 MEDIA RELEASE |
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MEDIA RELEASE |
For Immediate Release
July 17, 2001
The Banff Centre presents Aboriginal speakers' series, Spirit . . . I am Your Bones
The Stoney way of life begins with reverence for the Great Spirit and gratitude for the sacred mountains created by Him for Himself and His children. In the mountains we find many truths. As we cast our eyes toward them they seem to be different each day, and yet we know that they have always been the same, strong and unchanging... The man who learns well the intricate pattern of nature will live a good life and a useful one to his people.
Chief John Snow
Nakoda teacher, writer, and cultural historian
Spirit…I am Your Bones is a lecture series coordinated to expand on and provide context for events scheduled through the summer months by the Aboriginal Arts Program at The Banff Centre. The series invites audiences to explore Aboriginal worldviews through oral tradition. The summer’s program culminates in a major presentation, BONES: An Aboriginal Dance Opera August 8th, 10th, and 12th. BONES was conceived, created, and staged by Sadie Buck and Alejandro Ronceria; music and words were written by Sadie Buck; and the choreography was created by Alejandro Ronceria.
On July 30th at 8 pm in the Music & Sound Building’s Rolston Recital Hall, cultural historian John Snow and storyteller Wilton Good Striker (see biographies, attached) will discuss issues pertaining to the original people of the mountains. Sharing their wisdom and perspectives, they will address the connection between the land and the people.
On August 7th at 7 pm in the Walter Phillips Gallery, the visual arts are featured. The evening marks the opening of the exhibition MULTIPLES: Tsa de yoh don's, curated by Tom Hill, featuring ten contemporary artists of First Nation’s ancestry. MULTIPLES runs from August 8th to September 30th. On August 9th at 2 pm, curator Tom Hill expands on the exhibition in the gallery, discussing multiple image making in First Nations visual art. Hill is the museum director and curator of the Woodlands Cultural Centre in Ontario.
The speakers’ series will conclude with a pre-show chat on Friday, August 10th with Sadie Buck and Alejandro Ronceria, who will share their stories about the process of creating the landmark theatrical work BONES: An Aboriginal Dance Opera. The chat takes place at 7 pm in the West Lobby of The Banff Centre’s Eric Harvie Theatre.
Admission to the speakers’ series is free and open to the public. Tickets for BONES may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster 777-0000 or the Banff Centre Box Office, 1-800-413-8368 or 403-762-6301.
John Snow
John Snow, author of These Mountains are our Sacred Places (1977), is a respected Nakoda Elder, traditional storyteller, poet, and author. He was Chief of the Nakoda Nation of Morley, Alberta from 1968 through 1990. As a community leader, Snow has fought hard to restore North American Aboriginal people’s right to self-determination and self respect. His unique narrative style includes humour, history, and traditional stories.
Wilton Good Striker
Wilton Good Striker was traditionally raised by his grandparents on the Blood Reserve. Growing up with Elders in his community, many traditional stories were passed on to him, which he now shares through his leadership and his art. Mr. Good Striker has been tribal manager of the Blood tribe and president of the Native Counselling Services of Alberta. He currently works for the National Parole Board of Canada. Good Striker is a traditional singer and dancer, and in his younger days, he was active in the rodeo circuit. He is now a member of the sacred societies of his people and has served as spiritual leader of his community for many years.
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