Looking forward to the year 2000

Page 5

Welcome to the year 2000. It's the new millennium and you are

reading the "critically acclaimed" Youth 2K column. I must

say, that in the past year, I have learned many things while

writing for Sage. For example, I've become a better critic.

I've also improved on my humor as well as my reporting, all

thanks to the people at AMMSA.

1999 was a great year, I finally got my magazine Gen-X off

the ground, and available to the world @ www.gx-online.com.

Also in 1999, I lost the prestigious youth award to Alika

Lafontaine at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

This year I think I'm going to lose again to none other than Dana Laframboise. I hope I win in the year 2001 because by then, I should deserve it. But if I don't win, I'll just have to make my own awards show, air it on APTN and call it "The GX 2000 Aboriginal Youth Awards" (look for it next fall).

Looking back at '99, I have achieved a lot for myself as an individual and a businessman. In July, I received a business grant from Aboriginal Business Canada and opened up an office for Gen-X Magazine, which is now known as GX Magazine. I began my venture in the publishing business, and published two successful issues that were well received by the mainstream audience in Saskatchewan. My goal for GX is to be the first Aboriginal publication to successfully cross over to the mainstream audience and bring an Aboriginal voice to the public's attention. If I can do that, then GX will be the magazine for the new millennium.

Last year, being the last year of the century, made me focus more on my future and where I would be in the next five years. When I predicted where I would be, I knew it wouldn't be anything like where I am today. I know that in five years I want to be a successful businessman; I want to be a leader for my people and I want to change the public perspective of First Nations people for the betterment of our image and culture.

Until then I want to enjoy my youth, enjoy my life at a young age, because that's what being young is all about. You only live once, and when you're young, you want to make the best of it.

As a young publisher of a magazine, I speak in front of youth as a motivational speaker. I am also featured in many other publications and TV shows as a "positive role model for Aboriginal youth."

People think of me as a great person. That's good and everything, but I want to come to a point in my life where people see me as a great businessman, not a great role model. Being a role model has its ups and downs. First of all, you have to lead a positive lifestyle - you're automatically a public figure and people watch your every move just in case you fall. People support you and people ignore you; people hate you and people love you. But, most of all, people pay attention.

In the past year I have asked myself this question many times: Do I want to be a role model for Aboriginal youth the rest of my life? The answer is, no. I want to be a role model as a businessman and a journalist, not for who I am and what I do in my personal life. That's my business.

Looking at the year 2000 brings many positive thoughts to my vision for the future. In the year 2G, I plan to really make a difference. First of all, in April, GX will publish the official program of the 2000 Saskatchewan First Nations Winter Games to be held in Saskatoon from April 23 to 27.

In May, GX will publish a special edition that we plan will sell out on newsstands across the province. In June, GX will release the powwow issue and travel the trail promoting GX.

A new record label is in the works for GX right now; it will include various artists from all nations in all genres. It will kick off in April with a compilation CD, and a full length album from a new Native rap group from Alberta. Also in October GX will hold a festival that will include a powwow, a concert, a dramatic play, a youth conference, a rave, a hip hop party and an awards show. It willbe a gathering of Native and on-Native youth from across Canada.

This is how the year 2000 looks for me, and I'm more excited than ever, and I hope you are, too. It's time to make a difference and that's what I plan to do. I'll talk to ya'll next month. Until then, keep it real. Peace!