SALUTE TO YOUTH Evan Adams

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The rhythmic beat of the dance drum has for centuries provided the pace and marked the passion of Native life. For Evan Adams of the Coast Salish Nation in British Columbia, the drum continues to pace him through life and his many interests and activities in which he strives "to be the best I can be."

Evan's interests and background range from the academic to the artistic and include studies at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Victoria in preparing for a career in film and communications.

As a dancer, Evan mixes the traditional with the innovative and has performed at many powwows and other cultural gatherings in British Columbia, and at international festivals such as the Europea Contat 9 in France.

'Though his present ambition is to be an artist of stage and screen and much of his energy is directed toward that goal, Evan has actively worked on his academic interests since the age of 14. He received scholarships and attended both St. Michael's University and Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in Victoria. These schools provided the opportunity to expand his interest into art, athletics, public speaking and eventually acting. He has worked for Citizen Advocacy, assisting the mentally handicapped, serving as a counsellor for handicapped Boy Scouts of Victoria, teaching mapping, outdoor skills and games, and has also worked with the children on his reserve during his summer breaks.

A blend of traditional values and high energy has provided Evan with a unique outlook on life. "We have to reach into a new place and find the strength that can benefit us as individuals and at the same time enable us to help others" He has been able to do just that, through his belief in community and culture and his goal of trying to be the best he can be. For Evan Adams, the beat continues.