Scorned town drunk becomes comedian that's in demand

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"At one point in my life I was given a bus ticket and told to leave my community until I changed," said Moccasin Joe. "One of the most memorable experiences in my career was when I went back and performed for the high school there."

Moccasin Joe, a comedian from the Fort William First Nation band in Thunder Bay, Ont., used to have a problem with alcohol, but he's cleaned up his act and is travelling and entertaining a lot these days. He performs stand-up routines and workshops on healing through laughter.

"I was always doing crazy and foolish things during that time," he explained. "While I was drinking, I thought that the whole world revolved around me. I wasn't aware that there were other people." As a motivational speaker, his focus is on self-esteem and healing the damaged spirit through laughter. He believes Aboriginal people have to laugh at themselves more, and not to take situations so seriously. "Humor can be used effectively for relieving stressful situations," he said.

Leonard Dick, Moccasin Joe's real name, got his stage name from his son Michael, because of all the names that were being suggested by his family, Michael liked it best. Dick, who in his fifties, has been sober for the last 25 years. He performs his comedy routines at conferences, weddings and workshops all across Canada and the U.S. His show includes impersonations of Indian Elvis, dancing the Indian line dance and a routine called the Indian macarena.

His first try at performing comedy came when he entered a contest and came in third. He believed that he could do better, so he entered another contest and came in first. He hasn't looked back since.

"My wife helps me. She does a lot of the writing and she likes to laugh. I'm really lucky to have a wife who is there for me while I do what I like to do," said Dick.

Dick graduated from a Corrections College in Brantford, Ont. He worked in that field for a number of years, as well as at customs in Ontario at the Canada-U.S border.

"I found that I got by working in those jobs by using humor," said Dick. "I find that people do not fight while they are laughing."

Dick was raised by his grandmother in Macdiarmid, Ont.

"She had a good sense of humor," said Dick. "While growing up we used a lot of humor to get us through stressful times."

When not travelling, he works at his home-based marketing business. He makes and sells Native jewelry, crafts and T-shirts with Native designs printed on them.

"The Creator gave us the gift of laughter, so much of it and we do not use enough of it," said Dick. "Learn to laugh at yourself before you laugh at other people. Learn to laugh with other people, and not at each other," he said.

His message to the young people wanting to get into comedy is simple.

"Find your own material. Be yourself. Do not copy anyone else's comedy act," he said. "In the past, Aboriginal people did not know how to laugh at themselves, but I guess its time we did. Instead of feeling shame and guilt about being who you are, why not find humor in it?" he asked.