Calgary.

And it was in Calgary that the chapter of CNAF held its first Native art auction raising more than $15,000 to assist Alberta Native artists.

"They did a fine job for their first event," said Bell. "considering they had no funding, no staff, no office ? it shows, Native people can do anything they set out to do."

Bell, is himself an example of that. His father Don Eagle, was a professional wrestler, his mother, Beth Hamilton, an actress from Columbus, Ohio.

When Bell was just two years old, his parents divorced and his mother took Bell of the reserve to the city of Columbus. But his summers were still spent on the reserve.

Bell's musical interests began when he was just four and his mother took him to symphony concerts, an opportunity he sees lacking for reserve kids.

At the age of eight, Bell took up piano and from there his musical talents expanded. Following high school, he went to Ohio State University where he majored in music.

But his real break came when he was just 17. "Some singer friends of mine were auditioning for a summer stock touring troupe. I can play music by ear in any key, so they asked me to play the piano for them," said Bell.

"I wound up being hired as assistant conductor."

One show followed another and soon Bell had conducted for more than 30 Broadway shows.

After that Bell's resume becomes more and more impressive.

In 1980, for one year Bell returned to Canada to accept the position of apprentice conductor of the Toronto Symphony.

After that he left for Italy where he studied for one year under Franco Ferrara.

Returning to North America, Bell served for two years as apprentice conductor under Zubin Mehta of the New York Philharmonic. Then in 1984, the CBC documentary on himself, was first broadcast leading him to form the CNAF.

"Natives have a high degree of natural artistic talent," said Bell.

"There are many Natives who have a real need, a real interest in the arts and there was no funding for them."

So Bell created CNAF with the intention that a scholarship fund would remain in existence forever.

"We didn't want to have just 'x' amount of dollars and end up giving it all away. We would have nothing left, explained Bell.

"But by having a large fund, we could give the interest generated by the fund annually away as scholarships, and always maintain a fund."

Bell's goal is to see that fund reach $1 million. And that goal comes closer to existence with every successful benefit or auction like the one held in Calgary or the benefit held in Toronto Feb. 8, 1987 which raised $60,000.

Later this month the fund will see its first scholarships awarded says Bell. The names of the Winners or the amounts of the scholarships have yet to be announced. But their purpose will be to help Native youth pursue a career in the arts as Bell did.

Bell continues to conduct, recently returning form England, where he conducted the Royal Philharmonic.

But at present, his greatest concern is his work with the CNAF and perhaps the greatest advice he can give an aspiring young artist is "opportunity knocks for everyone ? it's just a matter of if you're ready to take advantage of it."