Conference highlights Aboriginal artists

Vibrant voices and colourful characters from across the country were on display at Carleton University in Ottawa March 1, as an eclectic mix of Aboriginal artists from a wide array of disciplines, strutted their stuff to a full house of 150 people.
Attendance at the 7th annual New Sun Conference was not affected by the morning snow storm; although a few of the artists had their planes delayed and were running on minimal sleep.
The day started with Kahnawake Mohawk filmmaker Tracey Deer as she laid out her early beginnings in filmmaking at the tender age of 12.
"All I wanted from that age on was to be a filmmaker," she said. "I saved up my allowance for three months at a time so I could rent those huge cameras and shoot my own films. I fell in love instantly."
Award-winning filmmaker Deer showed clips of her three documentaries, starting with One More River, which was nominated for a Gemini in 2005.
In it, Deer and co-director Neil Diamond examined the $3.5 billion agreement deal between Quebec and the Cree signed in 2002.
She also talked about Mohawk Girls, which gave audience members a glimpse into the lives of Kahnawake teenagers and her latest doc, Club Native, a film that took a human approach to the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve's controversial membership law that excludes Natives recognized by Ottawa, who are deemed 'too white' to live and be a part of the reserve.
"The question of membership is on everyone's minds," she said. "I'm just trying to bring a little bit of humanity to the subject and to give a voice to those who otherwise would not have one."
New Sun Chair Allan Ryan started the conference shortly after his arrival from out west. He is always trying to look for new and unique talent.
"I wanted to showcase Aboriginal artists who don't always make the mainstream newspapers," said Ryan. "This lineup is an eclectic mix of individuals from very different mediums. But they all have one thing in common; they all have a strong voice and important messages."
The next presenter was Heritage Language Activist John Medicine Horse Kelly. He talked about the horrific suicide rates amongst native peoples, citing rates as high as 800 times the rate of mainstream society.
He demonstrated six components, including a tie to one's Native language, culture and Native ownership over essential services on reserve as a primary factor in reducing the suicide rates.
In communities where most of these factors existed, the suicide rates were much lower than other reserves that had lost their language and culture and were living off the government with no sustainable development or land base.
He spoke about his Web site, nativedrums.ca and how it was an important tool for the future where 'the Internet doesn't see colour.'
The Web site demonstrates various Aboriginal musical instruments, some of which have lost their luster over the years with the local populations they once entertained.
Kelly talked about a language revival that happened in the 1990's on his Haida reserve in B.C.
"Little kids were all of a sudden dressed up in traditional regalia," he said. "We're coming back through things like this."
Inuit Spoken Word artist Taqralik Partridge whipped through her works with a little bit of trepidation as an Inuit Elder sat and watched her.
Works like Eskimo Chick and Annie Says had the crowd buzzing for more.
"I am usually a shy person, but when I get up here and do my thing I feel really comfortable and happy," she said.
Her poems talk about everyday life and observations of specific events and people such as 'Inuit Superstar' Charlie Adams.
He was a musician in the north but he became a beggar on the streets of Montreal. Partridge wrote two moving pieces on him. Even those who did not know the late Inuit legend could appreciate the passion and warmth she felt for him as she read each line.
Santee Smith, a contemporary Mohawk dancer and choreographer from Six Nations put on a beautiful display of her art shortly after a traditional meal of assorted veggies, arctic char and buffalo stew.
The audience had a special treat as actor/dancer and filmmaker Michael Greyeyes screened his film Triptych.
In it, he examines the residential school 'hurt' through modern dance. Although no words are spoken, the story is effectively told and the point was well received. It was very graphic and is not for the faint of heart. He also starred in the 23-minute short.
Greyeyes' father is a residential school survivor and he said the hardest thing for him was to get his father to talk about his experience. He still has not to this day.
In the end, he dedicated his film to those residential school survivors who 'have the courage to look back.'