Calgary Briefs - December

Work of Métis Nation logo designer featured
Local Métis artist Ray Lambert, who designed the Métis Nation logo, showed deer and moose antler and soapstone carvings at Yvonne Jobin’s Moonstone Creation Gallery and Giftshop in Inglewood during the Nov. 5 opening. Work by Lloyd Pinay, April Mercredi and others was also featured. April Mercredi’s colourful multi-media creations and Jobin’s own exquisitely beaded creations on traditionally tanned hides were on display as well as paintings, spirit masks, wood and stone carvings, pottery, bead and leather work and jewellery. Jesse Gouchey showed his short animated film, “Spirit of the Bluebird,” created from the colourful neighbourhood mural he painted to honour Gloria Black Plume. Continuing until Dec. 31, the show presents an opportunity to buy unique authentic Aboriginal art in a variety of media.

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Alpha House extends invitation to wider community
As part of Addictions Awareness week, Alpha House extended an open invitation to the Calgary community on Nov. 14. Lunch was served and music was provided by a band made up of Alpha House staff members who chose the occasion to release an inspirational CD. In partnership with the Calgary Urban Project Society, the Alpha Housing team responds to those in need of housing, providing access to shelter, detoxification, health care, mental health and addictions specialists using a harm reduction approach. Executive Director Kathy Christiansen said the most recent economic boom/bust cycle has resulted in an increased need for Alpha House’s services. She estimates approximately 30 per cent of Alpha House’s clients are Aboriginal. In its 2009/2010 annual report the Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership team transported 8,299 men and women to its various programs. The event was followed the next day by Alpha House’s 14th annual Wellness Walk to kick off National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week.

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Artwork sought for AIDS awareness campaign
AIDS Calgary Awareness Association has launched an Aboriginal Artwork Contest to find an image to use in marketing materials to build partnerships and strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS in Aboriginal communities across the province. The theme is “strong voices working together in the face of HIV.” The contest is open to Alberta residents who identify as Aboriginal, and the image may be in either digital or traditional media. The contest winner will receive a cash honourarium of $350. The contest closes January 31, 2011. More information at www.aidscalgary.org or (403) 508-2500.

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Lawsuit filed against Piikani Nation chief, council
The Calgary Herald is reporting a class action lawsuit has been filed against Piikani Nation’s chief and council, alleging embezzlement of $40 million from a nearly decade-old trust fund. A statement of claim was filed in Alberta Court of Queen’s bench on Nov. 3, naming Chief Reg Crowshoe and fellow members of the band’s council and CIBC Trust as defendants. Launched by former councillor Brian Jackson, the lawsuit alleges the band council breached its “fiduciary relationship in connection to money held in trust from compensation for construction of the Oldman River Dam.”

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Paintings of First Nations’ people on display at Glenbow
The paintings of James Henderson: Wiciteowapi Wicas (The Man who Paints the Old Men) are on display at the Glenbow Museum until Jan. 9, 2011. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, James Henderson (1871-1951) immigrated to Winnipeg in 1909. He then moved to Regina where he became fascinated by the Qu’Appelle Valley’s First Nations people. Henderson’s portraits of First Nations people are accompanied by interviews with family members and acquaintances of his subjects which give historical context. The oral history was compiled by Neal McLeod of the James Smith Band of the Cree First Nation, a professor at the First Nations University of Canada. After the Glenbow, the exhibit travels to Blackfoot Crossing.

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Big Plume re-elected
On Nov. 26, Tsuu T’ina First Nation voters turned out in overwhelming numbers and re-elected Chief Sandford Big Plume to his fifth consecutive term. As reported in the Calgary Herald, 90 per cent of eligible voters cast their vote. Chief Big Plume said in the Nation’s press release, “I ran on the importance of youth, hope and on building on the success we have achieved as a nation.”

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko