Novel introduced in style

Author Tyler Trafford released his new novel, Alexander's Way, at a book launch ceremony that included a Native art exhibition and demonstrations of powwow dances.

Stacy Da Silva performed a fancy shawl dance at the Fort Calgary celebration on April 25. Stacy is of Cree and Portuguese ancestry and won the Best Actress award at the 2005 American Indian Film Festival for her role in the film Hank Williams First Nation.

Alexander's Way is a novel about a Quaker man who is forced into service in General George Washington's army during the American revolution. He leaves the United States after his indenture has been completed and makes his way into the fur trade in Canada and travels west with his Native partners to set up shop on the hunting grounds of the Piikani.

The book launch and art exhibition attracted more than 150 readers and art collectors.

Ukjese van Kampen, an artist and Tutchone from Whitehorse, showed his work. Some has found its way into collections in Canada, the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, England and Australia. Artist Bruno Canadien brought several of his provocative pieces to show. Canadien is Dene and lives in the foothills community of Black Diamond in southern Alberta. Bruno's work has been recently acquired by the prestigious Indian and Northern Affairs Public Collection.