 MEDIA RELEASE |
 |
MEDIA RELEASE |
|
Banff Centre Aboriginal Arts
Delegation Travels to New Zealand and Australia
October 15, 1999 (Banff) A contingent
from the Aboriginal Arts program at The Banff Centre for the Arts will take part in an
Indigenous Performing Arts Exchange between The Banff Centre, Australia and New Zealand.
In addition to visiting Aborigine and Maori communities, Banff representatives will
participate in the National Aboriginal Dance Conference, from November 18-21, at the
Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia.
The National Aboriginal Dance Conference will be examining themes such as education and
training, dance and copyright, professional opportunities in dance, national linkages,
marketing and audience development. "This year's conference will be a very
significant one with many important outcomes for Aboriginal dancers and dance groups
across Australia and for all indigenous people as they exercise their rights to preserve,
manage and control the expressions of their cultural heritage," says Christine
Donnelly, President of the National Aboriginal Dance Council Australia (NADCA).
"We are very excited to be making links with Aboriginal artists in Australia and New
Zealand," comments Marrie Mumford, artistic director of Banff's Aboriginal Arts
Department. "Aboriginal artists around the world share many of the same realities. In
Banff, the theme that guides our program is the exploration and development of cultural
forms that bridge traditional and contemporary expression, working within the principles
of self-governance. We look forward to this exchange and working with our colleagues in
Australia and New Zealand."
"International links are very important to The Banff Centre for the Arts," adds
Carol Phillips, vice-president, The Banff Centre, director, Centre for the Arts. "We
have a number of bilateral agreements with various countries, such as our
France/Canada/Banff Fund and our agreement with Mexico under the auspices of the Fondo
Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA). In addition, artists from around the world
travel to Banff to take part in residencies and other professional development
opportunities offered at the Centre. We welcome the chance to make connections with
Aboriginal Arts communities in Australia and New Zealand."
Representing Banff Aboriginal Arts will be Eva Adams (Inuit), Russell
Wallace (St'atl'imx), Karen Pheasant (Ojibway/Odawa) and Sadie
Buck (Seneca Nation). They will participate as panelists, performers and workshop
leaders at the National Aboriginal Dance Conference as well as making visits to Aborigine
and Maori communities.
Scroll down for artist biographies.
For further information,
please contact:
Helen Moore-Parkhouse
Marrie Mumford
Marketing Director
Artistic Director
Banff Centre for the Arts
Aboriginal Arts Department
403-762-7539
403-762-6288
Indigenous Performing Arts Exchange Banff Centre Representatives Artist Biographies
Eva Adams (Inuit)
Eva Adams from Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory, presently resides in Plantagnet, Ontario. Born
in Kujjuaq, Nunavik, Eva has a background in ballet and modern dance. She is also a
storyteller. Eva is currently president of Tungnasuvvignat Inuit of Ottawa, board member
of the Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal, and currently serves on the Aboriginal Advisory
Committee to the Canada Council for the Arts. Eva is active in Inuit cultural activities
through the promotion of Inuit Art and performances. A strong supporter of Inuit culture,
Eva wants to ensure that Inuit youth have the same opportunities in dance, music and art
that are afforded to youth across Canada. Eva has hosted a number of prestigious events
including the official Nunavut Celebrations at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation in
Hull, Quebec; the Nunavut Celebrations Party for the MP for Nunavut; Winterlude in Ottawa;
the Tulip Festival and Pauktuutit, Inuit Women's Association fashion show.
Sadie Buck (Seneca Nation)
Sadie Buck is of the Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan, from Six Nations, Ontario. She comes from
a noted family of singers, instrument makers and longhouse members and has been singing
all her life. Sadie is the lead singer and artistic director of the Six Nations Women
Singers, a unique group that has its roots in the ongoing traditions of the Haudenosaunee
(Iroquioan) Confederacy, who have been in demand throughout North America for performances
and festival. They were the first Aboriginal group invited to perform at the New Orleans
Jazz Festival. Sadie performed with Robbie Robertson on his CD The Underworld of Red Boy
and for his documentary film Making a Noise. She is program director for the Aboriginal
Women's Voices program at The Banff Centre, has taught at York University's Faculty of
Fine Arts, an Interdisciplinary program of culture and arts of the Iroquois, and currently
teaches at McMaster University. Sadie is also a cultural and music resource person for
various Native performance organizations.
Russell Wallace (St'atl'imx)
Russell Wallace is known throughout Canada as a musician and composer. His training is in
performing arts (University of British Columbia) and information technology (Capilano
College). Russell has worked with the Aboriginal Film and Video Art Alliance and The Banff
Centre on the production of a series of innovative PSAs which have been distributed
nationally. Russell composed music for a Margo Kane Full Circle: First Nations performance
piece titled The River - Home which premiered at The Banff Centre in 1996. He has returned
to Banff every summer since 1996 to create music scores for the Aboriginal Dance projects,
full productions of dance both traditional and contemporary. Russell was the recording
producer for the Juno-nominated Hearts of the Nation CD which featured the Banff
Aboriginal Women's Voices program. In addition, he has written original scores for films
by Loretta Todd and videos by Dana Claxton and has created original compositions for
several plays.
Karen Pheasant (Ojibway/Odawa)
Karen and her family reside on Manitoulin Island, on the Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve. She
and her family have travelled extensively throughout Indian Country on the Pow-wow trail
as danders and as Head staff personnel. Karen has fulfilled roles from Head lady dancer,
Arena Director, and Head Judge. She has places at Pow-wows such as Red Earth Oklahoma,
California, Chicago, Florida, Toronto International Pow-wow at the Skydome, at the World
Championship in Connecticut and on the Northern Plains. Karen and her family share their
passion for dance to promote greater understanding of Native culture and develop
cross-cultural awareness in classrooms, workshops and they assist in theatre productions,
which have included: Toronto's Nightwood Theatre, De-Ba-Jeh-Mu-Jig Theatre and Chinook
Winds Aboriginal Dance Program. In 1992, the Pheasant family was selected by World Coundil
of Indigineous Peoples to participate in the 500 year gathering in Mexico City and also as
Canadian representatives by the Discover Native American Dance Troupe to perform at he
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Her family was also invited to perform at the
World Indigeneous Education Conference when it was held in New Zealand. Karen was a
Management Major at the University of Lethbridge and has a Political Science degree from
Laurentian University. Karen and her family own a retail Native bookstore, Twin Trails.
Karen currently has been teaching Native Studies at the Wilwemikong High School and is in
the progress of developing a dance curriculum for the school.