People begin to understand racism

Page 13

About 350 students gathered at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton on March 21, taking part in a student forum addressing the problem of racism.

The "Eliminating Racism Through Understanding" forum was held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Among those attending were students and staff from Spruce Avenue Elementary-Junior High School; Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society; the Genesis Program; Ben Calf Robe Junior High School; and the Native Healing Centre.

The forum was organized by the Friendship Centre, in partnership with Native Counselling Services of Alberta and the Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations.

The event featured drumming, traditional dancing, and a mini-round dance, as well as a presentation by friendship centre member Russell Auger, who told a story demonstrating how knowledge of other cultures can help break down the barrier of racism. Also included in the afternoon's events was a drama performance by the members of Red Man Caravan, featuring Dakota House, Nathaniel Arcand and Ronnie Gauthier. In the performance, House's character is subjected to name calling and racist taunts from the others, and he tries to explain to the them the senselessness of their actions.

The afternoon also featured question and answer sessions, during which time participants had a chance to ask House and Arcand about their personal experiences with acting, and with racism.

The video "Mythomania - Drumming Away False Ideas" was also screened for the first time, as part of the forum, and a copy of the video was given out to all the schools participating. The video, produced by Native Counselling, looks at how myths and common misconceptions about different cultures contribute to racism.

Marge Friedel, a community Elder, also took part in the forum, offering a prayer to open the event, and speaking again later in the afternoon.

"There is only one thing that can change racism, and it starts with each and every one of us," Friedel told the gathering. She likened the effect of each of us doing a little to end racism to that of throwing a rock into a pond, ripples spreading outward from the central point of impact.

Anne Marie Nipshank is community relations director with the Friendship Centre and organizer for the event. Nipshank said responses from students taking part were very favorable.

"They all enjoyed the event. A lot of them would like to see it go more than the one day," Nipshank said. "They said it was very entertaining, and a lot of people got the message."