Financial institution continues to give back

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In conjunction with the company's 25th anniversary celebrations, Peach Hills Trust paid tribute to the talents of the 23rd annual Native art contest winners during a ceremony at the Shaw Conference Centre on Oct. 27.

The contest was established in 1982 to promote the work of Native artists throughout Canada.

"First Nations art has always been something that's been out there and there was a feeling to create a venue for upcoming artists," said Warren Hannay, president of Peace Hills Trust about the contest's beginnings. "There was a need for a venue like this to give an opportunity for up-and-coming First Nation artists, an opportunity for them to show their work.

"That was really why it was established and the focus of it. It grew and evolved, just how the company did, to a national competition."

The contest is separated into categories-for adults 18 and over, and youth 14 to 17, 10 to 13 and nine and under.

Since the age of four years old, first place winner of the adult art contest, Sean Couchie of London, Ont. has loved to draw.

"As soon as I was able to pick up a pencil I was always drawing," said the 34-year-old from the Nipissing band of Ojiways.

Couchie, a father of two, attended Fanshaw College in London where he entered into the advertising art program.

"I was gearing myself more towards commercial illustrating, and I just enjoyed it a lot," said Couchie.

After completing the program, he began working for a couple of illustrating companies. He said it was a weird time because everything was changing.

"It seemed everyone was changing to computers, so they didn't really need illustrators."

Couchie soon learned he wasn't able to make any money this way. He began working with his uncle, painting houses and that's how he's been able to pay the bills.

The painting of an Inuit child being protected by the eagle is what earned Couchie a first place win with $2,500 in prize money. This is Couchie's second win in the Peace Hills Trust art contest. He won in 1991 with a self-portrait, an eagle also in the background.

He said he never really thought about doing any type of Native art until his dad and brothers came home from the band office with a Peace Hills Trust art contest entry form.

"Ever since I ended up winning the first time, the band has asked me to do a fair amount of work over the years," said Couchie.

Second place was awarded to 44-year-old Karen Vande Vyvere, a Metis woman from Edmonton.

Like many other artists, Vande Vyvere said she started drawing at a young age.

"I just love it," said Vande Vyvere, a co-ordinator with the engineering co-op department at the University of Alberta. "Every chance I get, I try to study and learn so I can get better."

She said she wanted to show people what a celebration looks like through her piece called 'After the Party.'

The piece is set up with the Metis sash draped across an old chair. On the chair is Karen Vande Vyvere's violin and her guitar is on the floor. Beside the chair are a couple of old-fashioned jugs.

"This piece reminded me of growing up with some of the warmest and safest times in my life at my grandmother's house," said Vande Vyvere. "It was special to me to have my guitar, violin and all that in there and just to show the feeling of what I remembered after the party."

Vande Vyvere said she tried to make the piece a warm colored painting so that when people looked at it could get the feeling that Vande Vyvere felt and continues to feel.

"I'm very proud of my culture and heritage and it just makes me feel warm and safe."

Not only is she a talented artist but she is also a musician. She said creating music is a joy in life and a celebration for her.

"It's a way to express everything that sort of gets bottled up inside that words aren't adequate for some times," said Vande Vyvere.

As she continues to learn more about painting, Vande Vyvere said she also wants to learn more about the Metis culture so she can teach the public throughher art about this "distinct culture."

"I'm really interested in documenting my culture, either through photographs that I take or pieces that I put together because it's a culture that needs to be celebrated."

Vande Vyveree believes that through opportunities such as this art contest, Aboriginal people such as herself can grow and "express their culture."

"I'm very grateful to Peace Hills Trust for this opportunity because it encourages Aboriginal people," said Vande Vyvere. "It gives us a voice, a goal and an opportunity to grow and be seen, so I am really grateful for that."

Third place went to Jean Taylor of Moberly Lake, B.C. Taylor did not attend the ceremonies.

The first, second and third place pieces will become a part of the Peace Hills Trust "First Nations Art Collection."

Florence Shone, originally from Piikani First Nation in Brocket was awarded an honorable mention. Unlike the other paintings, Shone's piece was more of an expressive piece, which involved an array of colors.

Shone, who now lives and works in Edmonton, believes in expressing "yourself through color."

"With artwork, that's one of the things that speaks to people is the vibrancy of the color and the spirit of the painting," said Shone, a supervisor of the Esquao group home for Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.

This artist of seven years has been entering artwork to Peace Hills Trust for six years and now the company owns two of her paintings. She has also donated a couple of paintings to Bent Arrow to assist with their fund raising events. Shone's work can also be spotted in the office of Anne McLellan, deputy prime minister of Canada.

"It was just something that I was doing for myself for the sake of expressing myself," said Shone.

According to Hannay, giving back to the community is key and Peace Hills Trust has done this through the art show.

"We are putting something back into First Nations communities by supporting an art show that continues to show and display the sories of First Nations people," said Hannay. "In the art community, nobody tells the story more than artists of First Nations and how they lived through their art. They keep the stories and traditions alive."

Hannay said, "although you can't add a lot of difference to making a loan, what we do is try to lend support to traditional values where we can."

Some of those values can be seen through powwows that they've sponsored, this art contest and, he said, from time to time the Cree language can be found in their annual report.

"That's how we are making another cultural contribution as a financial institution business," said Hannay. "While we are in the business of lending money, we do have some corporate values and culture that we try and support and through the artists, there is no better way."

In the youth category, nine and under the first place winner was Maya Escobar of Edmonton. Second place went to Taylor Lightning of Hobbema. Third place went to Jason Goutbeck of Edmonton. An honorable mention went to Maomi Miller of Douglas, N.B.

In the youth category age 10 to 13, first place went to Jewl Christmas of Sydney, N.S. Second place went to Karlee Martin of Ohswekan, Ont. and third went to Rebekah Semeniuk of Edmonton. Jordan Knott of Winnipeg received an honorable mention.

In the ages 14 to 17 youth category, Kyle Wesley of Kashechewan, Ont. received first place. Second place went to Ruth Semeniuk of Edmonton and third went to Ferrin Buck of Winnipeg. Jodi Johnson of Alkali Lake, B.C. received honorable mention.

The judges for this year's contest were Agnes Bugera, Richard Mirasty and June McRone-Jankins.