Calgary Briefs - November

Helen McPhaden, executive director of Stardale Women’s Group Inc., interviews young Aboriginal girls modelling fashions of New York designer Kei, of Keinice Studio.

Stardale Charity’s models fashions by New York designer
Girls, aged 11-17 in the Stardale Charity’s “Honouring the Girls” stories series, modeled the fashions of New York designer Kei from Keinice Studio on Oct. 26 at the Radisson Hotel. The modeling show, “Beauty – Moment by Moment,” was the culmination of a two-day forum on teen suicide. More than 70 Aboriginal Elders, parents and youth gathered to determine strategies to improve the self-esteem of teens and bring down suicide rates. Hosted by Alberta Health Services, the conference, held Oct. 25-26, was the fourth annual “Honouring Life: Aboriginal Youth and Communities Empowerment Strategy.” “We must continue to find ways to help Alberta’s Aboriginal youth feeling balanced, healthy, hopeful about their lives, proud of their cultural identities, and confident in pursuing success,” said Jordan Head, director of Aboriginal health for AHS. Suicide rates among Aboriginal youth in Alberta are about 10 per cent higher than among non-Aboriginal youth.

Talks uncertain regarding Calgary Ring Road
Tsuu T’ina Chief Sanford Big Plume is willing to put discussion on the ring road on hold until new Premier Alison Redford settles in. Big Plume told the Calgary Herald, “There are a lot of other issues that we’re dealing with right now. So it’s just on the back burner. You’ve just got a new premier in there. Let them get settled, let them get ready and we’ll meet them when the time’s right.” However, new Transportation Minister Ray Danyluk said discussion on the road is still a priority and he was in the process of setting up a meeting with the First Nation. Outgoing Premier Ed Stelmach had hoped to have a deal signed with the Tsuu T’ina before he retired in September, but that didn’t happen. In 2009, the government looked at 400 hectares of reserve land in exchange for $275 million and the possibility of 2,000 hectares on the reserve’s northwest side, with a minimum of $240 million held in trust. Band members rejected the proposal.

Downstage Theatre presents Hayden Taylor play
Co-produced with Lethbridge’s New West Theatre, Downstage Theatre presented Drew Hayden Taylor’s In a World Created by a Drunken God Oct. 12-22. The play was rehearsed in Calgary, performed in Lethbridge and returned to Calgary’s EPCOR Motel for the opening of Downstage’s season. For artistic director Simon Mallett, producing Drunken God satisfies a long-held goal he’s had for his company. “It feels like (the) voice of First Nations community is under-represented in both communities,” he said. “To be able to produce a First Nation playwright (at Downstage) is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” The play is about an Aboriginal man who is leaving life in the city to return to the reservation when his American half-brother brings news of their dying non-Native father. Although the drama takes on serious political issues, it is very humourous. Hayden Taylor’s play was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama.

Business Connection series launched
On Oct. 21, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce launched its Business Connection series designed to provide businesses and Aboriginal communities with tools to build successful partnerships and economic opportunities. “Aboriginal communities are integral to the growth of the Canadian economy,” said Ben Brunnen, director of policy and government affairs and chief economist with the Calgary Chamber. “They represent new markets, an underutilized labour force and valuable business partnerships.” Supported by Treaty 7 Management Corporation and the Circle for Aboriginal Relations Society, topics included corporate social responsibility, best practices in consultation and accommodation, structuring business partnerships, governance and economic policy, accessing capital on-reserve and Federal engagement. The series will culminate in a report and toolkit.

Calgary Hitmen celebrate Aboriginal Night
The Calgary Hitmen, hosting the Kootenay Ice, celebrated Aboriginal Night on Oct. 23. Fans had a taste of Aboriginal culture with representatives from the Blood Tribe, Siksika Nation, Tsuu T’ina Nation and Piikani Nation performing a traditional Aboriginal dance and drum group.

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko