Artist uses work to expose Aboriginal issues

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Gabriel Yahyahkeekoot is only 27 but already he is an accomplished filmmaker, poet and artist. The work of the Regina-based artist is influenced by the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation near Prince Albert where he grew up and which he still calls home.

Yahyahkeekoot is truly a multi-disciplinary artist, learning to excel in all three genres in just a few short years. "I started out in school making a commercial about house insurance and that's led me to a great career as a video-artist and filmmaker," he said. "And I occasionally do a bit of painting and write poetry."

An internship at Regina's Sakewewak Artists Collective helped him to develop his filmmaking talents and gave his work exposure to the public.

He was invited to work on the pilot for the popular television production Moccasin Flats, the series about a Regina neighbourhood produced by the 100 per cent owned and operated Big Soul Productions of Toronto. "Then I was invited to participate in the filming of the first season, so I learned a lot there. As well, there were National Film Board workshops which I attended, so I've had some help with the technical side of filmmaking," he said.

Yahyahkeekoot tells a story in his films about growing up in the inner city, so the theme of Moccasin Flats fit in well with his focus. "It's given me a platform to expose some realities. People that have never lived in this situation have no idea what it's like and I hope I'm bringing some awareness to the poverty and hopelessness that can exist," he said. "People can't always get out of the cycle that has them living there."

Wendy Winter is gallery educator for school and youth programs at Regina's MacKenzie Art Gallery. "Gabriel is a professional in all his work in the arts, an engaging poet, an inspirational artist and an outstanding filmmaker," she said. She is pleased the gallery has Yahyahkeekoot's first film as part of its permanent collection. The film, entitled Moment of Clarity, debuted in the spring of 2003 at the Independent Film and Alliance National Conference. "We first met him through a collaboration with Neil McLeod, another Saskatchewan Cree artist who often illustrates the radically changed world of the First Nations on the prairies in the 1870s and 1880s when colonization and settlement began," Winter said. "The two created a wonderful mural and this union led us to begin working with Gabriel."

Moment of Clarity expresses the anguish of the inner city and the problems of those who live and work there. It works well with the Gallery's Urban Outreach Program, which consists of interaction with Aboriginal and inner city schools as well as schools on reserves near Regina.

"We invited Gabriel to be artist-in-residence for this program in 2004/2005 and he introduced the students to filmmaking, which they really enjoyed," she said.

Yahyahkeekoot has been profiled on CBC Radio One. The national broadcaster recognized his leadership and the role model he had become as he mentored Aboriginal teenagers, published articles for national magazines, and wrote poetry and rap. He has participated in the local station's Poetry Face-Off, showcasing his unique form of poetry, which also reflects his thoughts of the inner city.

Of his many projects, though, he is especially pleased with Calling Black Lake, which was organized by the MacKenzie Art Gallery. The project connected 13 Dene high school students from the remote fly-in settlement in northern Saskatchewan with high school students attending Regina's Campbell Collegiate.

"Gabriel accompanied our art instructor to Black Lake and helped the students film a play which they had prepared to perform for the guests. It was like magic because they ended up with a 50-minute film over the week that he was in the community, much to the pleasure and pride of the local students," Winter said. Yahyahkeekoot encouraged the students to participate fully in the exercise. He had each of them hold the cmera, work on the dialogue, and re-shoot scenes that needed further improvement.

Yahyahkeekoot is also known for a film that was nominated for a Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival in the Best Aboriginal Short category. Entitled Mayasktiw, Winter said the film showcases one of Yahyahkeekoot's brothers contending with stereotypical attitudes about Aboriginal youth. "It is beautifully narrated by Gabriel's own prose, presenting the fear that mainstream individuals experience when confronted by young people who they mistakenly believe are involved in drinking and violent activities. It's a powerful film."

In the future, Yahyahkeekoot plans to get his own production company off the ground. "I want to focus my work on Aboriginal issues, and I want to return home to Beardy's and work with the youth there," he said. He has many projects in mind but he's also open to any opportunities that might come his way.

"I'm going to offer my services to First Nations in Saskatchewan and across North America and that's where my main focus will be."