Western exhibition promotes the Native way

British Columbia

Guide to Indian Country Page 5

Horst Jassman, co-ordinator of Aboriginal Summer Camp 1996 at the

Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, wants to break some of the

misconceptions that people have about powwows, and the customs of Native

people.

According to Jassman, a lot of people say, "If you've seen one powwow,

you've seem them all." He hopes this year's summer camp will change

that view.

The stereotype people have about Native cultural practices, Jassman

said, is the result of people not knowing that not all Indians are the

same. There are different ceremonies, different dances, different kinds

of clothing among the tribes.

Many do not know, for instance, that not all Native cultures

traditionally have used the large ceremonial drums, common to the Plains

peoples. Some of the northern tribes, for instance, only use hand

drums. The small water drum, also hand-held, belongs to the Iroquois.

Although billed as an event celebrating First Nations peoples in

British Columbia, this year Jassman hopes to attract a few

representatives of Native cultures elsewhere in Canada.

"The Pacific National Exhibition is just that--national--and it should

have that broader focus," he said.

Aboriginal Summer Camp, slated to run Aug. 17 to Sept,. 2 is only in

its second year, yet plans are being made to offer a spectacular range

of exhibits, activities and demonstrations.

This year's performers may include some Six Nations people from

southern Ontario. The Kanata Native Dance Theatre is from the native

Cultural Society, based in Hagersville, Ont.

This would be a good opportunity, Jassman said, for people to "see the

difference between Iroquois and prairie-style dancing, the use of the

water drum, and we would have an explanation of the different kinds of

rattles."

The focal point for the activities will be five tipis, each slightly

different, according to Jassman. They are meant to create the feel of a

traditional Aboriginal village, and most importantly, they will be

accessible to the public. At night, they will be illuminated.

The first large tipi will house a display of medicinal roots and

herbs. Cecilia Wyss will answer people's questions about the medicines,

and will give a 30-minute daily lecture.

An art gallery and displays of pre-contact tools and artifacts, as well

as 1880s photographs by Edward Curtis, taken on the B.C. coast, will be

kept in the second of the large tipis.

The other large tipi, located between the food concession tent and the

traditional fishing camp, will be a place for the performing groups to

store their gear, relax and talk to the public.

One of the smaller tipis will be a storage area and rest spot for the

Aboriginal musicians who will be performing on the grass in front of it.

The other small tipi will be primarily set aside for Native performing

groups who can be expected to "just turn up," Jassman said. It will be

used as a "private space" for the crafts people and carvers as well.

A highlight of the event will be the traditional fishing camp. Lodges

will be built and the public will get the chance to help with the

construction. There will also be demonstrations of fishing methods and

the various kinds of implements used. The hands-on approach to this

cultural sharing will be a feature of the workshops on tule mat-making

too.

The host of the fishing camp, David Florence, from Vernon, B.C., plans

to conduct evening Lahal games--played with sticks--for the

entertainment of the children.

No Aboriginal event would be complete without food, and there will be

plenty of that, as well as two demonstrations each day of its

traditional preparation. Bannock, barbecued and smoked salmon, clam

chowder, buffalo burgers and venison stew will be among the tasty

offerings.

At the camp-fire, which will be the very heart of the camp, visitors

can just relax, eat and observe the carving going on from there. They

will also get a chance to hear storytelling, observe the drumming and

dancing and find out bout the garments and regalia worn by the

performers.

So far, Jassman said "We've got the Sto:Lo and Kwakiutl Nations

confirmed." Performances at the camp-fire will go on from 5 p.m. to

5:45 p.m. weekdays and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

To enter the site, people will walk between the sites that feature

canoe and totem pole carving, and this will bring them to the centre of

the camp.

Henry Robertson and four other carvers will be carving a red cedar

canoe and two totem poles.

Finally, a huge crafts tent will be set on the perimeter of the camp.

Here, artisans will craft and sell such items as jewelry, carvings and

silk-screened clothing.

"My whole thing here,"Jassman said, "is to encourage other people to

learn about and appreciate Aboriginal cultures. After all, we're all

here together, and the more we know about each other, the better we can

get along. The big thing is, people should know and respect the fact

that these people, the Aboriginal people, were here first and they have

their own distinctive traditions and cultures."