Technical problems turned film night into a social

Page 7

Shelley Niro was the featured guest artist at Native Women in the Arts' Catalyst Cafe in Toronto on Sept. 23. Kerry Potts, community liaison for Native Women in the Arts and emcee for the evening, introduced her, remarking that she's known for her "fabulous sense of humour."

Niro needed that sense of humour, as the planned showing of her most recent film went all wrong.

She planned to show The Shirt, which she describes as a "narrative based on the effects of colonialism," but problems with the sound system meant a change of plans. Although Niro was fighting a bad cold, she was able to provide commentary on the film, and she took the opportunity to renew some acquaintances and discuss her work. Elizabeth Hill, who did the score for The Shirt, was on hand as well.

Niro (Mohawk, Turtle Clan) now lives on the Six Nations reserve. Born in 1954 in Niagara Falls, N.Y., she attended Durham College and the Ontario College of Art. Recently, she received an MA in Fine Arts from University of Western Ontario. She produces paintings, photographs, sculpture and films.

Over the past two years, Niro's photographs have been included in many Edward Curtis shows. Edward Curtis produced 20 volumes of photographs, from 1907 to 1930, aiming to show the traditions and lives of Native Americans. His huge collection shaped the image of Native Americans in popular culture.

Beginning in 1993 with her first film, It Starts with a Whisper (co-produced with Anna Gronau), Niro has used film to explore cultural stereotyping and the role of Native women. In photos and film, she likes to "insert Native figures into popular culture." (Niro dressed up as Marilyn Munroe, for example.) She says it's "important for Natives to be seen as part of the culture" but says "look at the reaction you get when you put the two together. It's like-'What?'"

Niro talked about challenges making films. There's "no federal funding for Aboriginal film unless it's done in an Aboriginal language." She described one project that was made two years ago, with donations and volunteer labour. It has three, seven-minute-long segments. Niro directed one (Skywoman With Us); so did Ken Davis (Last Winter) and Jody Hill (One Half of the Husk). Collectively, the project is titled Midwinter Dreams. For themes, Jody Hill chose the past, Davis the present, and Niro the future. For her part, Niro borrowed from the Creation story, and "focused on the interaction between the man and the woman."

This project was also Elizabeth Hill's first attempt at writing a film score. She said she "kept watching it, then asked questions, like 'What's the purpose behind this action here?' then watched it again." She "saw similarities and common threads in the three pieces, even though they were filmed separately."

Niro pointed out, "The sound is half of the work."

Among other things they had to deal with on the shoot, "It was 26 below zero." The crew also faced catering problems out in the country: "No restaurants," Niro said. Despite the difficulties, working in the harsh climate made everyone feel more connected to the traditional way of life. "Years ago, mid-winter was the only time people had to be creative. All ceremonies happen in mid-winter."

Terry Monture, a writer from Six Nations who lives in Toronto, related an incident that confirmed that fact. She said that when she once told stories to her children in the summer, her mother stopped her, saying, "We don't tell the stories in the summer."

Niro said, "How do you keep this culture alive?" is a question a lot of Aboriginal people are asking today, as they balance multiple roles in a modern, mechanized, multicultural world.

Niro is "not traditional, but wants to be part of the community," and, she added, "The peacemaker legend inspired a lot of my work."

Monture reflected on "how to be Indian in an urban environment." She said, "You are at the centre of the universe when you are on Six Nations. After moving to the city, you havesuddenly become invisible, your culture [is invisible]." Monture said she faces the task of constant, everyday education, and "It's like I'm an ambassador sometimes." She keeps telling her children, "This is who you are. This is what we did."

Niro's photographs and films have earned many awards. Honey Moccasin won Best Feature, Best Actor and Best Actress, and Best Director at the 1998 Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City. Also in 1998, at the Dreamspeaker's Festival, in Edmonton, Alta., it received Best Experimental Work.

The Shirt, her most recent film, received a very significant honour when the Indigenous Arts Action Alliance of Santa Fe selected it for the 50th International Venice Biennale, an exhibition of contemporary art, which runs from June 15 to November 2003. The Shirt, starring Hulleah Tsinnahajinnie and Veronica Passalacqua, is being distributed through V-Tape.

Niro is on to other projects. "Right now I am working on a one-woman show for The National Museum of the American Indian in New York for May of 2004. I also am working on another film, Kissed By Lightning."