Anti-racism video among the best

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An unpleasant experience on a school bus in British Columbia has turned into a winning video for four students at the Tatsikiisaapo'p Middle School on the Blood Nation, in southwestern Alberta.

A 90-second video produced by the media club of that school has been chosen as one of 10 winners in a national competition hosted by MuchMusic.

"When I was going to school in B.C., there was one Cree student getting on the bus who was picked on by a white guy. Nobody stood up for her. I thought, if I could turn that around, put it into something positive," said Tiffany Weasel Head, 12.

A 30-second version of that video, entitled "The School Bus Ride," has already seen air time. It tells the story of children on a school bus making fun of a First Nations child. Finally, another student stands up and tells the others to stop. 'Together we are stronger' is the message.

It's a message the judges liked, said Shelly Hamelin, supervising teacher for the media club. Every province and territory had at least one submission for the first time in the MuchMusic anti-racism video competition's 10-year history. With more than 340 submissions to MuchMusic, Hamelin noted it was quite an accomplishment for the students from the small, rural school, especially considering many video producers had been submitting for 10 years and still hadn't placed.

"The fact that we accomplished this the first time around is short of amazing," said Hamelin.

The school's media club began as an idea from Jeremy Russell, who spent the summer putting together the necessary equipment. Producing the video was the brainchild of Hamelin, who saw an advertisement for the competition on MuchMusic.

"I just showed them what to do. How to use the tools. The rest was up to them," said Russell, who serves as club co-ordinator.

Teaming up with Weasel Head were the other members of the club, Dustin Day Rider, 14, Matthew Minoose, 12, and Lannie Wolf Child, 12.

While Weasel Head wrote the script (or the "story board" as she calls it), Minoose was in charge of editing-no small feat, as the video started as a three minute clip that needed to be cut in half.

"I found it hard (to edit)," said Minoose. "It took me about four or five times."

Wolf Child was in charge of the camera shots, which includes some unique footage through the bus doors.

Day Rider worked with the music teacher, accomplished songwriter and singer Olivia Tailfeathers, for the score, which includes singing from Tailfeathers' group the Kainai Grassland Singers.

Perhaps as exciting as winning the contest was the all-expense-paid trip the students and Russell and Hamelin won to Toronto.

There they met with the other winners, including another First Nations group from Nunavut; went to the MuchMusic site; met with National Film Board producer Karen King; went up the CN Tower; and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame. They were also part of the interactive audience for the CBC production CounterSpin, which aired March 26. The topic of discussion was anti-racism and multiculturalism. While Hamelin shared some of her viewpoints, the students were too shy to talk, said Weasel Head.

As contest winners, the students were presented with a Panasonic digital palmcorder for their school-a prize they were not able to bring back on the airplane with them. Russell explained that the camera's battery failed on the last day of their three-day stay in Toronto (March 19 to 21). Improved security at airports, including the Pearson International Airport, requires that all electronic equipment be demonstrated to work. With the battery dead and the power pack in a suitcase, the palmcorder was confiscated and shipped back separately.

"We were getting a little worried," said Russell when the camera's inability to function became an issue.

Having seen the other award-winning videos, the students, the only winners from Alberta, say their video is good competition.

"I kept on thinking, 'How could we win?'" said Day Rider.

"I'm prud of myself," said Weasel Head.

The pride is reflected in Russell and Hamelin as well.

"The trip to Toronto opened their eyes," said Russell. "They saw the possibilities and potential. There is something beyond the boundaries of this reserve."